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OF

Henry County, Iowa,

CONTAINING

Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent
and Representative Citizens of the County,

TOGETHER WITH ^-

PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF/AlL THE' GOVERNORS OF IOWA, AND
OF THE PRESIDENTS .OF THE UNITED STATES.

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CHICAGO:

ACME PUBLISHING COMPANY,

1888.

THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY

63417?

A9T0R. LENOX AND
TILD-N FOUNDATIONS.

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( r(?-w^"^^^ greatest of English historians, Macauley, and one of the most brilliant writers
I, y7 ^j ^^^ 1^^^^ century, has said : "The history of a country is best told in a record of the
lives of its people." In conformity with this idea the Poutrait and Bio(;uai'hical
Alisu.m of this county has been prepared. Instead of going to mustj' records, and
taking therefrom dry statistical matter that can be appreciated by but few, our
corps of writers have gone to the people, the men and women who have, by their
enterju-ise and industry, brought the county to a rank second to none among those
comprising this great and noble State, and from their lips have the story of their life
struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelli-
gent public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the
imitation of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in povertj% by
industry and economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited
advantages for securing an education, have become learned men and women, with an
influence extending throughout the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who
have risen from the lower wall<s of life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have
become famous. It tells of those in every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and
records how that success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very
man}', who, not seeking the applause of the world, have pursued "the even tenor of their way," content
to have it .said of them as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy— "they have done what
the}' could." It tells how that many in the pride and strength of young manhood left the i)low and the
anvil, the lawyer's office and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's
call went forth valiantly "to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was restored and peace
once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not
be lost upon those who follow after.

Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from the fact
that it contains so much that would never find its way into public records, and which would otherwise be
inaccessible. Great care has been taken in the compilation of the work and every opportunity possible
given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written, and the publishers flatter them-
.selves that they give to their readers a work with few errors of consequence. In addition to the biograph-
ical sketches, portraits of a number of representative citizens are given.

The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. For this the
publishers are not to blame. Not having .x proper conce;)tio!i oi the work, some refused to give the
information necessary to compile a sketch, wn.lc others were indifferent. Occasionally some member of
the family would oppose the enterprise, and on;scfcatl5it;of such opposition the support of the interested
one would be withheld. In a few instances men cOuid'uev^t^iefonnd, though repeated calls were made
at their residence or place of business. ' ^ /"I. .' .," '.•, '

In addition to the biographical matter, a condensed history of the county is given, together with
sketches of its cities, villages and townsiiips. Our work is now ended. To those who so kindlj' assisted
us in the work, we return our most sincere thanks. To onr patrons we present a work of which we are
proud, and which we trust they will be proud to receive.

Chicago, May, 1888. ACIME PUBLISHING CO.

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r7T.-.f'jja>., .,.

HE Father of our Country was

fe) born in Westmorland Co., Va.,

rife _ ' '

Feb. 2 2, 1732. His parents
were Augustine and Mary
(Ball) Washington. The family
to which he belonged has not
been satisfactorily traced in
England. His great-grand-
father, John Washington, em-
igrated to Virginia about 1657,
and became a prosperous
planter. He had two sons,
Lawrence and John. The
former married Mildred Warner
and had three children, John,
Augustine and Mildred. Augus-
tine, the father of George, first
married Jane Butler, who bore
him four children, two of whom,
Lawrence and Augustine, reached
maturity. Of si.x children by his
second marriage, George was the
eldest, the others being Betty,
Samuel, John Augustine, Charles
and Mildred.
Augustine Washington, the father of George, died
in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his
eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on
the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon,
and to George he left the parental residence. George
received only such education as the neighborhood
schools afforded, save for a short time after he left
school, when he received private instruction in
mathematics. His spellina was rather defective.

Remarkable stories are told of his great physical
strength and development at an early age. He was
an acknowledged leader among his companions, and
was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair-
ness and veracity which characterized his whole life.

When George was 14 years old he had a desire to go to
sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him,
but through the opposition of his mother the idea was
abandoned. Two years later he was appointed
surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In
this business he spent three years in a rough frontier
life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very
essential to him. In 175 i, though only 19 years of
age, he was appointed adjutant with the rank of
major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for
active service against the French and Indians. Soon
after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother
Lawrence, who went there to restore his health. They
soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence
died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter
who did not long survive him. On her demise the
estate of Mount Vernon was given to George.

Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddle, as Lieuten-
ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was
reorganized, and the province divided into four mili-
tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to
Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this
a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac-
ce[)ted, which others had refused. This was to pro-
ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North-
western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed
was between 500 and 600 miles. Winter was at hand,
and the journey was to be made without military
escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The
•►

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20

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

trip was a perilous one, and several times he came near
losing his life, yet he returned in safety and furnished
a full and useful rei)ort of his expedition. A regiment
of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in com-
mand of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Washington was
commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was
then begun against the French and Indians, in which
Washington took a most important part. In the
memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Brad-
dock's defeat, Washington was almost the only officer
of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the
day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock
\vere disabled early in the action, and Wasliington
alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter
to his brother he says : " I had four bullets through
my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped
unhurt, though death was levelin'; my companions
on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was
not born to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken
direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit
him.

After having been five years in the military service,
and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, lie
look advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and tlie
expulsion of the French from the valley of tlie Ohio,
CO resign his commission. Soon after he entered the
Legislature, where, although not a leader, he look an
active and imiKirtant part. January 17, 1759, he
married Mrs. Martha (L)andridge) Custis, the wealthy
widow of John Parke Custis.

When the British Parliament had closed the port
if Boston, the cry went up througliout the provinces
that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all."
It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con-
gress of all the colonies was called to meet at Pliila-
del[)hia,Sept. 5, 1774, to secure tjieir common liberties,
peacealily if possilile. To this Congress Col. Wash-
ington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the
Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of
England were plainly apparent. The battles of Con-
<:ord and Lexington had been fought. Among the
first acts of this Congress was the election of a coin-
mander-in-chief of tlie colonial forces. Tliis high and
res]xinsible office was conferred upon Washington,
who was still a member of the Congress. He accepted
it on June 19, but upon the express condition that he
receive no salary. He would keep an exact account
of exjienses and expect Congress to pay them and
notliing more. It is not the object of this sketch to
trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the
fortunes and liberties of the people of tiiis country
were so long confided. The war was conducted by
him under every possible disadvantage, and wliilehis
forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame ever)-
obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion
and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest
nation of earth. On Dec. 23, 17S3, Washington, in
a parting address of surpassing beauty, resigned his
•A*

commission as commander-in-chief of the army to
to the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. He
retired iniiiiedialely to Mount Vernon and resumed
his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all
connection with public lite.

In February, 1 7 89, Washington was unanimously
elected President. In his presidential career he was
subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new
government ; trials from lack of confidence on the pan
of other governments; trials from want of harmony
between the different sections of our own country ;
trials from the impoverislied condition of the country,
owing to the war and want of credit; trials from tlie
beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His
clear judgment could discern the golden mean; and
while perhaps this alone kept our government from
sinking at the veiy outset, it left him ex| osed to
attacks from bot-h sides, which were often bitter and
very annoying.

At the expiration of his first term he was unani-
mously re-elected. At the end of this term many
were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely
refused a third nomination. On the fourth of Marih,
1797, at the ex|)iiaton of his second term as Presi-
dent, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there
his few remaining yeais free from the annoyances of
public life. Later in the year, however, his reixDse
seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France.
.\t the prospect of such a war he was again urged to
take command of the armies. He chose his sub-
ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat-
ters in the field, which he superinter.ded from his
home. In accepting the command he made the
reservation that he was not to be in the field until
it was necessary. In the midst of these preparations
his life was suddenly cut off. December 12, he took
a sevce cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling
in li s throat, i)roduced inflammation, and terminaied
fatally on the night of the fourteenth. On the eigh-
teenth his body was liorne wih military honors to its
final resting place, and interred in the family vault at
Mount Vernon.

Of the character of Washington it is impossible to
speak but in terms of the highest respect and ad-
miration. The more we see of the operations of
our government, and the more deeply we feel the
difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest,
the more highly we must estimate the force cf his tal-
ent and character, which have been able to < hallenge
the reverence of all parties, and principles, and na-
tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limits
of the globe, and which we cannot but believe will
be as lasting as the existence of man.

The person of Washington was unusally tan, erect
and well jiroixirtioned. His muscular strength was
great. His features were of a beautiful symmetn,'.
He commanded respect without any appearance of
haughtiness, and ever serious without being dull.

1

10

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SECOND PRESIDENT.

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-4--p-V-'^'- J©IIK ADAMS, '^Kw-pfo^

w

OHM ADAMS, the second
s President and the first Vice-
@ President of the United States,
was born in Braintree ( now
'-h^ Quincy),Mass., and about ten
^*^ miles from Boston, Oct. ig,
1735. His great-grandfather, Henry
Adams, emigrated from England
about 1 640, with a family of eight
sons, and settled at Braintree. The
parents of John were John and
Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His
father was a farmer of limited
means, to which he added the bus-
iness of shoemaking. He gave his
eldest son, John, a classical educa-
tion at Harvard College. John
graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the
school in Worcester, Mass. This he found but a
"school of affliction," from which he endeavored to
gain relief by devoting himself, in addition, to the
study of law. For this purpose he placed himself
under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He
had thought seriously of the clerical profession
but seems to have been turned from this by what he
termed " the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun-
cils, of diabolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,''
of the operations of which he had been a witness in
his native town. He was well fitted for the legal
profession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being
ready and fluent of speech, and having quick percep-
tive jx)wers. He gradually gained practice, and in
1764 married .Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister,
and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his
marriage, (1765), the attempt of Parliamentary taxa-
tion turned him from law to politics. He took initial
steps toward holding a town meeting, and the resolu-

tions he offered on the subject became very jxipulai
throughout tlie Province, and were adopted word for
word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos-
ton in 1768, and became one of the most courageous
and prominent advocatesof the jxjpular cause, and
was chosen a member of the General Court (the Leg-
lislature) in 1770.

Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegates
from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress,
which met in 1774. Here he distinguished himself
by his capacity for business and for debate, and ad-
vocated the movement for independence against the
majority of the members. In May, 1776, he moved
and carried a resolution in Congress tliat the Colonies
should assume the duties of self-government. He
was a prominent member of the committee of five
appointed June 11, to prepare a declaration of inde-
pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but
on Adams devolved the task of battling it through
Congress in a three days debate.

On the day after the Declaration of Independence
was passed, while his soul was yet warm with the
glow of excited feeling, he wrote a letter to his wife,
which, as we read it now, seems to have been dictated
by the spirit of projihecy. "Yesterday," he says, "the
greatest question was decided tliat ever was debated
in .America; and greater, perhaps, never was or will
be decided among men. A resolution was passed
without one dissenting colony, ' that these United
States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde-
pendent states.' The day is passed. The fourth of
July, 1776, will be a memorable eiioch in the history
of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated
by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary
festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of
deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty
God. It ought to be solemnized with pomp, shows.

A

a 21

JOHN ADAMS.

games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations
from one end of the continent to the other, from this
time forward for ever. You will think me transjxjrted
with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of
the toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to
maintain this declaration, and su[)port and defend
these States; yet, tluough all the gloom, I can see the
rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is
worth more than all the means; and that posterity
will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I
hope we shall not."

In Noveml)er, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed a
delegate to France and lo co-oi)erate with Benijamin
Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in
the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms and money
from tlie French Government. This was a severe trial
to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home,
compelled him to cross the ocean in winter, and ex-
posed him to great peril of capture by the British cruis-
ers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17,
1779. In Septeml)er of the same year he was again
cliosen to go to Paris, and there hold himself in readi-
ness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce
with Great Britian, as soon as the British Cabinet
might be found willing to listen to such proposels. He
sailed for France in November, from there he went to
Holland, where he negotiated important loans and
formed important commercial treaties

Finally a treaty of i>eace with England was signed
Jan. 21, 1783. The re-action from the excitement,
toil and anxiety througii which Mr. Adams iiad passed
threw liim into a fevei. After suffering from a con-
tinued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he
was advised to goto England to drink the waters of
IJath. While in England, still droo|)inganddes|)ond-
ing, he received dispatches from his own government
urging the necessity of his going to .\msterdam to
negotiate another loan. It was vifinter, his health was
delicate, yet he innnediately set out, and through
storm, on sea, on horseback and foot,he made the trip.

Feliruary 24, 1785. Congress appointed Mr. Adams
envoy lo the ("ourt of St. James. Here he met face
to face the King of England, who had so long re-
garded him as a traitor. .'\s England did not
condescend to appoint a minister to the United
States, and .ts Mr. .\ilams felt that he was acconi-
|)lishing but little, he sought ]>ermission to return to
his own country, where he arrived in June, 1788.

When Washington was first chosen President, John
A<lams, rendered ilhistiious by his signal services at
home and abroad, was chosen Vice President. .Again
at the second election of Washington as President,
.'\(lams was chosim Vice President. In 1796, Wash-
ington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was
elected President, tliough not wilhotit much opposition.
Serving in this office four years, he was succeeded by
Mr. Jefferson, his opponent in politics.

While Mr. .\dams was Vice President the great
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French Revolution shook the continent of Europe,
and it was upon this point which he was atissuewith
the majority of his countr\'men led by Mr. Jefferson.
Mr. Adams felt no sympathy with the French people
in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their
power of self-government, and he uttedy abhored the
classof atheist pliilosophers who he claimed caused it.
On the other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly
enlisted in behalf of the French iJeople. Hence or-
iginated the alienation between tiiese distinguished
men, and two powerful parties were thus soon org^ii.-
ized, Adams at the head of the one whose sympathies
were with England and Jefferson led the other in
sympathy with France.

The world has seldom seen a spectacle of more
moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the
old age of Mr. Adams. The violence of paity feeling
had died away, and he had begun to receive that just
appreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till
after death. No one could look ujion his venerable
form, and think of what he had done and suffered,
and how he had given up all the prime and strength
of his life to the puiilic good, without the deepest
emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar
good fortune to witness the complete success of the
institution which he had been so active in creating and
supporting. In 1824, his cup of hai)piness was filled
to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the highest
station in the gift of the people

The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half
century since the signing of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, arrived, and there were but three of the
signers of that immortal instrument left upon the
earth to hail its morning light. And, as it is
well known, on that day two of these finished their
earthly pilgrimp.ge, a coincidence so remarkable as
to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr.
Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning
of the fourth he found himself too weak to rise from
his lied. On being reipiested to name a toast for the
customary celebration of the day, ho exclaimed " In-
DF.PENDENCK FORKVF.R." When the day was ushered
in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons,
he was asked by one of his ;:tteiulants if he knew
what day it was? He replied, "O yes; it is the glor-
ious fouriii of July — God bless it — God bless you all."
In the course of the day he said, "It is a great and
glorious day." The last words he uttered were,
"Jeffer.son survives." But he had, nt one o'clock, re-
signed his spiiit into the hands of his God.

Tlie ])ersonal appearance and manners of Mr.
Adams were not iiarticulail\- iirejxisses-^int-. His face,
as his portrait manifests.wns intellectual ard expres-
sive, but his figure was low and luigraceful, and his
manners were frequently abrupt and uncourteous.
He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor
the engaging elegance and gracefulness which marked
tlie manners and address of Jefferson.

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THIRD PRESIDENT.

27

HOMAS JEFFERSON was
born April 2, 1743, at Shad-
^i^well, Albermarle county, Va.
His parents were Peter and
Jane ( Randolph) Jefferson,
the former a native of Wales,
and the latter born in Lon-
don. To them were born six
daughters and two sons, of
whom Thomas was the elder.
When 14 years of age his
father died. He received a
most liberal education, hav-
ng been kept diligently at school
from the time he was five years of
age. In 1760 he entered William
and Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat
of the Colonial Court, and it was the obode of fashion
and splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17
years old, lived somewhat expensively, keeping fine
horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet he
was earnestly devoted to his studies, and irreproacha-
able in his morals. It is strange, however, under
such influences,that he was not ruined. In the sec-
ond year of his college course, moved by some un-
explained inward impulse, he discarded his horses,
society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had
previously given mucli time. He often devoted fifteen
hours a day to hard study, allowing himself for ex-
ercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out
of the city and back again. He thus attained very
high intellectual culture, alike excellence in philoso-
phy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and
Greek authors he read with facility. A more finished
scholar l)as seldom gone forth from college halls; and

.^ — _ ;:

there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a
more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man.

Immediately uixin leaving college he began the
study of law. For the short time he continued in the
practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin-
guished himself by his energy and accuteness as a
lawyer. But the times called for greater action.
The policy of England had awakened tiie spirit of
resistance of the American Colonies, and the enlarged
views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led
him into active political life. In 1769 he was chosen
a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In
1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beauti-
ful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow.

Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, there
was a majestic swell of land, called Monticello, which
commanded a prospect of wonderful extent and
beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new
home; and here he reared a mansion of modest yet
elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Vernon,
became the most distinguished resort in our land.

In 177s he was sent to the Colonial Congress,
where, though a silent member, his abilities as a
writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he
was placed uixjn a number of important committees,
and was chairman of the one appointed for the draw-
ing up of a declaration of independence. This com-
mittee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams,
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R.
Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was appointed
to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested
a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con-
gress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made
in it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July
4, 1776. What must have been the feeUngs of that

28

■•►

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

, , lasl

man — what the emotions that swelled his breast —
who was cliarged with the preparation of that Dec-
laration, wliich, while it made known the wrongs of
America, was also to publish her to the world, free,
boverign and independent. It is one of the most re-
markable papers ever written ; and did no other effort
\jf the mind of its author exist, that alone would be
sufficient to stamp his name with immortality.

In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to
Patrick Henry, ;.s Governor of Virginia. At one time
the British officer, Tadeton, sent a secret expedition to
Moniicello, to capture the Governor. Scarcely five
minutes claiised after tlie hurried escape of Mr. Jef-
ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in posses-
sion of the British troops. His wife's health, never
very good, was much injured by this excitement, and
in the summer of 1782 slie died.

Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783.
Two ye-rrs later he was appointed Minister Plenipo-
tentiary to France. Returning to the United States
in September, 1789, he became Secretary of State
in Washington's cabinet. This position he resigned
Jan. I, 1794- 111 '797) he was chosen Vice Presi-
dent, and four years later was elected President over
Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In
1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimity,
and George Clinton, Vice President.

The eariy part of Mr. Jefferson's second adminstra-
tion was disturbed by an event which threatened the
tranquility and peace of the Union; this was the con-
spiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election
to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an unprincipled
ambition, this extraordinary man formed tlie plan of a
military expedition into the Spanish territories on our
southwestern frontier, for the purpose of forming there
a new republic. This has been generally supposed
was a mere pretext ; and although it has not been
generally known what his real plans were, there is no
doubt that they were of a far more dangerous
character.

In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for
which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined
to retire from political life. For a period of nearly
forty years, he had been conUnually before the pub-
lic, and all tliattime had been employed in offices of
the greatest trust and responsibility. Having thus de-
voted the best part of his life to the service of his
country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his
declining years required, and uiwn the organization of
the new administration, in March, 1^09, he bid fare-
well forever to public life, and retired to Monticello.

Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hosi)it:ility. \Vhole
families came in their coaches with their horses, —
fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and
nurses, — and remained three and even six months.
Life at Monticello, for years, resembled that at a
fashionable watering-place.

The fourth of July, 1826, being the fiftieth anniver-

sary of the Declaration of American Independence,
great preparations were made in every part of the
Union for its celebration, as the nation's jubilee, and
the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnity
of the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the framer.
and one of the few surviving signers of the Declara-
tion, to participate in their festivities. But an ill-
ness, which had been of several weeks duration, and
had been continually increasing, compelled him to
decline the invitation.

On the second of July, the disease under which
he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced
state that his medical attendants, entertained no
hope of his recovery. From this time he was jjerfectly
sensible that his last hour was at hand. On the next
day, which was Monday, he asked of those around
iiim, the day of the month, and on being told it was
the third of July, he expressed the earnest wish that
he might be permitted to breathe the airof the fiftieth
anniversary. His prayer was heard — that day, whose
dawn was hailed with such rapture through our land,
burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed for-
ever. And what a noble consummation of a noble
life! To die on that day, — the birthday of a nation,- -
the day which his own name and his own act had
rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and
festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him,
as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings,
was all that was wanting to fill ui) the record his life.

Almost at the same hour of his death, tiie kin-
dred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear
him company, left the scene of his earthly honors.
Hand in hand they had stood forth, the champions of
freedom ; hand in hand, during the dark and desper-
ate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and
animated their desponding countrymen; for half a
century they had labored togetlier for tlie good of
the country; and now hand in hand they depart.
In their lives they had been united in the same great
cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not
divided.

In person Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather
above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes
were light, his hair originally red, in after life became
white and silvery; his complexion was fair, his fore-
head broad, and his whole countenance intelligent and
thoughtful. He jiossessed great fortitude of mind as
well as personal courage; and his command of tem-
per was such that his oldest and most intimate frieiids
never recollected to have seen him in a passion.
His manners, though dignified, were simple and un-
affected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that
all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver-
sation he was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic ; and
his language was remarkably pure and concct. He
was a finished classical scholar, and in his writings is
discernable the care with which he formed his style
upon the best models of antiquity.

■•^l

:,4v.

^a.yu.^^ ^C( eo'<^Cc^ <rs„

'ft'"

FOURTH PRESIDENT.

■^'

31

PHQES npDisoi].

j^t4s^

'-^m

' 'K

AMES MADISON, "Father
of the Constitution," and fourth
President of the United States,
was born March 16, 1757, and
died at his home in Virginia,
/*£ yune 28, 1836. The name of
Tames Madison is inseparably con-
nected with most of the important
events in that heroic period of our
, country during which the founda-
tions of this great repubUc were
laid. He was the last of the founders
of the Constitution of the United
States to be called to his eternal
reward.

The Madison family were among
the early emigrants to the New World,
landing upon the shores of the Chesa-
peake but 15 years after the settle-
ment of Jamestown. The father of
James Madison was an opulent
planter, residing npon a very fine es-
tate called " Mbntpelier," Orange Co.,
Va. The mansion was situated in
the midst of scenery highly pictur-
esque and romantic, on the west side
of South-west Mountain, at the foot of
Blue Ridge. It was but 25 miles from the home of
Jefferson at Monticello. The closest [personal and
political attacimient existed between these illustrious
men, from their early youth until death.

The early education of Mr. Madison was conducted
mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of
18 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey.
Here he applied himself to study with the most im-

prudent zeal; allowing himself, for months, but three
hours' sleep outof tlie 24. His health thus Ijecame so
seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor
of constitution. He graduated in 177 i, with a feeble
body, with a character of utmost purity, and with a
mind highly disciplined and richly stored with learning
which embellished and gave proficiency to his subsf "
quent career.

Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of
law and a course of extensive and systematic reading.
This educational course, the spirit of the times in
which he lived, and the society with which he asso-
ciated, all combined to inspire him with a strong
love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work of
a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of
mind, and his frail health leading him to think that
his life was not to be long, he diiected especial atten-
tion to theological studies. Endowed with a mind
singularly free from passion and prejudice, and with
almoKt unequalled powers of reasoning, he weighed
all the arguments for and against revealed religion,
until his faith became so established as never to
be shaken.

In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he
was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to
frame the constitution of the State. The next year
(1777), he was a candidate for the General Assembly.
He refused to treat the whisky-lovir.g voters, and
consequently lust his election ; but those who had
witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the
modest young man, enlisted themselves in his belialf,
and he was appointed to tlie Executive Council.

Both Patrick Henry and Tlionias Jefferson were
Governors of Virginia while Mr. Madison remained
member of the Council ; and their appreciation of hi?

4

t

32

JAMES MADISON.

intellectual, social and moral worth, contributed not
a little to his subsequent eminence. In the year
1780, he was elected a member of the Continental
Congress. Here he met the most illustrious men in
our land, and he was immediately assigned to one of
the most conspicuous positions among them.

For three years Mr. Madison continued in Con-
gress, one of its most active and influential members.
In the year 1784, his term having expired, he was
elected a member of the Virginia Legislature.

No man felt more deeply than Mr. Madison the
utter inefficiency of the old confederacy, with no na-
tional government, with no power to form treaties
which would be binding, or to enforce law. There
was not any State more prominent than Virginia in
the declaration, that an efficient national government
must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison
carried a resolution through the General Assembly of
Virginia, inviting the other States to appoint commis-
sioners to meet in convention at Annapolis to discuss
this subject. Five States only were represented. The
convention, however, issued another call, drawn up
by Mr. Madison, urging all the States to send their
delegates to Philadeli)hia, in May, 1787, to draft
a Constitution for the United States, to take the place
of that Confederate League. The delegates met at
the time appointed. Every State but Rhode Island
was represented. George Washington was chosen
president of the convention; and tlie present Consti-
tution of the United States was then and there formed.
There was, perhaps, no mind and no pen more ac-
tive in framing this immortal document than the mind
and the pen of James Madison.

The Constitution, adopted by a vote 81 to 79, was
to be presented to the several States for acceptance.
But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected
we should be left but a conglomeration of independent
States, with but little (wwer at home and little respect
abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by the conven-
tion to draw up an address to the people of the United
States, expounding the princiijles of the Constitution,
and urging its adoption. There was great opposition
to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and
went into effect in 1789.

Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Repre-
sentatives in the first Congress, and soon became the
avowed leader of the Republican party. While in
New York attending Congress, he met Mrs Todd, a
young widow of remarkable [xjwer of fascination,
whom he married. She was in person and character
queenly, and probably no lady has thus far occuj^ed
so prominent a [)osition in the very peculiar society
which has constituted our republican court as Mrs.
Madison.

Mr. Madison served as Secretary of State under
Jefferson, and at the close of his administration
was chosen President. At this time the encroach-
ments of England had brought us to the verge of war.

British orders in council destioyed our commerce, and
our Hag was exposed to constant insult. Mr. Madison
was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, retiring
in his disposition, war had no charms for liim. But the
meekest spirit can be roused. It makes one's blood
boil, even now, to think of an American sliip brought
to, upon the ocean, by the guns of an English cruiser.
A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the
crew to be paraded before him. With great nonchal-
ance he selects any number whom he may please to
designate as British subjects; orders them down the
ship's side into his boat; and places them on the gun-
deck of his man-of-war, to fight, by comiHilsion, the
battles of England. This right of search and im-
pressment, no efforts of our Government could induce
the British cabinet to relinquish.

On the 1 8th of June, 181 2, President Madison gave
his approval to an act of Congress declaring war
against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the bitter
hostility of the Federal party to the war, the country
in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on the 4th
of March, 1813, was re-elected by a large majority,
and entered upon his second term of ofifi:e. This is
not the place to describe the various adventures of
this war on the land and on the water. C)ur infant
navy then laid the foundations of its rejiown in grap-
pling with the most formidable [wwer which ever
swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest
by the appearance of a British flett, early in February,
1813, in Chesapeake Bay, declaring nearly the whole
coast of the L^nited States under blockade.

The Emperor of Russia offered his services as me
dilator. America accepted ; England refused. A Brit-
ish force of five thousand men landed on the banks
of the Patuxet River, near its entrance into Chesa-
peake Bay, and marched rapidly, by way of Bladens-
burg, upon Washington.

The straggling little city of Washington was thrown
into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict
at Bladensburg echoed through the streets of the
metropolis. The whole population fled from the city.
The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the White
House, with her carriage drawn up at the door to
await his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers
in a council of war He met our troops utterly routed,
and he could not go back without danger of being
captured. Rut few hours elapsed ere ihe PrLsidential
Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public- buildings in
Washington were in flames.

The war closed after two years of fighting, and on
Feb. 13, i8i5,the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent.

On the 4th of March, 1817, his second term of
office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair
to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his beau-
tiful home at Montpelier, and there passed the re-
mainder of his days. On June 28, 1836, then at the
age of 85 years, he fell asleep in death. Mrs. Madi-
son died July 12, 1849.

#>^ \

i

-«••■

FIFTH PRESIDENT.

35 i

AMES MONROE, the fifth
'rcsidtntof The United States,
was l)oru in Westmoreland Co.,
Va., April 28, 1758. His early
life was passed at the place of
nativity. His ancestors had for
many years resided in the prov-
ince in which he was born. When,
at 17 years of age, in the process
of completing his education at
William and Mary College, the Co-
lonial Congress assembled at Phila-
delphia to deliberate upon the un-
just and manifold oppressions of
Great Britian, declared the separa-
tion of the Colonies, and promul-
gated the Declaration of Indepen-
dence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly
probable that he would have been one of the signers
of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left
school and enlisted among tlie patriots.

He joined the army when everything looked hope-
less and gloomy. The number of deserters increased
from day to day. Tlie invading armies came [wuring
in ; and the tories not only favored the cause of the
mother country, but disheartened the new recruits,
who were sufficiently terrified at the prospect of con-
tending witli an enemy whom they had been tauglit
to deem invincible. To such brave spirits as James
Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through
difficulty and danger, the United States owe their
political emancipation. The young cadet joined the
ranks, and espoused the cause of his injured country,
with a firm determination to live or die with her strife
.^It

for liberty. Firmly yet sadly he shared in the mel-
ancholy retreat from Harleam Heights and White
Plains, and accompanied the dispirited army as it fled
before its foes through New Jersey. In four muntlis
after the Declaration of Independence, tlie patriots
had been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of
Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg-
ing upon the enemy he received a wound in the left
shoulder.

As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was pro-
moted a captain of infantry ; and, having recovered
from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however,
receded from the line of promotion, by becoming an
officer in the staff of Lord Sterling. During the cam-
paigns of 1777 and 1778, in the actions of Brandy
wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued
aid-de-camp; but becoming desirous to regain his
position in the army, he exerted himself to collect a
regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed
owing to the exhausted condition of the State. Upon
this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at
that period Governor, and pursued, with considerable
ardor, the study of common law. He did not, however,
entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag;
but on the invasions of the enemy, served as a volun-
teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits.

In 17S2, he was elected from King George county,
a member of the Leglislature of Virginia, and by that
body he was elevated to a seat in the Executive
Council. He was thus honored with the confidence
of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age ; and having
at this early period displayed some of that ability
and aptitude for legislation, which were afterwards
employed with unremittirgenergy for the public good,

•>-

i

36

JAMES MONROE.

A-

he was in the succeeding year chosen a member of
ihe Congress of the United States.

Deeply as Mr. Monroe felt the imperfections of the old
Confederacy, he was opposed to the new Constitution,
ihinkiiig, with many others of the Republican party,
that it gave too much power to the Central Government,
and not enough to the individual States. Still he re-
tained the esteem of his friends who were its warm
supporters, and who, notwithstanding his opposition
secured its adoption. In 17S9, he became a member
of the United States Senate; which office he held for
four years. Every month the line of distinction be-
tween the two great parties which divided the nation,
the P'ederal and the Re|)ablican, was growing more
distinct. The two prominent ideas which now sep-
arated them were, that the Republican party was in
sympathy with France, and also in favor of such a
stiict construction of tiie Constitution as to give the
Central Government as little ix)wer, and the State
(rovernments as much 1 lower, as the Constitution would
warrant. The Federalists sym|)athized with England,
and were in favor of a liberal construction of the Con-
stitution, which would give as much ]X)wer to the
Central Government as that document could possibly
authorize.

The leading Federalists and Republicans were
alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the
good of the nation. Two more honest men or more
]Hire patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and
James Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In
building up this majestic nation, which is destined
to ecli|>se all Grecian and Assyrian greatness, the com-
iiination of their antagonism was needed to create the
light ei)uilil)rium. And yet each in his day was de-
nounced as almost a demon.

Washington was then President. England had es-
poused the cause of the Bourbons against the princi-
ples (if the French Revolution. All Europe was drawn
into the conflict. We were feeble and far away.
Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality be-
tween these contending powers. France had helped
us in the struggle for our liberties. All the despotisms
of Europe were now comliined to prevent the Frencii
from escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse
than that which we had endured Col. Monroe, more
magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at
whatever hazard, we should help our old allies in
their extremity. It was the impulse of a generous
and noble nature. He violently opposed the Pres-
ident's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in
magnanimity.

Washington, who could apnrcciate such a character,
developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness,
by appointing that very James Monroe, who was de-
nouncing the policy of the Government, as the minister
of that Government to the Republic of France. Mr.
Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention
in France witn the most entiuisiastic demonstrations.

Shortly after his return to this country, Mr. Mon-
roe was elected Governor of Virginia, and held the
office for three yeais. He was again sent to France to
co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining
the vast territory then known as the Province of
Louisiana, which France had but shortly before ob-
tained from Spain. Their united efforts were suc-
cessful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen
millions of dollars, the entire territory of Orleans and
district of Louisiana were added to the United States.
Tins was probably the largest transfer of real estate
whicii was ever made in all the historj- of the world.

From France Mr. Monroe went to England to ob-
tain from that country some recognition of our
rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those
odious impressments of our seamen. but Eng-
land was unrelenting. He again returned to Eng-
land on the same mission, but could receive no
redress. He returned to his home and was again
chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned
to accept the position of Secretary of State under
Madison. Wiiile in this office war with England was
declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and during
these trj'ing times, the duties of the \\'ar i)e[)artment
were also put upon liim. He was truly the armor-
bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient
business man in his cabinet. Ujxjn the return of
peace he resigned the Department of War, but con-
tinued in the office of Secretary of Stale until the ex-
piration of Mr. Madison's adminstration. At the elec-
tion held the previous autumn Mr. Monroe himself had
been chosen President with but little opposition, and
upon March 4, 1817, was inaugurated. Four years
later he was elected for a second term.

Among the important measures of his Presidency
were the cession of Florida to the United Stales; the
Missouri Compromise, and the " Monroe doctrine.''

This famous doctrine, since known as the "Monroe
doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1823. .\\. that
time the United States had recognized the independ-
ence of the South American states, and did not wish
to have European [Xjwers longer attempting to sub-
due portions of the American Continent. The doctrine
is as follows: "That we should consider any attempt
on the part of European powers to extend their sys-
tem to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous
to our peace and safety," and "that we could not
view any interposition Un the pur|)Ose of o|)|)ressing
or controlling American governments or provinces in
any other light than as a manifestation by European
liowers of an unfriendly disposition toward the United
States." This doctrine immediately affected the course
of foreign governments, and has become the apjirovcd
sentiment of the United States.

At the end of his fecond term Mr Monroe retired
to his honie in Virginia, where he lived imtil 1830,
when he went to New Vork to live with his son-in-
law. In that city he died, on the 4th of July, 1831.

-•¥^m^4*

k

0 , ^ , ijrsl

UAv^

SIXTH PRESIDENT.

■•►

51

^'7Mr:/^>^ rM^

I 30I}1] QUI1]6Y ^D^IIQS. I"'

OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the
sixth President of the United
'States, was born in the rural
home of his honored fatiier,
John Adams, in Quincy, Mass.,
on the I ith cf July, 1767. His
mother, a woman of exalted
vorth, watched over his childhood
iuring the almost constant ab-
sence of his father. When but
eight years of age, he stood with
' his mother on an eminence, listen-
ing to the booming of the great bat-
tle on Banker's Hill, and gazing on
upon the smoke and flames billow-
ing up from the conflagration of
Charlestown.

When but eleven years old he
took a tearful adieu of his mother,
to sail with his fattier for Europe,
through a fleet of hostile British cruisers. The bright,
animated boy spent a year and a half in Paris, where
his father was associated with Franklin and Lee as
minister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted
the notice of these distinguished men, and he received
from them flattering marks of attention.

Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this
country, iu 1779, ere he was again sent abroad. Again
John Quincy accompanied his father. At Paris he
applied himself with great diligence, for six months,
to study; then actompained his father to Holland,
where he entered, first a school in .Amsterdam, then
the ITniversity at Leyden. About a year from this
time, in 1781, when the manly boy was but fourteen
years of age, he was selected by Mr. Dana, our min-
ister to the Russian court, as his private secretary.

Tn this school of incessant labor and of enobling
culture he spent fourteen months, and then returned
to Holland through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and
Bremen. This long journey he took alone, in the
winter, when in his sixteenth year. Again he resumed
his studies, under a private tutor, at Hague. Thence,

in the spring of 1782, he accompanied his father to
Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintance
with the most distinguished men on the Continent;
examining architectural remains, galleries of paintings,
and all renowned works of art. At Paris he again
became associated with the most illustrious men of
all lands in the contemplations of the loftiest temporal
themes which can engross the human mind. After
a short visit to England he returned to Paris, and
consecrated all his energies to study until May, 1785,
when he returned lo America. To a brilliant young
man of eighteen, who had seen much of the world,
and who was familiar with the etiipiette of courts, a
residence with his father in London, under such cir-
cumstances, must have been extremely attractive;
but with judgment very rare in one of his age, he pre-
ferred to return to America to complete his education
in an American college. He wished then to study
law, that with an honorable profession, he might be
able to obtain an independent support.

Upon leaving Harvard College, at the age of twenty,
he studied law for three years. In June, 1794, be-
ing then but twenty-seven years of age, he was ap-
pointed by Washington, resident minister at the
Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, he reached
London in October, where he was immediately admit-
ted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pinckney,
assisting them in negotiating a commercial treaty with
Great Brilian. After thus spending a fortnight in
London, he proceeded to the Hague.

In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Portugal as
minister plenipotentiary. On his way to Portugal,
upon arriving in London, he met with despatches
directing him to the court of Beilin, but requesting
him to remain in London until he should receive his
instructions. \\hile waiting he was mairied to an
American lady to whom he had been previously en-
gaged,— Miss Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughter
of Mr. Joshua Johnson, American consul in London ;
a lady endownd with that beauty and those accom-
plishment which eniinenlly fitted her to move in the
elevated sphere for which she was destined.

k

■^4^

-•►

+o

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797 ;
where he remained until July, 1799, when, having ful-
filled all the purposes of his mission, lie solicited his
recall.

Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to
the Senate of iV[assat;husetts, from Boston, and then
was elected Senator of the United States for six years,
from the 4th of March, 1804. His reputation, his
ability and his ex|jerience, placed him immediately
among the most prominent and influential members
of that body. Especially did he sustain the Govern-
ment in its measures of resistarice to the encroach-
ments of England, destroying our commerce and in-
sulting our flag. There was no man in America more
familiar with the arrogance of the British court upon
these jxjints, and no one more resolved to present
a firm resistance.

In 1839, Madison succeeded Jefferson in the Pres-
idential chair, and he immediately nominated John
Quincy Adams minister to St. Petersburg. Resign-
ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked
at Boston, in August, 1809.

While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense stu-
dent. He devoted his attention to the language and
history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the
European system of weights, measures, and coins ; to
the climate and astronomical observations.; while he
Kept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and
Latin classics. In all the universities of Europe, a
more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found.
All through life the Bible constituted an important
part of his studies. It was his rule to read five
cha[Hers every day.

On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took the
Presidential chair, and immediately appointed Mr.
Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of his num-
erous friends in public and private life in Europe, he
sailed in Jane, rSig, for the United States. On the
1 8th of August, he again crossed the threshold of his
home in Quincy. During the eight years of Mr. Mon-
roe's administration, Mr, Adams continued Secretary
of State.

Some time before the close of Mr. Monroe's second
term of office, new candidates began to be presented
for the Presidency. The friends of Mr. .\dams brought
forward his name. It was an exciting campaign.
Party spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and
sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re-
ceived ninety nine; John Quincy Adams, eighty-four;
\Villiain H. Crawford, forty-one; Henry Clay, thirty-
seven. As there was no choice by the people, the
<|uestion went to the House of Representatives. Mr.
Clay gave the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and
he was elected.

The friends of all the disappointed candidates now
combined in a venomous and persistent assault upon
Mr. Adams, '{'here is nothing more disgraceful in
the past history of our country than the abuse which

was poured in one uninterrupted stream, upon this
high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was
an administration more pure in principles, more con-
scientiously devoted to the best interests of the coun-
try, than that of John Quincy Adams; and never, per-
haps, was there an administration more unscrupu-
lously and outrageously assailed.

Mr. Adams was, to a very remarkable degree, ab-
stemious and tem[)erate in his habils; alwa\'S rising
early, and taking much exercise. \\ hen at his homein
Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast,
seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said
that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his
own fire and applying himself to work in his library
often long before dawn.

On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. Adams retired
from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrew
Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected Vice Presi-
dent. The slavery question now began to assume
jxDrtentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to
Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued with un-
abated zeal. But he was not long permitted to re-
main in retirement. In November, 1830, he was
elected representative to Congress. For seventeen
years, until his death, he occupied the post as repi'e-
sentative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to
do brave battle' for freedom, and winning the title of
"the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in
the House, he announced that he should hold him-
self bound to no party. Probably there never was a
member more devoted to his duties. He was usually
the first in his place in the morning, and the last to
leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could
be brought forward and escape his scrutiny. The
battle which Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against
the proslavery party in the Government, was sublime
in Its moral daring and heroism. For persisting in
presenting petitiotis for the aliolition of slavery, he
was threatened with indictment by the grand jury,
with expulsion from the House, with assassination;
but no threats could intimidate him, and his final
triumph was complete.

It has been said of President Adams, that when his
body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of
fourscore yeais, yielding to the simple f.iith of a little
child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, before
he slept, the pra)er whicli his mother taught him in
his infant vears.

On the 2 1 st of February, 1S48, he rose on the floor
of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the
speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by jiarnly-
sis, and was caught in the arms of those around him.
For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed to
the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious-
ness, he opened liis eyes, looked calmly around and
said " This is llir endof cartli .-"then after a moment's
pause he added, " I am ron/i-nt." These were the
last words of the grand "Old Man Eloquent."

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k

SEVENTH PRESIDENT.

43

NDREW JACKSON, the
seventh President of the
;]■* United States, was born in
Waxhaw settlement, N. C,
March 15, 1767, a few days
after his father's death. His
parents were poor emigrants
from Ireland, and took up
their abode in Waxhaw set-
tlement, where they lived in
deepest poverty.
Andrew, or Andy, as he was
universally called, grew up a very
rough, rude, turbulent boy. His
features were coarse, his form un-
gainly; and there was but very
little in his character, made visible, which was at-
tractive.

When only thirteen years old he joined the volun-
teers of Carolina against the British invasion. In
1781, he and his brother Robert were captured and
imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British officer
ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am
a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of
the dauntless boy.

Tlic brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate
blow at the head of the helpless young prisoner.
Andrew raised his hand, and thus received two fear-
ful gashes, — one on the hand and the other upon the
head. The officer then turned to his brother Robert
with the same demand. He also refused, and re-
ceived a blow from the keen-edged sabre, which ipiite
disabled him, and which probably soon after caused
his death. They suffered much other ill-treatment, and
were finally stricken with the small-jxjx. Their
mother was successful in obtaining their exchange.

and took her sick boys home. After a long illness
Andrew recovered, and the death of his mother soon
left him entirely friendless.

Andrew supported himself in various ways, such as
working at the saddler's trade, ' teaching school and
clerking in a general store, until 1784, when he
entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He, however,
gave more attention to the wild amusements of the
times than to his studies. In 1788, he was appointed
solicitor for the western district of North Carolina, of
which Tennessee was then a part. This involved
many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of
every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear,
and the Indians had no desire to repeat a skirmish
with the Sharp Knife.

In 1791, Mr. Jackson was married to a woman who
supposed herself divorced from her former husband.
Great was the surprise of both parties, two years later,
to find that the conditions of the divorce had just been
definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage
ceremony was performed a second time, but the occur-
rence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr.
Jackson into disfavor.

During these years he worked hard at his profes-
sion, and frequently had one or more duels on hand,
one of which, when he killed Dickenson, was espec-
ially disgraceful.

In January, 1796, tlie Territory of Tennessee then
containing nearly eighty thousand inhabitants, the
people met in convention at Kno.\vil1e to frame a con-
stitution. Five were sent from each of the eleven
counties. Andrew Jackson was one of the delegates.
The new State was entitled to but one member in
the National House of Representatives. Andrew Jack-
son was chosen that member. Mounting his horse he
rode to Philedelphia, where Congress then held its

f

44

Andre w ja ckson.

4-

r

sessions, — a distance of about eight hundred miles.

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Demo-
cratic party. Jefferson was his idol. He admired
Bonaparte, loved France and hated England. As Mr.
Jackson took his seat, Gon. Washington, whose
second term of office was then e.vpi:ing, delivered his
last si)cech to Congress. A committee drew up a
complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson
did not a[)prove of tlie address, and was one of the
twelve who voted against it. He was not willing to
say that Gen. Washington's adminstration had been
'" wise, firm and patriotic."

Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States
Senate in 1797, but soon resigned and returned home.
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Supreme Court
of his State, which position he held f-,r six years.

When the war of 18 12 witii (ireat Britian com-
menced, Madison occupied the Presidential chair.
Aaron B irr sent word to the President that there was
an unknown man in the West, Andrew Jackson, who
would do credit to a commission if one were con-
ferred u[X3n him. Just at that time Gen. Jackson
offered his services and those of twenty-five hundred
volunteers. His offer was accepted, and the troo[)s
were assembled at Nashville.

As the Britisli were hourly expected to make an at-
tack upon New Orleans, where Gen Wilkinson was
in command, he was ordered to descend the river
with fifteen hundred troops to aid Wilkinson,,. The
expedition reached Natchez; and after adrfsiy oTseV;
eral weeks there, without acconiplisliing,,tvny,thirtgi-
the men were ordered back to their hohies. Bift.-the,
energy Gen. Jackson had dis|)layed, and his entire-
devotion to the comrfort of his soldiers,'Won him
golden oi)inions; and he became the most p.opular
man in the State. It was in this expedition that his,
toughness gave him the nickname of " ( )ld Hickory."-

SoDn after this, while attempting to horsewhip Col.
Thomas H. Benton, for a remark that gentleman
made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in
which a younger brother of Benton's was engaged,
he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was
lingering >iiK)n a bed of suffering news came that the
Indians, who had combined under Tecumseh from
Florida to the Lnkes, to e.xterminate the white set-
tlers, were commilting the most awful ravages. De-
cisive action became necessary. Gen. Jackson, with
his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in
a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assis-
tance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an
army to rendezvous at Fayettesville, Alabama.

The Creek Indians had established a strong fort on
one of the bendsof the Tallauoosa River, near the cen-
ter of Alabama, about fifty miles below Fort Strother.
With an army of two thousand men, (ien. Jackson
traversed the pathless wilderness in a march of eleven
days. He reached their fort, called Tohopeka or
Horse-shoe, on tlie 27th of March. 1814. The bend

A*

of the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres of
tangled forest and wild ravine. Across the narrow
neck the Indians had constructed a formidable brea:,t-
work of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warriors,
with an ample suplyof arms were assembled.

The fort was stormed. The fight was utterly des-
perate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When
bleeding and dying, they would fight those who en-
deavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morn-
ing until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was
awful and revolting. .Some threw themselves into the
river; but the unerring bullet struck their heads as
they swam. Nearly everj'one of the nine hundred war-
rios were killed A few probably, in tlie night, swam
the river and escaped. This ended the war. The
ix)wer of the Creeks was broken forever. This bold
plunge into the wilderness, with its terriffic slaughter,
so appalled the savages, that the haggard remnants
of the bands came to the camp, begging for peace.

This closing of the Creek war enabled us to con-
centrate all our militia upon the British, who were the
allies of the Indians No man of less resolute will
than Gen. Jackson could have conducted this Indian
campaign to so successful an issue Immediatelv he
was ap[)ointed major-general.

Late in August, with an army of two thousand
men, on a rushing march. Gen. Jackson came to
Mobile. A British fleet came from Pensacola, landed
a force upon the beach, anchored near the little fort,
and from both ship and shore commenced a furious
assault The battle was long and doubtful. At length
one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired.
,. (Garrisoning Mobile, where he had taken his little
army, he moved his troops to New Orleans,
And the battle of New Orleans which soon ensued,
was in reality a verj' arduous campaign. This won
for Gen. Jackson an imperishable name. Here his
troops, which numbered about four thousand men,
won a signal victory over the British army of about
nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the
loss of the British was two thousand six hundred.

The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be men-
tioned in connection with the Presidency, but, in 1824,
he was defeated by Mr. Adams. He was, however,
successful in the election of 1828, and was re-elected
for a second term in 1832. In 1829, just before he
assumed the reins of the government, he met with
the most terrible amiclion of his life in the death of
his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has
perhaps never been surpassed. From the shock of
her death he never recovered.

His administration was one of the most memorable
in the annals of our country; applauded by one i)arty,
condemned by the other. No man had more bitter
enemies or warmer friends. At the exi)iration of his
two terms of office he retired to the Hermitage, where
he died June 8, r845. The last years of \Ir. Jack-
son's life were that of a devoted Christian man

;UL

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■^•■

EIGHTH PRESIDENT.

47 4

r

ARTIN VAN BUREN, the
eighth President of the
United States, was born at
Kinderhook, N. Y., Dec. 5,
1782. He died at the same
[ilace, July 24, 1862. His
l)ody rests in the cemetery
at Kinderhook. Above it is
a plain granite shaft fifteen feet
high, bearing a simple inscription-
about hall way up on one face.
The lot is unfenced, unbordered
or unbounded by shrub or flower.

There is but little in the life of Martin Van Buren
of romantic interest. He fought no battles, engaged
in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in
lX)litical and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many
signal victories, his days passed uneventful in those
incidents which give zest to biography. His an-
cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin,
and were among the earliest emigrants from Holland
to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer,
residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother,
also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intel-
ligence and exemplary i)iety.

He was decidedly a [irecocious boy, developing un-
usual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At the
age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies
in his native village, and commenced the study of
law. As he had not a collegiate education, seven
years of study in a law-office were reiiuired of him
before he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired with
a lofty ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pur-
sued his studies with indefatigable industry. After
spending si.K years in an office in his native village,

he went to the city of Mew York, and prosecuted his
studies for the seventh year.

In 1803, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years of
age, commenced the practice of law in his native vil-
lage. The great conflict between the Federal and
Republican party was then at its height. Mr. Van
Buren was from the beginning a politician. He had,
perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listening to the
many discussions which had been carried on in his
father's hotel. He was in cordial sympathy with
Jefferson, and earnestly and eloquently espoused the
cause of State Rights ; though at that time the Fed-
eral party iield the supremacy both in his town
and State.

His success and increasing ruputation led him
after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, th<:
county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years
constantly gaining strength by contending in tht-
courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned
the bar of liis State.

Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mi.
Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for
beauty and accomplishments. After twelve short
years she sank into the grave, the victim of consump-
tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep over
her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was
an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record
of those years is barren in items of public interest.
In t8i 2, when thirty years of age, he was chosen to
the State Senate, and gave his strenuous support to
Mr. Madison's adniinstration. In 1815, he was ap-
pointed Attorney-General, and the next year moved
to Albany, the capital of the State.

While he was acknowledged as one of the most
prominent leaders of the Democratic party, he had

t-

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48

MARTIN VAN Bt/RBN:

A^

the moral courage to avow tliat true democracy did
not require that " universal suffrage" which admits
the vile, the degraded, the ignorant, to the right of
governing the State. In true consistency with his
democratic principles, he contended that, while the
path leading to the privilege of voting should be o|jen
to every man without distinction, no one should be
invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were
in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue
and some property interests in the welfare of tlie
State.

In 182 I he was elected a member of the United
States Senate; and in the same year, he took a seat
in the convention to revise the constitution of his
native State. His course in this convention secured
the approval of men of all parties. No one could
doubt the singleness of his endeavors to promote the
interests of all classes in the community. In tiie
Senate of tlie United States, he rose at once to a
conspicuous position as an active and useful legislator.

In 1827, John Quincy Adams being then in the
Presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected to
the Senate. He had been from the beginning a de-
termined o[)poser of the Administration, adojsting the
"State Rights" view in opposition \o what was
deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. Adams.

Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Governorof
the State of New York, and accordingly resigned his
seat in the Senate. Probably no one in the United
States contributed so much towards ejecting John Q.
Adams from the Presidential cliair, and placing in it
Andrew Jackson, as did Martin Van Uuren. Whetlier
entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was re-
garded throughout the United States as one of the
most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians
It was supiwsed that no one knew so well as he how
to touch the secret spiings of action; how to pull all
the wires to put his machinery in motion; and how to
organize a political army which would, secretly and
stealthily accomplish the most gigantic results. By
these ixjwers it is said that he outv/itted Mr. Adams,
Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which
few thought then could be accomplished.

When Andrew Jackson was elected President he
apixyinted Mr. Van Huren Secretary of Stale. This
position he resigned in i83r, and was immediately
apiwinted Minister to England, where he went the
same autumn. The Senate, however, when it met,
refused to ratify the nomination, and he retiirned

^-^
*

home, apparently untroubled ; was nominated Vice
President in the place of Callioun, at the re-election
of President Jackson ; and with smiles for all and
fiowns for none, he took his place at the head of that
Senate which had refused to confirm his nomination
as ambassador.

His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal of
President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated favor-
ite ; and this, probably more than any other cause,
secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief Execu-
tive. On the 20th of May, 1836, Mr. Van Buren re-
ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen.
Jackson as President of the United States He was
elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the
retiring President. " Leaving New York out of the
canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Van
Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen.
Jackson as though the Constitution had 'jonferred
upon him the jiower lo a|)point a successor."

His administration was filled with exciting events.
The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in-
volve this country in war with England, the agitation
of the slavery question, and finally the great commer-
cial panic which spread over the country, all were
trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was at-
tributed to the management of the Democratic party,
and brought the President into such disfavor that he
failed of re-election.

With the exception of being nominated for the
Presidency by the " Free Soil " Democrats, in 1848,
Mr. Van Buren lived quietly uiwn his estate until
his death.

He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits,
and living within his income, had now fortunately a
competence for his declining years. His unblemished
character, his commanding abilities, his uncpiestioned
jiatriotism, and the distinguished |)ositions which he
had occupied in the government of our country, se-
cured to him not only the hjmage of his jiarty, but
the respect ot the whole community. It was on the
4th of March, 1841, that Mr. Van Buren retired from
the presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald,
he still exerted a jjowerful influence upon theiwlitics
of the country. From this time until his death, on
the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty -ears, he
resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of
culture and of wealth; enjoyir.g in a healthy old
age, probably far more happiness than he had before
experienced amid the stormy scenes of his active life.

a^

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•<••

NINTH PRESIDENT.

f

5'

1 navi

ILLIAM HENRY HARRI-
SON, the ninth President of
the United States, was born
at Berkeley, Va., Feb. 9, 1773.
His father, Benjamin llarri-
son,was in comparatively op-
ulent circumstances, and was
one of the most distinguished
men of his day. He was an
intimate friend of George
Washington, was early elected
a member of the Continental
Congress, and was conspicuous
among the patriots of Virginia in
resisting the encroachments of the
British crown. In the celebrated
Congress of 1775, Benjamin Har-
rison and John Hancock were
both candidates for the office of
speaker.

Mr Harrison was subsequently
chosen Governor of Virginia, and
was twice re-elected. His son,
William Henry, of course enjoyed
in childhood all the advantages which wealth and
intellectual and cultivated society could give. Hav-
ing received a thorough common-school education, he
entered Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated
with honor soon after the death of his father. He
then repaired to Philadelphia tustudy medicine under
the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianship of
Robert Morris, both of whom were, with his father,
signers of the Declaration of Independeni c.

Upon the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and not-
withstanding the remonstrances of his friends, he
abandoned his medical studies and entered the army,
having obtained a commission of Ensign from Presi-

dent Washington. He was then but 19 years old.
From that time he passed gradually upward in rank
until he became aid to General Wayne, after whose
death he resigned his commission. He was then ap-
pointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. This
Territory was then entitled to but one member in
Congress and Capt. Harrison was chosen to fill that
[Xisiticn.

In the spring of 1800 the North-western Territory
was divided by Congress into two portions. The
eastern portion, comprising the region now embraced
in the State of Ohio, was called '" The Territory
north-west of the Ohio." The western portion, which
included what is now called Indiana, Illinois and
Wisconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil-
liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was aj)-
[Xjinted by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana
Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of
Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over ahnost as
extensive a realm as any sovereign upon the globe. He
was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was in-
vested with powers nearly dictatorial over the now
rapidly increasing white population. The ability and
fidelity with which he discharged these responsible
duties may be inferred from the fact that he was four
times appointed to this office — first by John Adams,
twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterwards by Presi-
dent Madison.

When he began his adminstration there were but
three white settlementsin that almost boundless region,
now crowded with cities and resounding with all the
tumult of wealth and traffic. One of these settlements
was on the Ohio, nearly opposite Louisville; one at
Vincennes, on the Waliash, and the thiid a French
settlement.

The vast wilderness over which Gov. Harrison
reigned was filled with many tribes of Indians. About

1

■l-

t

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WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.

the year 1806, two extraordinary men, twin brothers,
of the Shawnese tribe, rose among them. One of
these was called Tecumseh, or " The Crouching
Panther;" tiie other, OUiwaclieca, or "The Prophet."
TecLunseh was not only an Indian warrior, but a man
of great sagacity, far-reaching foresight and indomit-
able perseverance in any enterprise m which he might
engage. He was inspired with the highest enthusiasm,
and had long regarded with dread and with hatred
the encroacliment of the whites upon the hunting-
grounds of his fathers. His brother, the Prophet, was
anorator, wiio could sway tiie feelings of the untutored
Indian as the gale tossed the tree -tops beneath which
they dwelt.

But the Prophet was not merely anorator: he was,
in the superstitious minds of tlie Indians, invested
with the su|)erhunian dignity of a medicine-man or a
magician. With an enthusiasm unsurpassed by Peter
the Hermit rousing Europe to the crusades, he went
from tribe to tribe, assuming tiiat he was si)ecially sent
by the tlreat Spirit.

Gov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate
the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Tippe-
canoe the Indians were routed with great slaughter.
October 28, 18 12, his army began its march. When
near the Prophet's town three Indians of rank made
their appearance and inquired why (lov. Harri=on was
approaching tliem in so hostile an attitude. After a
short conference, arrangements were made for a mat-
ing the next day, to agree upon terms of peace.

But Oov. Harrison was too well acquainted witli
the Indian character to be deceived by such protes-
tations Selecting a favorable spot for his night's en-
campment, he took every precaution against surprise
His troops were jxDsted in a hollow square, and slept
upon their arms.

The troops threw themselves upon the ground for
rest; but every man had his accourtrements on, his
loaded musket liy his side, and his bayonet fixed. The
wakeful (lovernor, between three anil four o'clock in
the morning, had risen, and was sitting in conversa-
tion with his aids by the embers of a waning fire. It
was a chill, cloudy morning with a drizzling rain. In
the darkness, the Indians had crept as near as possi-
ble, and just then, with a savage yell, rushed, with all
the desperation which superstition and passion most
highly inflamed could give, upon the left flank of the
little army. The savages had been amply provided
with guns and ammunition l)y the English. Their
war-whoop was accompained liy a shower of bullets.

The cani|)-fires were instantly extinguished, as the
light aided the Indians in their aim. With hide-
ous yells, the Indian bantls rusheti on, not doubting a
speedy and an entire victory. l?ut Gen. Harrison's
troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them
until day dawned : they then made a simultaneous
charge with the bayonet, and swept every thing be-
fore them, and completely routing the foe.

(iov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked
to the utmost. The British descending from the Can -
adas, were of themselves a very formidable force ; but
with their savage allies, rushing like wolves I'roni the
forest, searching out every remote farm-house, burn-
ing, plundering, scalijing, torturing, the wide frontier
was plunged into a state of consternation which even
the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive.
The war-whoop was resounding everywhere in the
forest. The horizon was illuminated with the conflagra-
tion of the cabins of the settlers. Gen Hull had made
the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit.
Under these despairing circumstances, Gov. Harrison
was api)ointed by President Madison commander-in-
chief of the North-westetn army, with orders to retake
Detroit, and to protect the frontiers.

It would be difficult to place a man in a situation
demanding more energy, sagacity and courage; but
General Harrison was found equal to the position,
and nobly and triuuqihantly did he meet all the re-
sponsibilities.

He won the love of his soldiers by always sharing
with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while
Itursuing the foe up the Thames, was carried in a
valise; and his bedding consisted of a single blanket
lashed over his saddle. Thirty-five British officers,
his prisoners of war, supped with him after the battle.
The only fare he could give them was beef roasted
before the fire, without bread or salt.

In i8i6. Gen. Harrison was chosen a member of
the National House of Representatives, to rejiresent
the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved an
active member; and whenever he sjxjke, it was with
force of reason and power of eloquence, which arrested
the attention of all the members.

In 18 19, Harrison was elected to tlie Senate of
Ohio; and in 1824, as oneof the presidential electors
of that State, he gave his vote Uix Henry Clay. The
same year he was chosen to the United States Senate.

In 1836, the friends of Gen. Harrison brought him
forward as a candidate for the Presidency against
Van Buren, but he was defeated. At the close of
Mr. Van Buren's term, he was re-nominated by his
party, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated
by the Whigs, with John Tyler lorthe ^'ice Presidency.
The contest was very animated. Gen Jackson gave
all his infiiience to [)revent Harrison's election; but
his triumph was signal.

The cabinet wliich he formed, with Daniel Webster
at its head as Secretary of State, was one of the most
brilliant with which anv President had ever been
surrounded. Never were the jjrospects of an admin-
istration more flattering, or the ho|)es of the country
more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and
joyous prospects, Gen. Harrison was seized by a
pleurisv-fever and after a few days of violent sick-
ness, died on the 4th of April ; just one month after
his inauguration as President of the United States,

i

f

TENTH PRESIDENT.

55

4:

OHN TYLER, the tenth

ria, Presidentof tlie United States.
He was born in Charles-city
Co., Va., March 29, 1790. He
was the favored child of af-
fluence and high social po-
sition. At the early age of
twelve, John entered William
and Mary College and grad-
uated with much honor when
but seventeen years old. After
graduating, he devoted him-
self with great assiduity to the
study of law, partly with his
father and partly with Edmund
Randolph, one of the most distin-
guished lawyers of Virginia.

At nineteen years of age, lie
commenced the practice of law.
His success was rapid and aston-
ishing. It is said that three
months had not elapsed ere there
was scarcely a case on the dock-
et of the court in which he was
not retained. When but twenty-one years of age, he
was almost unanimously elected to a seat in the State
Legislature. He connected himself with the Demo-
cratic party, and warmly advocated the measures of
Jefferson and Madison. For five successive years he
was elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the
unanimous vote or his county.

When but twenty-si.K years of age, he was elected
a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and
ably with the Democratic party, opposing a national
bank, internal improvements by the General Govern-

ment, a protective tariff, and advocating a strict con-
struction of the Constitution, and the most careful
vigilance over State rights. His labors in Congress
were so arduous that before the close of his second
term he found it necessary to resign and retire to his
estate, in Charles-city Co., to recruit liis health. He,
however, soon after consented to take his seat in the
State Legislature, where his influence was powerful
in promoting public works of great utility. With a
reputation thus canstantly increasing, he was chosen
by a very large majority of votes. Governor of his
native State. His administration was signally a suc-
cessful one. His popularity secured his re-election.

John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed
man, then represented Virginia in the Senate of the
United States. A portion of the Democratic party
was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course,
and brought forward John Tyler as his opponent,
considering him the only man in Virginia of sufficient
popularity to succeed against the renowned orator of
Roanoke. Mr. Tyler was the victor.

\\\ accordance with his professions, upon taking his
seat in the Senate, he joined the ranks of the opposi-
tion. He opposed the tariff; he simke against and
voted against the bank as unconstitutional ; he stren-
uously opposed all restrictions upon slavery, resist-
ing all projects of internal improvements by the Gen-
eral Government, and avowed his sympathy with Mr.
Calhoun's view of nullification ; he declared that Gen.
Jackson, by his opposition to the nullifiers, had
abandoned the piinciples of the Democratic party.
Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress, — a record
in perfect accordance with the principles which he
had always avowed.

Returning to Virginia, he resumed the practice of
liis profession. There was a rplit in the Democratic

■ ^»

JOHN TYLER.

party. His friends still regarded him as a true Jef-
fersonian, gave him a dinner, and showered compli-
ments upon him. He had now attained the age of
forty-six. His career had been very brilliant. In con-
sequence of his devotion to public business, his pri-
vate affairs had fallen into some disorder; and it was
not without satisfaction that he resumed the practice
of law, and devoted himself to the culture of his plan-
tation. Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg,
for the better education of his children ; and he again
took his seat in the Legislature of Virginia.

By the Southern Whigs, he was sent to the national
convention at Harrisburg to nominate a President in
1839. The majority of votes were given to Gen. Har-
rison, a genuine Whig, much to the disappointment of
the South, who wished for Henry Clay. To concili-
ate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the
convention then nominated John Tyler for Vice Pres-
ident. It was well known that he was not in sympa-
thy with the Whig party in theNo:th: but the Vice
President has but very little [X)wer in the Govern-
ment, his main and almost only duty being to pre-
side over the meetings of the Senate. Thus it hap-
pened that a Whig President, and, in reality, a
Democratic Vice President were chosen.

In 1841, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice Presi-
dent of the United States. In one short month from
that time. President Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler
thus found himself, to his own surprise and that of
the whole Nation, an occu|)ant of the Presidential
chair. This was a new test of the stability of our
institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our
country that such an event had occured. Mr. Fyler
was at home in Williamsburg when he received the
unexpected tidings of the death of President Harri-
son. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of
April was inaugurated to the high and resix>nsible
office. He was placed in a position of exceeding
delicacy and diffit:ulty. All his long life he had been
opposed tc th.e main principles of the party which had
brought him into power. He had ever been a con-"
sistent, honest man, with an unblemished record.
Gen. Harrison had selected a Whig caliinet. Should
he retain them, and thus surround himself with coun-
sellors whose views were antagonistic to his own.? or,
on the other hand, should he turn against the party
which had elected him and select a cabinet in har-
mony with himself, and which would oppose all those
views which the Whigs deemed essential to the pub-
lic welfare? This was his fearful dilemma. He in-
vited the cabinet which President Harrison had
selected to retain their seats. He reccommended a
day of fasting and prayer, that God would guide and
bless lis.

The Whigs carried through Congress a bill for the
incor|)oration of a fiscal bank of the United States.
The President, after ten clays' delay, returned it wiili
his veto. Hv siiugested, however, that he >vould

approve of a bid drawn up upon such a plan as he
proposed. Such a bill was "accordingly prepared, and
privately tmbmitted to him. He gave it his approval.
It was passed without alteration, and he sent it back
with his veto. Here commenced the open rupture.
It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this meas-
ure by a published letter from the Hon. John M.
Botts, a distinguished Virginia Whig, who severely
touched the pride of the President.

The ojjposition now exuliingly received the Presi-
dent into their arms. The parly which elect(Jd him
denounced him bitterly. All the members of his
cabinet, excelling Mr. Webster, resigned. 'I'he Whi^s
of Congress, both the Senate and the House, held a
meeting and issued an address to the people of the
United States, proclaiming that all [Malitical alliance
between the Whigs and President Tyler were at
an end.

Still the President attempted to conciliate. He
appointed a new cabmet of distinguished Whigs and
Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party
men. Mr. Wel)ster soon found it necessary to resign,
forced out by the pressure of his U'hig friends. Tims
the four years of Mr. Tyler's unfortunate administra-
tion ]iassed sadly away. Ko one was satisfied. The
land was filled with murmurs and vituperation. Whigs
and Democrats alike assailed him. More and more,
however, he brought himself into sympathy with his
oM friends, the Democrats, until at the close of his term,
he gave his whole influence to the support of Mr.
Polk, the Democratie candidate for his successor.

On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from the
harassments of office, to the regret of neither party, and
probably to his own unsjieakalile lelief. His first wife,
Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842;
and in June, 1844, I'resident Tyler was again married,
at New York, to Miss Julia Gardiner, a young lady of
many personal and intellectual accomplishments.

The remainder of his days Mr. Tyler passed mainly
in retirement at his beautiful home, — Sherwood For-
est, Charles city Co., Va. A polished gentleman in
his manners, richly furnished with information from
books and experience in the world, and ])ossessing
brilliant jiowers of conversation, his family circle was
the scene of unusual attractions. ^\'ith sufficient
means for tlie exercise of a generous hospitality, he
might have enjoyed a serene old age with the few
friends who g.ithered around him, were it not for the
storms of civil war which his own principles and
policy had helped to introduce.

When the great Rebellion rose, which the State-
rights and nullifying do( trines of Mr. John C. Cal-
houn had inaugurated, President Tyler renounced his
allegiance to the United States, and joined the Confed-
erates. He was chosen a member of their Congress;
and while engaged in active measures to destroy, by
force of arms, the Government over which he had
once presided, he was taken sick and soon died.

T

^

i

■4*-

ELEVENTH PRESIDENT.

""■»"■-

59

^^^S&-#I^^^SA^X6 -^i§9^^

JAMES

*< '^ ■■^.

9

I AMES K.POLK, the eleventh

i-.;j> President of the United States,

was horn in Mecklenburg Co.,

N. C, Nov. 2, 1795. His par-

,,. ,., ents were Samuel and Tane

(Knox) Polk, the former a son

of Col. Thomas Polk, who located

at the above place, as one of the

first [)ioneers, in 1735.

In tlie year 1S06, with his wife
and children, and soon after fol-
lowed by most of the members of
the Polk famly, Samuel Polk emi-
grated some two or three hundred
miles farther west, to the rich valley
of the Duck River. Here in the
midst of the wilderness, in a region
which was subsequently called Mau-
ry Co., they reared their log huls,
and established their homes. In the
hard toil of a new farm in the wil-
derness, James K. Polk spent the
early years of his childhood and
youth. His father, adding the pur-
suit of a surveyor to Ihatof a farmer,
gradually increased in wealth until
he became one of the leading men of the region. His
mother was a superior woman, of strong common
sense and earnest piety.

Very early in life, James developed a taste for
reading and expressed the strongest desire to obtain
a liberal education. His mother's training had made
him methodical in his habits, had taught him punct-
uality and industry, and had inspired him with lofty
principles of morality. His health was frail ; and his
father, fearing that he might not be able to endure a

sedentary life, got a situation for him behind the
counter, hoping to fit him for commercial pursuits.

This was to James a bitter disa])i)ointment. He
had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks
were irksome in the extreme. He remained in this
uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at his
earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made
arrangements for him to prosecute his studies. Soon
after he sent him to Murfreesboro Academy. With
ardor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed
forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half
years, in the autumn of 1815, entered the sophomore
class in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel
Hill. Here he was one of the most exemplary of
scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing
himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious
service.

He graduated in 18 18, with the highest honors, be-
ing deemed the best scholar of his class, lioth in
mathematics and the classics. He was then twenty-
three years of age. Mr. Polk's health was at this
time much impaired by the assiduity with which he
had }irosecuted his studies. After a short season of
relaxation he went to Nashville, and entered the
office of Felix Grundy, to study law. Here Mr. Polk
renewed his acquaintance with Andrew Jackson, who
resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few
miles from Nashville. They had probably been
slightly acquainted before.

Mr. Polk's father was a Jeffersonian Republican,
and James K. Polk ever adhered to the same politi-
cal faith. He was a popular public speaker, and was
constantly called upon to address the meetings of his
party friends. His skill as a speaker was such that
he was popularly called the Napoleon of the stump.
He was a man of unblemished morals, genial and

f

So

JAMES K. POLK.

:ourteous in his bearing, and with that sympathetic
nature in the jo) s and griefs of others which ever gave
him troops of friends. In 1823, Mr. Poll: was elected
to the Legislature of Tennessee. Here he gave his
strong influence towards the election of his friend,
Mr. Jackson, to the Presidency of the United States.

In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah
Childress, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. His bride was
altogether worthy of liim, — a lady of beauty and cul-
ture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a
member of Congress. The satisfaction which he gave
to his constituents may be inferred from the fact, that
for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was con-
tinued iu that office. He then voluntarily withdrew,
only that he might accept the Gubernatorial chair
of Tennessee. In Congress he was a laborious
member, a frequent and a popular speaker. He was
always iu his seat, always courteous; and whenever
he spoke it was always to the point, and without any
ambitious rhetorical display.

During five sessions of Congress, Mr. Polk was
Speaker of the House Strong passions were roused,
and stormy scenes were witnessed ; but Mr Polk per-
formed his arduous duties to a very general satisfac-
tion, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was
passed by the House as he withdrew on the 4th of
March, 1839.

In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. Polk, as a
candidate for Governor, canvassed the State. He was
elected by a large majority, and on the 14th of Octo-
ber, 1839,100k tlie oatli of office at Nashville. In 1841,
his term of office expired, and he was again the can-
didate of the Democratic party, but was defeated.

On the 4tli of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugur-
ated President of the United States. The verdict of
the country in favor of the annex;Uion of Texas, exerted
its influence upon Congress ; and the last act of tlie
administration of President Tyler was to affix his sig-
nature to a joint resolution of Congress, passed on the
3d of March, approving of the annexation of Texas to
the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas
as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister,
Almonte, immediately demanded liis passports and
left the country, declaring the act of the annexation
to be an act hostile to Mexico.

In his first message. President Polk urged that
Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be re-
ceived into tlie Union on the same footing with tlie
Other States. In the meantime, Gen. Tiiylor was sent

with an army into Texas to hold the country. He was
sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the
western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent nearly
two hundred miles further west, to the Rio Grande,
where lie erected batteries which commanded the
Mexican city of Matamoras, which was situated on
the western banks.

The anticipated collision soon took place, and war
was declared against Mexico by President Polk. The
war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration
with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first
called one of "observation," then of "occupation,"
then of " invasion, "was sent forward to Monterey. The
feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly
and awfully slaughtered. The day of judgement
alone can reveal the misery which this war caused.
It v/as by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administration
that the war was brought on.

'To the victors belong the spoils." Mexico was
prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands.
We now consented to peace upon the condition that
Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas,
all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Cal-
ifornia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of
Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles. Tiiis
was an extent of territory equal to nine States of the
size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen
majestic States to be added to the Union. There were
some Americans who thought it all right : there were
others who thought it all wrong. In the prosecution
of this war, we expended twenty thousand lives and
more than a hundred million of dollars. Of this
money fifteen millions were paid to Mexico.

On the 3d of M irch, 1S49, Mr. Polk retired from
office, having served one term. The next day was
Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated
as his successor. Mr Polk rode to the Capitol in the
same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same even-
ing, with Mrs. I'olk, lie commenced his return to
Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age.
He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits,
and his health was good ^^'itll an ample fortune,
a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties
of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years
of trantpiility and happiness were before him. But the
cholera — that fearful scourge — was then sweeping up
the Valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted,
and died on the 15th of June, 1849, in the fifly-fourtii
year of his age, greatly mourned by his countrymen.

i

Mi i M

^W

At f

';^<::^t-<:vi<^^^''V/0^:^>V-'

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t

TWELFTH PRESIDENT.

63

ac^vaga.g:iv.V«^M'SJV^Jvi\pr^^^v^^v^v^^-Pv^A\\\AV.

;^4f!|t.4.t¥ ¥4.¥*f «■

ACHARY TAYLOR, iwelfth
President of the United States,
"was born on the 24th of Nov.,
1784, in Orange Co., Va. His
father. Colonel Taylor, was
a Virginian of note, and a dis-
tinguished patriot and soldier of
the Revolution. When Zachary
was an infant, his father with his
wife and two children, emigrated
to Kentucky, where he settled in
the pathless wilderness, a few
miles from Louisville. In this front-
ier home, away from civilization and
all its refinements, young Zachary
could enjoy but few social and educational advan-
tages. When six years of age he attended a common
school, and was tlien regarded as a bright, active boy,
rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of char-
acter He was strong, feailess and self-reliant, and
manifested a strong desire to enter the army to fight
the Lidians who were ravaging the frontiers. There
is little to be recorded of the uneventful years of his
childhood on his father's large but lonely plantation.
In 1808, his father succeeded in obtaining for him
the commission of lieutenant in the United States
army ; and he joined the troops which were stationed
at New Odeans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after
this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady
from one of the first families of Maryland.

Immediately after the declaration of war with Eng-
land, in 18 1 2, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been
promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort
Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above
Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder-
ness by Gen. Harrison,on his march to Tippecanoe.
It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians,
Jed by Tecunjseh. Its garrison consisted of a broken

company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of
whom were sick.

Early in the autumn of 1812, the Indians, stealthily,
and in large numbers, moved ui»n the fort. Their
approach was first indicated by the murder of two
soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor
made every possible preparation to meet the antici-
pated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of
forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort,
waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that
in the morning their chief would come to have a talk
with him. It was evident that their object was merely
to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt.
Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept
them at a distance.

The sun went down; the savages disappeared, the
garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before
midnight the war whoop burst from a thousand lips
in the forest around, followed by the discharge of
musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick
and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that
defeat was not merely death, but in the case of cap-
ture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged tor-
ture. No pen can describe, no immagination can
conceive the scenes which ensued. The savages suc-
ceeded in setting fire to one of the block-houses-
Until six o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict
continued. The savages then, baffled at every point,
and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired. Capt.
Taylor, for this gallant defence, was promoted to the
rank of major by brevet.

Until the close of the war, MajorTaylor was placed
in such situations that he saw but little more of active
service. He was sent far away into the depths of the
wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fo.\ River, whicli
empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little
to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one
best could. There were no books, no society, no in-

f

64

.aLHhRV TAYLOR.

tellectual stimulus. Thus with him the uneveuitul
years rolled oa Gradually lie rose to the rank ot
colonel. In the Black Hawk war, which resulted in
tlie capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor
took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part.

For twenty-four years Col. Taylor was engaged in
the defence of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and in
emi)loyments so obscure, that his name was unknown
beyond the limits of his own immediate acquaintance.
In the year 1836, he was sent to Florida to com]jel
the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re-
tire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty,
had promised they should do. The services rendered
here secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of
the Government ; and as a reward, he was elevated
to the rank of brigadier-general by brevet ; and soon
after, in May, 1838, was appointed to the chief com-
mand of the United States troops in Florida.

After two years of such wearisome employment
amidst the everglades of the peninsula. Gen. Taylor
obtained, at his own request, a change of command,
and was stationed over the Department of the South-
west. This field embraced Louisiana, Mississijipi,
Alabama and Cieorgia. Establishing his headquarters
at Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, he removed his family
to a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue.
Here he remained for five years, buried, as it were,
from the world, but faithfully discharging every duty
imposed upon him.

In 1846, (ien. Taylor was sent to guard tlie land
between the Nueces and Rio Grande, the latter river
being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed
by the United States. Soon the war witli Mexico
was brought on, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la
Palma, Gen. Taylor won brilliant victories over the
Me.xicans. The rank of major-general by brevet
was then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name
was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in
the Nation. Then came tiie battles of Monterey and
Buena Vista in which he won signal victories over
forces much larger than he commanded.

His careless habits of dress and his unaffected
simplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops,
\\\Q sobriquet of "Old Rough and Ready.'

The tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista
spread the wildest enthusiasm over the country, '{'he
name of Gen. Taylor was on every one's lips. The
Whig party decided to take advantage of this wonder-
ful iiopularity in bringing forward the un|)olished, un-
lettered, honest soldier as their candidate for the
Presidency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the an-
nouncement, and for a time would not listen to it; de-
claring that he was not at all (pialified for such an
office. So little interest had he taken in politics that,
for forty years, he had not cast a vote. It was not
without chagrin that several distinguished statesmen
who had been long vears in the public service found
their claims set aside in behalf of one wliose name

had never been heard of, save in connection with Palo
Alio, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena
Vista. It is said that Daniel Webster, in iiis haste re-
marked, ■' It is a nomination not fit to be made."

Ge[i. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine
writer His friends took possession of him, and pre-
pared such few communications as it was needful
should be presented to the public. The popularity of
the successful warrior swept the land. He was tri-
umphantly elected over two opposing candidates, —
Gen. Cass and E.K-President Martin Van Buren.
Though he selected an excellent cabinet, the good
old man found himself in a very uncongenial [wsition,
and was, at times, sorely per[ilexed and harassed.
His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably
tended to hasten his death. The pro-slavery party
was pushing its claims with tireless energy, expedi-
tions were fitting out to capture Cuba ; California was
pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery
stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found
the political conflicts in Washington to be far more
trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or
Indians

In the midst of all these troubles, Gen. Taylor,
after he had occupied the Presidential chair but little
over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness of
but little over five days, died on the Qlh of July, 1850.
His last woids were, " I am not afraid to die. I am
ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died
universally respected and beloved. An honest, un-
pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the
affections of the people ; and the Nation bitterly la-
mented his deatli.

Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acquainted with
Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful
descri[)tion of his character: — " With a good store of
common sense, Gen. Taylor's mind had not been en-
larged and refreshed by reading, or much converse
with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the conse-
quence. The frontiers and small military posts had
been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his
rank, and quite bigoted in his ignorance. His sim-
plicity was child-like, and with innumerable preju-
dices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the
tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable,
chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat
a little on one side of his head ; or an officer to leave
a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an out-
side iiocket, — in any such case, this critic held the
olTL-nder to be a coxcomb (perhaps something worse),
whom he would not, to use his oft repeated jjlirase,
'touch with a pair of tongs."

"Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dil-
worth's spelling-book, on the part of one wearing a
sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter
unfitness for heavy marchings and combats. In short,
few men have ever had a more comfortable, labor-
saving contempt for learning of every kind."

i

THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT.

^•^r"

67

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■MILLflRn FILLMDRE.

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ILLARD FILLMORE, thir-
fy) tcentli President of the LInited
"' .States, was born at bummer
Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y ., on
the 7th of January, 1800. His
'^ father was a farmer, and ow-
ing to misfortune, in humble cir-
cumstances. Of his mother, the
daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard,
of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been
said that she ixjssessed an intellect
of very high order, united with much
personal loveliness, sweetness of dis-
position, graceful manners and ex-
cpiisite sensibilities. She died in
1831 ; having lived to see her son a
young man of distinguished prom-
ise, though she was not permitted to witness the high
dignity which he finally attained.

Li consequence of the secluded home and limited
means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender ad-
vantages for education in his early years. The com-
mon schools, which he occasionally attended were
very imperfect nistitutions; and books were scarce
and expensive. There was nothing then in his char-
acter to indicate the brilliant career upon which he
was about to enter. He was a plain farme'r's boy;
intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred
influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible,
and had laid the foundations of an upright character.
When fourteen years of age, his father sent him
some hundred miles from home, to the then vifilds of
Livingston County, to learn the trade of a clothier.
Near the mill there was a small villiage, where some

enterprising man had commenced the collection of a
village library. This [iroved an inestimable blessing
to young Fillmore. His evenings were S[)entin read-
ing. .Soon every leisure moment was occupied \\ith
books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate;
and the selections which he made were continually
more elevating and instructive. He read history,
biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en-
kindled in his heart a desire to be something more
than a mere worker with his Viands; and he was be-
coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed,
educated man.

The young clothier had now attained the age of
nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance
and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened that
there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample
pecuniary means and of benevolence, — Judge Walter
Wood, — who was struck with the jjrepossessing ap-
pearance of young Fillmore. He made his acquaint-
ance, and was so luuch imjiressed with his ability and
attainments that lie advised him to abandon his
trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The
young man replied, that he had no means of his own,
ro friends to help him and that his previous educa-
tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had
so much confidence in him tliat he kindly offered to
take him into his own office, and to loan him such
money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous
offer was accepted.

There is in many minds a strange delusion about
a collegiate education. A young man is supposed to
be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col-
lege. But many a l.ioy loiters through university halls
ind then enters a law office, who is by no means as

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68

t

MILLARD FILLMORE.

rr

well prepared to prosecute his legal studies as was
Millard Fillmore when he graduated at the clothing-
mill at the end of four years of manual labor, during
which every leisure moment had been devoted to in-
tense mental culture.

In 1S23, when twenty-three years of age, he v;as
admitted to the Court of Common Pleas. He then
went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the
practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region,
his practice of course was limited, and there was no
opportunity for a sudden rise in fortune or in fame.
Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of great
moral worth, and one capable of adorning any station
she might be called to fill, — Miss Abigail Powers.

His elevation of character, his untiring industry,
his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate,
gradually attracted attention ; and he was invited to
enter into partnership under highly advantageous
circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in
Buffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829,
he took his seat in the House of Assembly, of the
State of New York, as a representative from Erie
County. Though he had never taken a very active
part in politics, his vote and his sympathies were witli
the Whig ])arty. The State was then Dfertippr^ticj^:
and he found himself in a helpless minority iiv'-''the ■
Legislature, still the testimony comes froifl all parties, >
that his courtesy, ability and integrity, \t^n,'tp^;a;yery
unusual degrie the respect of his associate^:- ■■'e^'"'':.

In the autumn of 1832, he was elected to a seftk.in^
the United States Congress He entered that troubled-
arena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our
national history. The great conflict respecting the
national liank and tlie removal of tlie deposits, was
then raging.

His term of two years closed ; and he returned to
his profession, which he pursued with increasing rep-
utation and success. After a lapse of two years
he again became a candidate for Congress ; was re-
elected, and took his seat in 1837. His past exjje-
rience as a representative gave lum strength and
confidence. The first term of service in Congress to
any man can be but little )nore than an introduction.
He was now prepared for active duty. All his ener-
gies were brought to bear upon the jiublic good. I'^very
measure received his impress.

Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and
his [xjpularity filled the Slate, and in the year 1847,
he was elected Comptroller of the State.

Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven
years. His labors at the bar, in the Legislature, in
Congress and as Comptroller, had given him very con-
siderable fame. The Whigs were casting about to
find suitable candidates for President and Vice-Presi-
dent at the a|)[)roaching election. Far away, on the
waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough old
soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles
with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be
proclaimed in tiumpet-tones all over the land. But
it was necessary to associate with him on the same
ticket some man of reputation as a statesman.

Under the intluence of these considerations, the
namesof Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became
the rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their candidates for
President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was
signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1849,
Gen. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Millard
Fillmore Vice-President, of the United States.

On the 9th of July, 1850, President Taylor, but
about one year and four months after his inaugura-
tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the Con-
stitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became Presi-
dent. He appointed a very able cabinet, of which
the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State.
■ "'Mr. Fillniore had very serious difficulties to contend
■ Avith, since the opiwsition had a majority in both
■H<j.tises. He did everything in his power to cone iliate
the South; but the pro-slavery party in the South felt
the inadequacy of all measuresof transient conciliation.
The population of the free States was so rapidly in-
creasing over that of the slave States that it was in-
evitable that the power of the Government should
soon pass into the hands of the free States. The
famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr.
I'"illmcre's adminstration, and the Japan Expedition
was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr I'ill-
more, having served one term, retired.

In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres-
idency by the " Know Nothing " i)arty, but was beaten
by Mr. liiiclianan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in
retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war,
he was mostly silent. It was generally siipimsed that
his sympathies were rather with those wlio were en-
deavoring to overthrow our institutions. I'resident
Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any
cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other.
lie was tlius forgotten by both. He lived to a ripe
old age, and died in Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874.

I

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FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT.

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71

jfefseaa^^ "--:

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RANKLIN PIERCE, the
fourteenth President of the
United States, was born in
Hillsborough, N. H., Nov.
23, 1804. His father was a
Revolutionary soldier, who,
with his own strong arm,
hewed out a home in the
wilderness. He was a man
of inflexible integrity; of
strong, though uncultivated
mind, and an uncompromis-
ing Democrat. The mother of
Franklin Pierce was all that a son
could desire, — an intelligent, pru-
dent, affectionate, Christian wom-
an. Franklin was the sixth of eight children.

Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, gen-
erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the
love of old and young. The boys on the play ground
loved him. His teachers loved him. The neighbors
looked upon him with pride and affection. He was
by instinct a gentleman; always speaking kind words,
doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact
wiiich taught him what was agreeable. Without de-
veloping any precocity of genius, or any unnatural
devotion to books, he was a good scholar; in body,
in mind, in affections, a finely-developed boy.

When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820, he
entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me He was
one of the most popular young men in the college.
The purity of his moral character, the unvarying
courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and

genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite.
There was something very peculiarly winning in his
address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de-
gree studied : it was the simple outgushing of his
own magnanimous and loving nature.

Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce
commenced the study of law in the office of Judge
Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of
the State, and a man of great private worth. The
eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his
father's prominence as a public man, and the brilliant
political career into which Judge Woodbury was en-
tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the faci-
nating yet perilous path of political life. Witii all
the ardor of his nature he esix)used the cause of Gen.
Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced the
practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected
to represent the town in the State Legislature. Here
he served for four yeais. The last two years he was
chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote.

In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected
a member of Congress. Without taking an active
part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty,
and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom
he was associatad.

In r837, being then but thirty-three years of age,
he was elected to the Senate of the United States;
taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced
his administration. He was the youngest member in
the Senate. In the year r834, he married Miss Jane
Means Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom-
plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every

station with wliich her husband was honoied. Of the
•>>

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72

a

FRANKLIN PIERCE.

three sons who were born to them, all now sleep with
their parents in the grave.

In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame
and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his
residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire.
President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed
Mr. Pierce attorney-general of the United States; but
the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous
professional engagements at home, and the precariuos
state of Mrs. Pierce's health. He also, about the
same time declined the nomination for governor by the
Democratic party. 'l"he war with Mexico called Mr.
Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of
brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his
troops, at Newport, R, I., on the 27th of May, 1847.
He took an important part in this war, proving him-
self a brave and true soldier.

When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native
State, he was received enthusiastically by the advo-
cates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his oppo-
nents. He resumed the practice of his profession,
very frequently taking an active part in political (jues-
tions, giving his cordial support to the pro-slavery
wing of the Democratic party. The compromise
measures met cordially with his approval; and he
strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infa-
mous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious
sensibilities of the North. He thus became distin-
guished as a "Northern man with Southern principles.''
The strong partisans of slavery in the South conse-
quently regarded him as a man whom they could
safely trust in office to carry out their plans.

On the I 2th of June, 1852, the Democratic conven-
tion met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the
Presidency. For four days they continued in session,
and in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a
two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown
for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delegation
brought forward his name. There were fourteen
more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he
received two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all
other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was
the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with
great unanimity. Only four States — Vermont, Mas-
sachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their
electoral votes against him Gen. Franklin Pieice
was therefore inaugurated President of the United
States on the 4th of March, 1853.

His administration proved one of the most stormy our
country had ever experienced. The controversy be-
tween slavery and freedom was then approaching its
culminating point. It became evident that there was
an "irrepressible conflict" between them, and that
this Nation could not long exist " half slave and half
free." President Pierce, during the whole of his ad-
ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate
the South ; but it was all in vain. The conflict every
year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution
of the Union were borne to the North on every South-
ern breeze.

Such was the condition of affairs when President
Pierce approached the close of his four-years' term
of office. The North had become thoroughly alien-
ated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded
by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all
the intellectual ability and social worth of President
Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad-
ministrative acts. The slaveholders of tlie South, also,
unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo-
cated those measures of Government which they ap-
proved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he had
rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be
able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped
him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him.

On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re-
tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two
had died, and his only surviving child had been
killed before his eyes by a railroad accident ; and his
wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of
ladies, was rajiidly sinking in consumption. The
hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left
alone in the world, without wife or child.

When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di-
vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr.
Pierce remained steadfast in the principles which he
had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to
that pro-slavery ])avty with which he had ever been
allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice
or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Gov-
ernment. He continued to reside in Concord until
the lime of his death, which occurred in October,
1869. He was one of the most genial and social of
men, an honored communicant of the Episcopal
Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. Gen-
erous to a fault, he contiibuted libcrallv for the al-
leviation of suffering and want, and many of his towns-
people were often gladened by his material bounty.

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I'IFTEENTH PRESIDENT.

75

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AMES BUCHANAN, the fif-
'^teenth President of the United
States, was born ni a small
frontier town, at the foot of the
eastern ridge of the Allcglia-
nies, in Franklin Co., Penn.,on
the 23d of April, 1791. The place
where the humble cabin of his
father stuod was called Stony
Batter. It was a wild and ro-
mantic s[X)t in a gorge of the moun-
tains, with towering summits rising
grandly all around. His father
was a native of the north of Ireland ;
a poor man, who had emigrated in
17S3, with little property save liis
own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married
Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer,
and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder-
ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a
clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per-
form his obscure part in the drama of life. In this se-
cluded home, where James was born, he remained
for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual
advantages. When James was eight years of age, his
father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where
his son was placed at school, and commenced a
course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His
progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, lie
entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de-
veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among
the first scholars in the institution. His application
to study was intense, and yet his native powers en-

abled him to master the most abstruse subjects with
facility.

In the year 1S09, he graduated with the highest
honors of his class. He was then eighteen years of
age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of
athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with
an exuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately
commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster,
and was admitted to the bar in 181 2, when he was
but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose
in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand
with the ablest law) ers of the State. When but
twenty-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc-
cessfully defended before the State Senate 01 e of the
judges of the .State, who was tried upon articles of
impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generally
admitted that he stood at tlie licad of the bar; and
there was no lawyer in the Stale wlio liad a more lu-
crative practice.

In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as a
candidate for Congress. He was elected, and for
ten years he remained a memberof tlie Lower House.
During the vacations of Congress, he occasionally
tried some imixirtant case. In 1831, he retired
altogether from the toils of his profession, having ac-
quired an ample fortune.

Gen. Jackson, upon his elevation to the Presidency,
appointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The
duties of his mission he performed with ability, which
gave satisfaction to all parties. LTpon his return, in
1833, he was elected to a seat in tlie United States
Senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster,
Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated the meas-
ures proposed by President Jackson, of making repri-

»»

f

f

76

JAMES BUCHANAN.

sals against France, to enforce the payment of our
claims against that country; and defended the course
of the President in his unprecedented and wiiolesale
removal from ofticeof those who were not the sup-
porters of his administration. Upon this question he
was brought into direct collision with Henry Clay.
He also, with voice and vote, advocated expunging
from tiie journal of the Senate the vote of censure
against (len. Jackson for removing the de[K)sits.
Earnestly he o|)posed the alwlition of slavery in the
District of Cokunliia, and urged the [irohibition of the
circulation of anti-slavery documents by the United
States mails.

As to petitions on tlie subject of slavery, he advo-
cated tliat tiiey should be respectfully received; and
tliat the re[)ly should be returned, that Congress had
no [jower to legislate upon the suljject. " Congress,"
said he, " miglit as well undertake to interfere with
slavery under a foreign government as in any of the
States where it now exists."

Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presidency, Mr.
Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such,
took his share of the responsibility in the conduct of
the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed that crossing
the Nueces by tlie American troops into the disputed
territory was not wrong, but for tiie Mexicans to cross
the Rio (irande into that territory was a declaration
of war. No candid man can read with pleasure the
account of the course our (jovernment pursued in that
movement

Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with
the party devoted to the perpetuation and extension
of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind
to bear agdinst the Wilniot Proviso. He gave his
cordial api)roval to the compromise measures of 1S50,
which included the fugiiive-slave law. Mr. Pierce,
upon his election to the Presidency, honored Mr.
Buchanan with the mission to Rngland.

In the year 1856, a national Democratic conven-
tion nominated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. The
political conflict was one of the most severe in which
our country has ever engaged. All the friends of
slavery were on one side; all the advocates of its re-
striction and final abolition, on the other. Mr. Fre-
mont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, re-
ceived H4 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received
174, and was elected. The popular vote stood
1,3.^0,618, for Fremont, 1,224,750 for liuchanan. On
March 4th, 1S57, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated.

Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four
years were wanting to (ill up his threescore years and
ten. His own friends, those with whom he had been
allied in political principles and action for years, were
seeking the destruction of the Ciovernment, that they
might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a
nation whose corner-stone should be human slavery,
fn this emergency, Mr. Buchanan was hopelessly be-
wildered He could not, with his long-avowed prin-

ciples, consistently oppose the State-rights party in
tlieir assumptions. As President of the United States,
bound by his oath faithfully to administer the laws,
he could not, without perjury of the grossest kind,
unite with those endeavoring to overthrow the repub-
lic. He therefore did nothing.

The opiwnents of Mr. Buchanan's administration
nominated Abraham Luicoln as their standard bearer
in the next Presidential canvass. The pro-slavery
party declared, that if he were elected, and the con-
trol of the {Government were thus taken from their
hands, they would secede from the Union, taking
with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at
Washington, and the lion's share of the territory of
the United States.

Mr. Buchanan's sympathy with the pro-slavery
party was such, that he had been willing to offerthem
far more than they liad ventured to claim. All the
South had professed to ask of the North was non-
intervention \\\yox\ the subject of slavery. Mr. Bu-
chanan had been ready to offer them the active co-
operation of the Government to defend and extend
the institution.

As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders
claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avow-
ing that Congress had no (xiwer to prevent it, one of
the most pitiable exhibitions of governmental im-
becility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He
declared that Congress had no power to enforce its
laws in any State whicli had withdrawn, or which
was attempting to withdraw from tiie Union. This
was not the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with
his hand uixjn his sword hilt, he exclaimed. " The
Union must and shall be preserved!"

South Carolina seceded in December, i860; nearly
three months before the inauguration of President
Ijincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair.
The rebel flag was raised in Charleston; Fort SumjMer
was 'besieged ; our forts, navy-yards and arsenals
were seized; our depots of military stores were plun-
dered ; and our custom-houses and post-offices were
appropriated by the rebels.

The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our
Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation looked
on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away,
and close tlie administration, so terrible in its weak-
ness At length the long-looked-for hour of deliver-
ance came, wlien Abraham Lincoln was to receive the
scepter.

The administration of President Buchanan was
certainly the most calamitous our country has ex-
perienced. His best friends cannot recall it with
])leasure. And still more deplorable it is for his fame,
that in that dreadful conflict wliich rolled its billows
of flame and blood over our whole land, no word came
from his lips to indicate his wish that our country's
banner should Iriuniph over the flag of the rebellion.
He died at his Wiieatland retreat, June i, 1868,

-4«-

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SIXTEENTH PRESIDENT.

79

ABRAHAM 1> ^i>f ^<|p < LINCOLN. > |

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BRAHAM LINCOLN, the
sixteenth President of tlie
i^.^United States, was born in
Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 12,
1809. About the year 1780, a
man l)y the name of Abraham
Lincoln left Virginia with iiis
e^_-'l> -S Kunily and moved into the tiien
wilds of Kentucky. Only two years
after this emigration, still a young
man, while worlving one day in a
field, was stealthily appro:; died by
an Indian and shot dead. His widow
was left in extreme poverty with five
little children, three boys and two
girls. Thomas, the youngest of the
boys, was four years of age at his
father's death. This Thomas was
the father of Abraham Lincoln, the
President of the United States
whose name must henceforth fcever be enrolled
with the mi;st i)rominent in the annals of our world.
Of course no record has been kept of the life
of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among
the [Xjorest of the poor. His home was a wretched
log-cabin ; his food the coarsest and the meanest.
Education he had none; he could never either read
or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for
himself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his
starving mother, and push out into the world, a friend-
less, wandering boy, seeking work. He hired him-
self out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a
laborer in the fields of others.

When twenty-eight years of age he buill a log-
cabin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the
daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emi-
grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their
second child was ."Vbraham Ijnroln, the subject of
this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble
woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn
a palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel.
"All that I am, or hope to be," exclaims the grate-
ful son "I owe to my angel-mother.

When he was eight years of age, his father sold his

cabin and small farm, and moved to Indiana. Where
two years later his mother died.

Abraham soon l>ecame the scribe of the uneducated
community around him. He coidd not have had a
better school than this to teach him to put thoughts
into words. He also became an eager reader. The
books he could obtain were few ; but these he read
and re-read until they were almost committed to
memory.

As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family
was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys and
griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sister
Sarnh, to whom he was tenderly attaciied, was mar-
ried when a child of but fourteen years of age, and
soon died. The family was gradually scattered. Mr.
Thomas Lincoln sold out his sipuitter's claim in 1830,
and emigrated to Macon Co., III.

Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age.
With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing
another log-cabin. Abraham worked diligently at this
until he saw the family comfortably settled, and their
small lot of enclosed prairie planted with corn, when
he announced to his father his intention to leave
home, and to go out into the world and seek his for-
tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril-
liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value of
education and was intensely earnest to improve his
mind to the utmost of his power He savv the ruin
which ardent spirits were causing, and became
strictly temperate; refusing to allow a drop of intoxi-
cating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read in
God's word, "Thou shalt not take the name of the
Lord thy God in vain ;" and a profane expression he
was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His
morals were pure, and he was uncontaminated by a
single vice.

Young Abraham woikcd for a time as a hired laborer
among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield,
where he was employed in building a large flat-boat.
In this he took a herd of swine, floated them down
the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mis-
sissippi to Nevif Orleans. Whatever Abraham I>in-
coln undertook, he performed so faithfully as to give
great satisfaction to his employers. In this adven-

:?^»-^

-^•-

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

-A-

ture his employers were so well pleased, that upon
his return tiiey placed a store and mill under his care.

In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he
enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He
returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23
years of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but
was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew
Jackson the a[)pointmentof Postmaster of New Salem,
His only post-office was his hat. All the letters he
received he carried there ready to deliver to those
he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon
made this his business. In 1834 he again became a
candidate for the Legislature, and was elected Mr.
Stuart, of Springfield, advised him to study law. He
walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of
Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and
began his legal studies. When the Legislature as-
sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back
one hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In
1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it
was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re-
moved to Springfield and began the practice of law.
His success with the jury was so great that he was
soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit.

\\\ 1854 Ihe great discussion began between Mr.
Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, on the slavery question.
In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois,
in 1856, he took an active part, and at once became
one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's
speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con-
test in r858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most
notable part of his history. The issue was on the
ilavery (luestion, and he took the broad ground of
.he Declaration of Independence, that all men are
created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con-
test, but won a far higher prize.

The great Republican Convention met at Chicago
on the i6th of June, i860. The delegates and
strangers who crowded tlie city amounted to twenty-
five thousand. An immense building called "The
Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Conven-
tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes
were thrown. William H Seward, a man whose fame
as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most
nrominent. It was generally sujiposed he would l)e
the nominee Abraham Lincoln, however, received
the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then
dream of the weary years of toil and care, and tlie
bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him:
andasliltledid he tl ream that he was to render services
to his country, which would fix iqion him the eyes of
the whole civilized world, and which would give him
a place in the affections of his countrymen, second
only, if second, to that of Washington.

Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180
electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore,
constitutionally elected President of the United States.
The tirade of abuse that was [Xjured u[)on this good

m^<^

and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was
greater than upon any other man ever elected to this
liigh position. In February, 1861, Mr. Lincoln started
for Washington, stopping in all the large cities on his
way making speeches. The whole journey was frought
with much danger. Many of the Southern States had
already seceded, and several attempts at assassination
were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Balti-
more had arranged, upon his arrival to" get up a row,"
and in the confusion to make sure of his death with
revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled
the plot. A secret and special train was provided to
take him from HarrisL'urg, through Baltimore, at an
unexpected hour of the night. The train started at
halt-past ten ; and to prevent any possible communi-
cation on the part ol the Secessionists with their Con-
federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train had
started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln
reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated,
although great anxiety was felt l)y all loyal people.
In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave
to Mr Seward the Department of State, and to other
prominent op[)onents before the convention he gave
important positions.

During no other administration have the duties
devolving upon the President been so manifold, and
the responsibilities so great, as those which fell to
the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and
feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in
his own strength to cope with, the ditficuhies, he
learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in
determining his |)lans, and Divine comfort in all his
trials, lio^h |)ersonal and national Contrary to his
own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the
most courageous of men. He went directly into the
rebel ca[)ital just as the retreating foe was leaving,
with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he
had left Springfield, in 1861, however, [ilans had been
made for his assassination, and he at last fell a victim
to one of them. Aiiril 14, 1865, he, with Gen. Grant,
was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It
was announced that they would Le present. Gen.
Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feel-
ing, with his characteristic kindliness of heart, that
it would be a disappointment if he should fail them,
very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to
the i)lay an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth
entered the box where the President and family were
seated, and fired a bullet into his lirains. He died the
next morning at seven o'clock.

Never before, in the history of the world was a nation
|)lunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler
Strong men met in the streets and wept ih speechless
anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was
in tears. His was a life which will filly become a
model. His name as the savior of his country will
live with that of Washington's, ils father; his country-
men being unable to decide which is the greater.

i

:W

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%i^>?t^

SEVENTEENTH PRESIDENT.

H

T^T^^S^^^

NDREW JOHNSON, seven-
teenth President of the United
States. The early life of
Andrew Johnson contains but
the record of poverty, destitu-
tion and friendlessness. He
was born December 29, 180S,
in Raleigh, N. C. His parents,
belonging to the class of the
"poor whites " of the South, were
in such circumstances, that they
could not confer even the slight-
est advantages of education upon
their child. When Andrew was five
years of age, his father accidentally
lost his life while herorically endeavoring to save a
friend from drowning. Until ten years of age, Andrew
was a ragged boy about the streets, supixsrted by the
labor of his mother, who obtained her living with
her own hands.

He then, having never attended a school one day,
and being unable either to read or write, was ap-
prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman
was in the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasion-
ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often
read from the speechesof distinguished British states-
men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more
than ordinary native ability, became much interested
in these speeches ; his ambition was roused, and he
was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read.

He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and
with the assistance of some of his fellow- workmen,
learned his letters. He then called upon the gentle-
man to borrow the book of speeches. The owner.

pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the bciok,
but assisted him in learning to combine the letters
into words. Under such difficulties he pressed on-
ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours
at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest
and recreation to devote such time as he could to
reading.

He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located at
Greenville, where he married a young lady who pos-
sessed some education. Under her instructions he
learned to write and cipher. He became prominent
in the village debating society, and a favorite with
the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or-
ganized a working man's party, which elected him
alderman, and in 1830 elected him mayor, which
position he held three years.

He now began to take a lively interest in political
affairs; identifying himself with the working-classes,
to which he belonged. In 1835, he was elected a
member of the House of Representatives of Tennes-
see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age.
He became a very active member of the legislature,
gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in
1840 "stumped the State," advocating Martin Van
Buren's claims to the Presidency, in opposition to those
of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired much
readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased
his reputation.

In 1841, he was elected State Senator; in 1843, he
was elected a member of Congress, and by successive
elections, held that important jx)st for ten years. In
1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and
was re-elected in 1855. In all these res])onsible posi
tions, he discharged his duties with distinguished abil

•►-*-«<

84

ANDREW JOHNSON.

Ar

\

t

ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work-
ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected
United States Senator.

Years before, in 1845, he had warmly advocated
the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his
reason, that he thought this annexation would prob-
ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable
sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom,
and become merged in a population congenial to
themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com-
promise measures, the two essential features of which
were, that the white people of the Territories should
be permitted to decide for themselves whether they
would enslave the colored people or not, and that
the free States of the North should return to the
South persons who attempted to escape from slavery.

Mr. Johnson was neverashamedof his lowly origin:
on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that
he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir,'"
said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget
that I am a mechanic ; neither do I forget that Adam
was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Sav-
ior was the son of a carpenter."

In the Charleston- Baltimore convention of i860, he
was the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the
Presidency. In 186 i, when the purpose of the South-
ern Democracy became apparent, he took a decided
stand ill favor of the Union, and held that " slavery
must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever
cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly
imperiled liis own life to protect the Unionists of
Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the
Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, 1862, a[)-
pointed liim Military Governor of the State, and he
established the most stringent military rule. His
numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In

1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United
States, and ujxjn the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15,

1865, became President. In a speech two days later
he said, "The American people must be taught, if
they do not already feel, that treason is a crime and
must be punished ; that the Government will not
always bear with its enemies; that it is strong not
only to protect, but to punish. * * Tlie people
must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of
crimes, and will surely l)e punished." Yet his whole
administration, the history of which is so well known,
was in utter itKonslstency with, and the most violent

opiX)sition to, the principles laid down in that speech.

In his loose policy of reconstruction and general
amnesty, he was opposed by Congress ; and he char-
acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly
defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In
the beginnirig of 1868, on account of "high crimes
and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the
removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten-
ure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were pre-
ferred against him, and the trial began March 23.

It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three
months. A test article of the impeachment was at
length submitted to the court for its action. It was
certain that as the court voted upon that article so
would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced
the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces-
sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac-
quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against
him. The change of one vote from the 7wt guilty
side would have sustained the impeachment.

The President, for the remainder of his term, was
but little regarded. He continued, though imiKitently,
his conflict with Congress. His own party did not
think it expedient to renominate him for the Presi-
dency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm unpar-
alleled since the days of Washington, around the name
of Gen. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten.
The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the
President's chair. Notwithstanding tliis, never was
there presented to a man a better opixjrtunity to im-
mortalize his nam.e, and to win the gratitude of a
nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home
in Greenville, Tenn., taking no very active part in
politics until 1875. On Jan. 26, after an exciting
struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten-
nessee, United States Senator in the fortj'-fourth Con-
gress, and took his seat in that body, at the special
session convened by President Grant, on the 5 th of
March. On the 27th of July, 1875, the ex-President
made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter
Station, Tcnn. When he started on his journey, he was
apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reach-
ing the residence of his child the following day, was
stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious.
He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at
2 .\. M., July 31, aged sixty-seven years. His fun-
eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August,
with every demonstration of respect.

f

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^^If^'^^ci.^^^^

-^•-

EIGHTEENTH PRESIDENT.

87

to

LYSSES S. GRANT, the
eighteenth President of the
^United States, was born on
the 29th of April, 1822, of
Christian parents, in a humble
l^4y home, at Point Pleasant, on the
banks of the Ohio. Shortly after
his father moved to George-
town, Brown Co., O. In this re-
mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses
received a common-school edu-
cation. At the age of seven-
teen, in the year 1839, he entered
the Military Academy at West
I Point. Here he was regarded as a
solid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of
sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank
as a scholar. In June, 1843, he graduated, about the
middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in-
fantry to one of the distant military [x^sts in the Mis-
souri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary
solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating
Indians.

The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was
sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first
battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here
for the e.i»liibition of either skill or heroism, nor at
Resaca de la Palma, his second battle. At the battle
of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that
he performed a signal service of daring and skillful
horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am-
munition. A messenger must be sent for more, along
a route exposed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut.
Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians,
grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging upon one
side of the anifoa.!, ran the gauntlet in entire safety.

i^*

From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry,
to aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In
prepararion for the march to the city of Mexico, he
was appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the
battle of Molino del Rey, he was promoted to a
first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha-
pultepec.

At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re-
turned with his regiment to New York, and was again
sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The
discovery of gold in California causing an immense
tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt.
Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in
Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the im-
migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt.
Grant resigned his commission and returned to the
States ; and having married, entered upon the cultiva-
tion of a small farm near St. Louis, Mo. He had but
little skill as a farmer. Finding his toil not re-
munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into
the leather business, with a younger brother, at Ga-
lena, 111. This was in the year i860. As the tidings
of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears
of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, —
"Uncle Sam has educated me for the army; though
I have served him through one war, I do not feel that
I have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready to discharge
my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my sword
and see Uncle Sam through this war too."

He went into the streets, raised a company of vol-
unteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield,
the capital of the State, where their services were
offered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed by
the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Capt.
Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the
volunteer organization that was being formed in the
State in behalf of the Government. On the 15th of

•^

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t/L VSSBS S. GRA NT.

4-

■I

June, 1 86 1, Capt. Grant received a commission as
Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol-
unteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who
had served for 15 years in the regular army, were such
that he was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier-
General and was i)laced in command at Cairo. The
rebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth
of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds ap-
peared in the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The
rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and
stripes were unfurled in its stead.

He entered the service with great determination
and immediately began active duty. This was the be-
ginning, and until the surrender of Lee at Richmond
he was ever pushing the enemy with great vigor and
effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur-
prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry
won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight
at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the
victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was
immediately made a Major-General, and the military
jistrict of Tennessee was assigned to him.

Like all great captains. Gen. Grant knew well how
to secure the results of victory. He immediately
pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the
terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the
siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an
unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty
thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can-
non. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most
severe blow wliicli the rebels had thus far encountered,
and opened up the Mississip[)i from Cairo to the Gulf.

Gen. CJrant was next ordered to co-operate with
Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and pro-
ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from
his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he
was laid up for months. He then rushed to the aid
of Gens. Rosecrans and Tliomas at Chattanooga, and
by a wonderful series of strategic and technical meas-
ures put tlie Union Army in fighting condition. Then
followed tile bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout
Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels
were routed with great loss. This won for him un-
bounded praise in the North. On the 4th of Febru-
ary, 1864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant-
general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant.
He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials
and enter upon the duties of his new office.

Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of
the army to concentrate the widely-dispersed National
troops for an attack upon Richmond, the nominal
capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to de-
stroy the rebel armies which would be promptly as-
sembled from all quarters for its defence. The whole
continent seemed to tremble under the tramp of these
majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field.
Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains
were burdened with closely packed thousands. His
plans were comprehensive and involved a series of
campaigns, which were executed with remarkable en-
ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur-
render of Lee, April 9, 1865.

The war was ended. The Union was saved. The
almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen.
Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its sal-
vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered
tlie country brought him conspicuously forward as the
Republican candidate for the Presidential cliair.

At the Republican Convention held at Chicago,
May 21, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the
Presidency, and at the autunni election received a
majority of the popular vote, and 214 out of 294
electoral votes.

The National Convention of the Republican party
which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, 1872,
placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second tenn
by a unanimous vote. The selection was emjihati-
cally indorsed by the people five months l.Uer, 292
electoral votes being cast for him.

Soon after the close of his second term, Gen. Grant
started upon his famous trip around the world. He
visited almost every country of the civilized world,
and was everywhere received with such ovations
and demonstrations of respect and honor, private
as well as public and official, as were never before
bestowed upon any citizen of the United States.

He was the most prominent candidate before the
Republican National Convention in 1S80 for a re-
nomination fijr President. He went to New York and
enil)arked in the brokerage business under the firm
nanieof Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain,
wrecked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to
the penitentiary. The General was attacked with
cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like
manner, never complaining. He was re-instated as
(leneral of the Army and retired by Congress. The
cancer soon finished its deadly work, and July 23,
1885, the nation went in mourning over the death of
the illustrious General.

,s^o«.^-«o^^

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t

.t

NINETEENTH PRESIDENT.

9«

;s>=^

RUTHEIII'QRD Be HiLYES.

1*

UTHERFORD B. HAYES,
the nineteenth President of
the United States, was born in
Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, al-
most three months after the
'^ death of his father, Rutherford
^g Hayes. His ancestry on both
the paternal and maternal sides,
was of the most honorable char-
acter. It can be traced, it is said,
as far back as 1280, when Hayes and
Rutherford were two Scottish chief-
tains, fighting side by side with
Baliol, William Wallace and Robert
Bruce. Both families belonged to the
nobility, owned extensive estates,
and had a large following. Misfor-
tune overtaking the family, George Hayes left Scot-
land in 1680, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son
George was born in Windsor, and remained there
during his life. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, mar-
ried Sarah Lee, and lived from the time of his mar-
riage until his death in Simsbury, Conn. Ezekiel,
son of Daniel, was born in 1724, and was a manufac-
turer of scythes at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes,
son of Ezekiel and grandfather of President Hayes, was
born in New Haven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer,
blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to
Vermont at an unknown date, settling in Brattleboro,
where he established a hotel. Here his son Ruth-
erford Hayes the father of President Hayes, was

born. He was married, in September, 1813, to Sophia
Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors emi-
grated tiiither from Connecticut, they having been
among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich.
Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to
1635, to John Birchard, one of the principal founders
of Norwich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers
in the Revolutionary War.

The father of President Hayes was an industrious,
frugal and opened-hearted man. He was of a me-
chanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stock-
ing, or do almost anything else that he choose to
undertake. He was a member of the Church, active
in all the benevolent enterprises of the town, and con-
ducted his business on Christian principles. After
the close of the war of 1812, for reasons inexplicable
to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio.

The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day,
when there were no canals, steamers, nor railways,
was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was
first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter-
mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived
in 1817. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malarial
fever, less than three months before the birth of the
son, of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore be-
reavement, found the support she so much needed in
her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the
household from the day of its departure from Ver-
mont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted
some time before as an act of charity.

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the

n

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t

EUTHERFORD B. HAYES.

\

subject of this sketch was so feeble at birth that he
was not expected to live beyond a month or two at
most. As the months went by he grew weaker and
weaker, so that the neighbors were in the habit of in-
quiring from time to time " if Mrs. Hayes' baby died
last night." On one occasion a neighbor, who was on
familiar terms with the family, after alluding to the
boy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of
him, said in a bantering way, " That's right! Stick to
him. You have got him along so far, and I shouldn't
wonder if he would really come to something yet."

" You need not laugh," said Mrs. Hayes. "You
wait and see. You can't tell but I shall make him
President of the United States yet." The boy lived,
in spite of the universal predictions of his speedy
death; and when, in 1825, his older brother was
drowned, he became, if possible, still dearer to his
mother.

The boy was seven years old before he went to
school. His education, however, was not neglected.
He probably learned as much from his mother and
sister as he would have done at school. His sports
were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being
his sister and her associates. These circumstances
tended, no doui)t, to foster that gentleness of dis|X)-
sition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings
of others, which are marked traits of his character.

His uncle Sardis Birchard took the deepest interest
in his education ; and as the boy's health- KatJ >ni-'
proved, and he was making good progres^'jj^ijbjs
studies, he proix)sed to send him to college. His pre'-
paration commenced with a tutor at home; b;it he
was afterwards sent for one year to a professq^ in tti.e
^Vesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. .'Heeij?^,-
tered Kenyon College in 1838, at the age of sixt'e^i^j-
and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842.

Immediately after his graduation he began the
study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow, Esq.,
in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in
Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter
the I^aw School at Cambridge, Mass., where he re-
mained two years.

In 1845, after graduatmg at the Law School, he was
admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly
afterward went into practice as an attorney-at-law
witli Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he re-
mained three years, acquiring but a limited i)ractice,
and apparently unambitious of distinction in his jiro-
fcssion.

In 1849 he moved to Cincmnati, where his ambi-
tion found a new stimulus. For several years, how-
ever, his i)rogress was slow. Two events, occurring at
this jieriod, had a powerful influence upon his subse-
([uent life. One of these was his marrage with Miss
Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Wcbl), of
Ciiilicothe; the other was his introduction to the Cin-
cinnati Literary C'lub, a body embracing among its
members such meri as'^hief Justice Salmon P, Chase,

Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many
others hardly less distinguished in after life. The
marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as
everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of our
Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced
and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and no one did
more than she to reflect honor upon American woman-
hood. The Literary Cluu brought Mr. Hayes into
constant association with young men of high char-
acter and noble aims, and lured him to display the
qualities so long hidden by his bashfulness and
modesty.

In 1856 he was nominated to the office of Judge of
the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to ac-
cept the nomination. Two years later, the office of
city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Council
elected him for the unexpired term.

In 1861, when the Rebellion broke out, he was at
the zenith of his prolessional life. His rank at the
bar was among the the first. But the news of the
attack on P'ort Sumpter found him eager to take up
arms for the defense of his countr)-.

His military record was bright ar.d illustrious. In
October, 186 1, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and
in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 79th Ohio
regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades
and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he
was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle
of.South Mountain he received a wound, and while
/a.intand bleeding disjjlayed courage and fortitude
tjiai.'.won admiration from all.

"Col. Haves was detached from his regiment, after
his recovery, to act as Brigadier-General, and placed
' ttTc-command of the celebrated Kanawlia division,
.'■aftd-for;gallant and meritorious services in tlie battles
ofWinchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted
Major-General, "forgallant and distinguished fcrvices
during the campaigns of rS64, in West Virginia." In
the course of his arduous services, four horses were
shot from under him, and he was wounded four times.

In 1864, Gen. Hayes was elected to Congress, from
the Second Ohio District, which had long been Dem-
ocratic. He was not present during tlie campaign,
and after his election was importuned lo resign his
commission in the army ; but he finally declared, " I
shall never coine to Wasliington until I can come by
the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in 1866.

\v. 1867, Gen Hayes was elected Governor of Ohio,
over Hon. .Mien G. Thurman, a popular Democrat.
In 1869 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton.
He w.as elected Governor for the third term in 1875.

In 1S76 he was the standard bearer of the Repub-
lican Party in the Presidential contest, and after a
hard long contest was chosen President, and was in
augurated Monday, March 5, 1S75. He served his
full term, not, hcwever, with satisfaction to his party,
but his admin'stration was an average op?

_»► ■ <

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^fO■RK

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-4•-

TiVENTIETH PRESIDENT.

95

I Ji^MUl ii, ©ARFIEiLER., I

'/i* -^ ,„ ,„ i%

AMES A. GARFIELD, twen-
tieth President of the United
States, was born Nov. 19,
1S31, in the woods of Orange,
Cuyahoga Co., O His par-
ents were Abram and Ehza
(Ballou) Garfield, both of New
England ancestry and from fami-
lies well known in the early his-
tory of that section of our coun-
try, but had moved to the Western
Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle-
ment.

The house in which James A. was
born was not unlike the houses of
poor Ohio farmers of that day. It
was about 20x30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be-
tween the logs filled with clay. His father was a
hard working farmer, and he soon had his fields
cleared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built.
The household comprised the father and mother and
their four children — Mehetabel, Thomas, Mary and
James. In May, 1823, the father, from a cold con-
tracted in helping to put out a forest fire, died. At
this time James was about eighteen months old, and
Thomas about ten years old. No one, perhaps, can
tell how much James was indebted to his biother's
toil and self-sacrifice during the twenty years suc-
ceeding his father's death, but undoubtedly very
much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis-
ters live in Solon, O., near their birthplace.

The early educational advantages young Garfield
enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the most of
them. He labored at farm work for others, did car-
penter work, chopped wood, or did anything that
would bring in a few dollars to aid his widowed
piother in he' strijggles to keep the little family to-
-«• — —

gether. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his
origin, and he never forgot the friends of his strug-
gling childhood, youth and manhood, neither did they
ever forget him. When in the highest seats of honor,
the humblest fiiend of his boyhood was as kindly
greeted as ever. The jworest laborer was sureof the
sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness
of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the
sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, plain,
modest gentleman.

The highest ambition of young Garfield until he
was about si.xteen years old was to be a captain of
a vessel on Lake Erie. He was anxious to go aboard
a vessel, wliich his mother strongly opposed. She
finally consented to his going to Cleveland, with the
understanding, however, that he sliould try to obtain
some other kind of employment. He walked all the
way to Cleveland. This was his first visit to the city.
After making many applications for work, and trying
to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with
success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos
Letcher, on tlie Ohio & Pennsylvania Canal. He re-
mained at this work but a short time when he went
home, and attended the seminary at Chester for
about three years, when he entered Hiram and the
Eclectic Institute, teaching a few terms of school in
tlie meantime, and doing other work. This school
was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1850, of
which church he was then a member. He became
janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way.
He then became both teacher and pupil. He soon
" exhausted Hiram " and needed more ; hence, in the
fall of 1854, he entered Williams College, from which
he graduated in 1856, taking one of the highest hon-
ors of his class. He afterwards returned to Hiram
College as its President. As above slated, he early
united with the Christian or Diciples Church at
Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous mem-
ber, often preaching in its pulpit and places where
he happened to be. Dr. Noah Porter, President of
Yale College, says of him in reference to his religion ;

96

JAMES A. GARFIELD.

"^nl. <#

" President Garfield was more than a man of
strong moral and religious convictions. His whole
history, from boyhood to the last, shows that duty to
man and to God, and devotion to Christ and life and
faith and spiritual commission were controlling springs
of his being, and to a more than usual degree. In
my judgment there is no more interesting feature of
his character than his loyal allegiance to the body of
Cliristians in which he was trained, and the fervent
sympathy which he ever showed in their Christian
communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty
and noble who are called' show a similar loyalty to
the less stately and cultured Christian communions
in which they have been reared. Too often it is true
that as they step upward in social and political sig-
nificance they step upward from one degree to
another in some of the many types of fashionable
Christianity. President Garfield adhered to the
church of his mother, the church in which he was
trained, and in wliich he served as a pillar and an
evangelist, and yet with the largest and most unsec-
larian charity for all 'who loveour Lord in sincerity.'"

Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss
Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. 11, 1858, who proved herself
worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and
mourned. To them were born seven children, five of
whom are still living, four boys and one girl.

Mr. Garfield made his first political speeches in 1 85 6,
in Hiram and the neighboring villages, and three
years later he began to speak at county mass-meet-
ings, and became the favorite speaker wherever he
was. During this year he was elected to the Ohio
Senate. He also began to study law at Cleveland,
and in i86i was admitted to the bar. The great
Rebellion broke out in the early part of this year,
and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had
talked, and enlisted to defend the old flag. He re-
ceived his commission as I^ieut. -Colonel of the Forty-
second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Aug.
14, 1861. He was immediately put into active ser-
vice, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in action,
was placed in command of four regiments of infantr)'
and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the
work of driving out of his native State the officer
(Humphrey Mirsliall) reputed to be the ablest of
those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had given
to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and speed-
ily accomplisiied, although against great odds. Pres-
ident Lincoln, on his success commissioned him
Brigadier-General, Jan. 10, 1862; and as "he had
been the youngest man in the Ohio Senate two years
before, so now he was the youngest General in the
army." He was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloh,
in its operations around Corinth and its march through
Alabama. He was then detailed as a memberof the
General Coutt-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fitz-Iohn
Porter. He was then ordered to rejwrt to Gen. Rose-
crans, and was assigned to the "Chief of Staff."

The military Wstory of Gen. Garfield closed with

<•

his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he won
the stars of the Major-General.

Without an effort on his part Gen. Garfield was
elected to Congress in the fall of 1862 from the
Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio
had been represented in Congress for si.xty years
mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and Joshua
R. Giddings. It was not without a struggle that he
resigned his place in the army. At the time he en-
tered Congress he was the youngest member in that
body. There he remained by successive re-
elections until he was elected President in 1880.
Of his labors in Congress Senator Hoar says : " Since
the year 1864 you cannot think of a question wiiich
has been debated in Congress, or discussed before a
tribunel of the American people, in regard to which
you will not find, if you wish mstruction, the argu-
ment on one side stated, in almost every instance
better than by anybody else, in some speech made in
the House of Representatives or on the hustings by
Mr. Garfield."

UiX)n Jan. 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elected to
the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of June, of tiie
same year, was nominated as the candidate of his
party for President at the great Chicago Convention.
He was elected in the following November, and on
March 4, 1881, was inaugurated. Probably no ad-
ministration ever opened its existence under brighter
auspices than that of President Garfield, and every
day it grew in favo; with the people, and by the first
of July he had completed all the initiatory and pre-
liminary work of his administration and was prepar-
ing to leave the city to meet his friends at Williams
College. Wliile on liis way and at the depot, in com-
pany with Secretary Blaine, a man stepped behind
him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back.
The President tottered and fell, and as he did so the
assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the
left coat sleeve of his victim, Init in.Ticting no further
injury. It has been very truthfully said that this was
" the shot that was heard round the world " Never
liefore in the history of the Nation had anything oc-
curred wiiich so nearly froze the blood of the people
for tlie moment, as this awful deed. He was smit-
ten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and
was at the summit of his ]X)wer and hope. For eighty
days, all during the hot months of July and August,
he lingered and suffered. He, however, remained
master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent
bearing was teaching the country and the world the
noblest of human lessons — how to live grandly in the
very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass-
ingly great in death. He passed serenely away Sept.
19, 1883, at Elbcron, N. J , on the very bank of the
ocean, where he had been taken shortly i>revious. The
world wept at his death, as it never had done on the
death of any other man w ho had ever lived ujion it.
The murderer was duly tried, found guilty and exe-
cuted, in one year after he committed the foul deed.

i

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OC-^-y.

-h

TWENTY-FIRST. PRESIDENT.

99

1-

HESTER A. ARTHUR,

twenty-first Presi'^.^iiL of the

'United States was born in

Franklin Cour ty, Vermont, on

g^ ^ . ,,,^ ,,.^-,^ the fifthofOc'obcr, 1830, andis

^^'^■..■h';|r the oldest of a family of two

^ ^ '"■ - ^ J sons and five daughters. His

father was the Rev. Dr. William

Ar':hur, a Baptist c'.rgyman, who

emigrated to tb.s country from

the county Antrim, Ireland, in

his 1 8th year, and died in 1875, in

Newtonville, n^ai Albany, after a

long and successful ministry.

Young Arthur was educated at
Union College, S( henectady, where
he excelled in all his studies. Af-
ter his graduation he taught school
1^ in Vermont for two years, and at
*£> the e.xpiration of that time came to
New York, with $500 in his pocket,
and entered the office of ex-Judge
E. D. Culver as student. After
I being admitted to the bar he formed
a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate,
Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing
in the West, and for three months they roamed about
in the Western States in search of an eligible site,
but in the end returned to New York, where they
hung out their shingle, and entered upon a success-
ful career almost from the start. General Arthur
soon afterward niaxr'pd the daughter of Lieutenant

Herndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at
sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in
recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occa-
sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's
nomination to the Vice Presidency, leaving two
children.

Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity
in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit,
brought to recover possession of eight slaves who had
been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superior
Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jon,
athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with
his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when
they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided
that they could not be held by the owner under the
Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from
the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the
Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal.
Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed
to represent the People, and they won their case,
which then went to the Supreme Court of the United
States. Charles O'Conor here espoused the cause
of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs.
Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward
the emancipation of the black race.

Another great service was rendered by General
Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings,
a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth
Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare.
General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a
verdict of $500 damages. The next day the compa-
ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride
on their cars, and the other car companies quickly

-•►

63417?

-4^

lOO

■•►

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave-
nue Company ran a few special cars for colored per-
sons and the other lines refused to let them ride at all.

General Arthur was a delegate to the Convention
at Saratoga that founded the Republican party.
Previous to the war he was Judge-Advocate of the
Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Gov-
ernor Morgan, of that State, apiX)inted hun Engineer-
in-Chief of his staff. In 1861, he was made Inspec-
tor General, and soon afterward became Quartermas-
ter-General. In each of these offices he rendered
great service to the Government during the war. At
the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the
practice of the lavv, forming a partnership with Mr.
Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District Attorney
of New Yoik, was added to the firm. The legal prac-
tioe of this well-known firm was very large and lucra-
tive, each of the gentlemen composing it were able
lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if
not indeed one of national extent.

He always took a leading part in State and city
politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of
New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 1872, to suc-
ceed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July,
20, 1878, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt.

Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential
ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the famous
National Republican Convention held at Chicago in
June, t88o. This was perhaps the greatest political
convention that ever assembled on the continent. It
was composed of the leading politicians of the Re-
publican party, all able men, and each stood firm and
fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their
respective candidates that were before the conven-
tion for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield re-
ceived the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur
for Vice-President. The campaign which followed
was one of the most animated known in the history of
our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of
tlie Democratic party, was a popular man, and his
party made a valiant fight for his election.

Finally the election came and the country's choice
was Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated
March 4, i88r, as President and Vice-President.
A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen
President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then
came terrible weeks of suffering, — -those moments of
anxious suspense, when the hearts of all civilized na-

tions were throbbing in unison, longing for the re-
covery of the noble, the good President. The remark-
able patience that he manifested during those hours
and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf-
fering man has often been called upon to endure, was
seemingly more than human. It was certainly God-
like. During all tliis period of deepest anxiety Mr.
Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to his
credit that his every action displayed only an earnest
desire that the suffering Garfield might recover, to
serve the remainder of the term he had so auspi-
ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested
in deed or look of this man, even though the most
honored jxisition in the world was at any moment
likely to fall to him.

At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar-
field from further suffering, and the world, as never
before in its history over the death of any other
man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of
the Vice President to assume the responsibilities of
the high office, and he took the oath in New York,
Sept. 20, 1881. The [xisition was an embarrassing
one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all
eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do,
what policy he would pursue, and who he would se-
lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been
greatly neglected during the President's long illness,
and many important measures were to be immediately
decided by him ; and still farther to embarrass him he
did not fail to realize under what circumstances he
became President, and knew the feelings of many on
this point. Under these trying circumstances President
Arthur took the reins of the Government in !iis own
hands; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of
affairs, he happily surprised the nation, acting so
wisely that but few criticised his administration.
He served the nation well and faithfully, until the
close of his administration, March 4, 1S85, and was
a popular candidate before his party for a second
term. His name was ably presented before the con-
vention at Chicago, and was received with great
favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity
of one of tile opposing candidates, he would have
been selected as the standard-bearer of his party
for another campaign. He retired to private life car-
rying with him the best wishes of the American peo-
ple, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory
to them and with credit to himself.

i

'y^tZy/^ C/^Ayc//iAy^<-£l

TWENTY-SECOND PRESIDENT.

103

)r0^er ®lei3elHttfi.>

^x^^^x^^if^s^^^>^^'g^^:^<^?/ii^^j.^^?}:^'^/!T'^^"~'^.mr'^.i^^^.m-

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000

coo

TEPHEN GROVER CLEVE-
LAN D, the twenty- second Pres-
ident of the United States, was
born in 1837, in the obscure
town of Caldwell, Essex Co.,
N. J., and in a little two-and-a-
half-story white house which is still
standing, characteristically to mark
the humble birth-place of one of
America's great men in striking con-
trast with the Old World, where all
men high in office must be high in
origin and born in the cradle of
wealth. When the subject of this
sketch was three years of age, his
father, who was a Presbyterian min-
ister, with a large family and a small salary, moved,
by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to
Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a
larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most
straggling of country villages, about five miles from
Pompey Hill, where Governor Seymour was bora.

At the last mentioned place young Grover com-
menced going to school in the "good, old-fashioned
way," and presumably distinguished himself after the
manner of all village boys, in doing the things he
ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of
all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he
arrived at the age of 14 years, he had outgrown the
capacity of the village school and expressed a most
■^•^

emphatic desire to be sent to an academy. To this
his father decidedly objected. Academies in those
days cost money; besides, his father wanted him to
become self-supporting by the quickest possible
means, and this at that time in Fayetteville seemed
to be a position in a country store, where his father
and the large family on his hands had considerable
influence. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services
llie first year, and if he proved trustworthy he was to
receive $roo the second year. Here the lad com-
menced his career as salesman, and in two years he
had earned so good a reputation for trustworthiness
that his employers desired to retain him for an in-
definite length of time. Otherwise he did not ex-
hibit as yet any particular " flashes of genius " or
eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy.
But instead of remaining with this firm in Fayette-
ville, he went with the family in their removal to
Clinton, where he had an opportunity of attending a
high school. Here he industriously pursued his
studies until the family removed with him to a point
on Black River known as the " Holland Patent," a
village of 500 or 600 people, 15 miles north of Utica,
N. Y. At this place his father died, after preaching
but three Sundays. This event broke up the family,
and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a
small salary, the position of " under-teacher " in an
asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two
years, and although he obtained a good reputation in
this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not his

*

"^►^ '

104

S. G ROVER CLEVELAND.

calling for life, and, reversing the traditional order,
he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going
to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as
there was some charm in that name for him; but
before proceeding to that place he went to Buffalo to
isk the advice of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted
stock-breeder of that place. The latter did not
speak enthusiastically. "What is it you want to do,
my boy?" he asked. "Well, sir, I want to study
law," was the reply. " Good gracious ! " remarked
the old gentleman; "do you, indeed ? What ever put
that into your head? How much money have you
got?" "Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got
any.

After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a
place temporarily as assistant herd-keeper, at $50 a
year, w'nile he could "look around." One day soon
afterward he boldly walked into the office of Rogers,
Bowen & Rogers, of Buffalo, and told them what he
wanted. A number of young men were already en-
gaged in the office, but Grover's persistency won, and
he was finally permitted to come as an office boy and
have the use of the law library, for the nominal sum
of $3 or $4 a week. Out of this he had to pay for
his board and washing. Tiie walk to and from his
uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although
the first winter was a memorably severe one, his
shoes were out of repair and his overcoat — he had
none — yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular.
On the first day of his service here, his senior em-
ployer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him
with a bang that made the dust fly, saying "That's
where they all begin." A titter ran around the little
circle of clerks and students, as they thought that
was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans ;
but indue time he mastered that cumbersome volume.
Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland
exhibited a talent for executiveness rather than for
chasing principles through all their metaphysical
l»ssibilities. " Let us (juit talking and go and do
it," was practically his motto.

The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was
elected was that of Sheriff of Erie Co., N. Y., in
which Buffalo is situated; and in such capacity it fell
to his duty to inflict capital punishment upon two
criminals. In i88r he was elected Mayor of the
City of Buffalo, on tlie Democratic ticket, with es-
pecial reference to the bringing about certain reforms

in the administration of the municipal affairs of that
city. In this office, as well as that of Sheriff, his
performance of duty has generally been considered
fair, with possibly a few exceptions which were fer-
reted out and magnified during the last Presidential
campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in
a veto message, we quote from one vetoing an iniqui-
tous street-cleaning contract: "This is a time for
plain speech, and my objection to your action shall
be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of
a mos bare-faced, impudent and shameless scheme
to betray the interests of the people and to worse
than squander the people's money." The New York
Sun afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve-
land's administration as Mayor of Buffalo, and there-
upon recommended him for Governor of the Empire
State. To the latter office he was elected in 1882,
and his administration of the affairs of State was
generally satisfactory. The mistakes he made, if
any, were made very public throughout the nation
after he was nominated for President of the United
States. For this high office he was nominated July
II, 1884, by the National Democratic Convention at
Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F.
Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks,
Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc.; and he
i^as elected by the people, by a majority of about a
thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Repub-
lican statesman, James G. Blaine. President Cleve-
land resigned his office as Governor of New York in
January, 18S5, in order to prepare for his duties as
the Ciiief Executive of the United States, in which
capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4th of
March, 18S5. For his Cabinet officers he selected
the following gentlemen; For Secretary of State,
Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware ; Secretary of the
Treasury, Daniel Manning, of New York ; Secretary
of War, William C. Endicott, of Massachusetts;
Secretary of the Navy, William C. Whitney, of New
York; Secretary of the Interior, L. Q. C. Lamar, cf
Mississippi; Postmaster-General, William F. Vilas,
of Wisconsin; Attorney-General, A. H. Garland, of
Arkansas.

The silver question precipitated a controversy be-
tween those who were in favor of the continuance of
silver coinage and those who were opposed, Mr.
Cleveland answering for the latter, even before his
inauguration.

t

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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

f

i
111

- or>o

~oSo~

NSEL BRIGG8, the first
gentleman chosen to fill the
i>iibernatori;il chiih- of Iowa
after its organization as a
State, was a native of Ver-
mont, and was born Vch. 3,
180G. His parents, who likewise
were New Engianders, were Ben-
jamin and pjlecta Briggs. Tlie
boyhood of our subject was
passed in his native State, and in at-
tendance upon the common schools
he received a fair education which
was subsequently improved by a
term at Norwich Academy. When
a young man he removed with his
parents to Cambridge, (Juernsey Co., Ohio, where
young Briggs engaged in the- work of establishing
stage lines. He also here embai'ked in political
affairs and as a Whig run for the <jttice of County
Auditor but was defeated by John Ferguson, a
Jackson Democrat.

After remaining in Ohio for six years, tiie glow-
ing accounts of the fair fields and the fertile prairies
of the Territory of Iowa, led him westward across
the Father of W.aters. He had previously united
his fortunes in life with Nancy M. Dunlap, daugh-
ter of Major Dunlap, an officer in the War of 1K12.
Even prior to this marriage he had chosen a wife,
a lady who was born on the same day and 3' ear as
himself, but of whom he was soon liereft. He
l)rought with him to Iowa his little famil}^ and lo-
cated at Andrew, in Jackson County. Seeing tlie

•^f* — —

opportunity here for resuming his former business,
he began opening up stage lines, frequently driving
the old stage coach himself. He made several con-
tracts with the FostolHce Department for carrying
the United States mails weekly between Dubuque
and Davenport, Dubuque .and Iowa City and other
routes, thus opening up and carrying on a very im-
portant enterprise. Folitically, Gov. Briggs was a
Democrat, and on coming to Iowa identified him-
self with that party. In 1842 he was chosen a
member of the Territorial House of Representatives
from .Tackson County, and subsequently was elected
Sheriff of the same county. He had taken a lead-
ing part- in public affairs, and upon the formation of
the State Government in 184(5, he became a prom-
inent candidate for Governor, and though his com-
petitors in his own party were distinguished and
well-known citizens, Mr. Briggs received the nom-
ination. The convention was held in Iowa City,
on Thursday, Sept. 24, 184G, and assembled to
nominate State ofllcers and two Congressmen. It
w.as called to order by F. D. Mills, of Des Moines
County. William Thompson, of Henry County,
presided, and J. T. Fales, of Dubuque, was Secre-
tarj'. Tho vote for Governor in the convention
stood: Briggs, sixty-two; Jesse AVilliams, thii'ty-
two, and William Thompson, thirty-one. The two
latter withdrew, and Briggs was then cliojen by ac-
clamation. Elisha CUitler, Jr., of Van Buren Coun-
ty, was nominated for Secretary of State; Joseph
T. Fales, of Linn, for Auditor, and Morgan Reno,
of .Johnson, for Treasurer. S. C. Hastings and
Sheperd Lefller were nominated for Congress. The

1

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ANSEL BRIGGS.

election was held Oct. 28, 184G, the entire Demo-
cratic ticket being successful. Briggs received
7,02<) votes and his coinju'titdr, Thomas McKnight,
the Wliig canditlate, 7,37'J, giving Briggs a major-
ity of 247.

The in-ineipal questi(m lietween the two leading
parties, the Democratic and the AViiig, at this period,
was that of tlie Ijanking system. It is related that
I short time prior ti) the meeting of the conven-
Jion which nominated Mr. Briggs, tliat in offering
I toast at a banquet, he struck tlie key-note wliicli
made him the pt)pular man of the iiour. He said,
"No banks l)ut earth and they well tilled." This
was at once caught up by his party and it did more
to secure him the nomination than anything else.
His administration was one void of any special in-
terest. He labored in harmonious accord with his
party, yet frequently exhibited an independence of
principle, characteristic of his nature. The Mis-
souri boundai-y question which caused a great deal
of excited controversy at this period, and even a
determination to resort to arms, was handled by
him with great ability.

On his election as Executive of the State, Gov.
Briggs sold out his mail contract, but after the ex-
piration of his term of service he continued his
residence in Jackson Countv. In ls70 he removed
to Council Bluffs. He had visited the western^
part of the State before the day of railroads in that
section, making the trip by carriage. On the occa-
sion he enrolled liimself as one of the founders of
the town of Florence on the Nebraska side of tlie
river and six miles above Council Bluffs, and which
for a time was a vigorous rival of Omaha. Dur-
ing the mining excitement, in 18(50, he made a trip
to Colorado, and tluce years later, in conqjany
with his son John and a large party, went to
Montana, where he remained until the ^ear

1865, when he returned to his home in Iowa.
As above stated, Gov. Briggs was twice married,
his first wife being his companii>n for a brief time
only. His second wife bore him eight chiklren, all
of whom died in infancy save two, and of these lat-
ter, Ansel, Jr., died May 15, 1867, aged twenty-
five years. John S. Briggs, the only survivor of
the family, is editor of the Idaho Herald. pul)lished
at Blackfoot, Idaho Territory. Mrs. Briggs died
Dec. 30, 1847, while her husband was Governor of
the State. She was a devoted Christian lady, a
strict member of the Presbyterian Church, and a
woman of strong domestic tastes. She was highly-
educated, and endowed by nature with that
womanly t,act and grace which enabled her to adorn
the high position her husband had attained.
She dispensed a bounteous hospitality, though her
li(nne was in a log house, and was highly esteemed
and admired by all who met her.

Gov. Briggs went in and out among his peoi)le
for m.any j'cars after his retirement from the execu-
tive ollice, and even after his return from tlie Mon-
taivi expedition. He was admired for his able
>"eL"tit«;s rendered so unselfishly during the pioneer
lJt^'4f')d'tift.,the now great and populous State. His
last''fifti)e.'5^f'>iJceration of the stomach, was of brief
■.jluratiiTii, histiug only five weeks, indeed oulj' three
•^liiys liefol'^ius Yle.ith he w.as able to be out. His
""Tj^'BiiStt occurml .at the residence of his son, John
S. Bnggs, ill (bnaha. Neb., at lialf-past three of the
iiioniing"of ■May ;■>, 1881. His death was greatl}-
niourned''all over the .State. Upon the following
day, (iov. (iear issued a proclamation reciting his
services to the State, ordering half-hour guns to be
fired and the national flag on the State capitol to
he pnl :il halt'-niast during the day upon which
the fuin'ial was held, whii'h was the following .Sun-
day succeeding his death.

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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

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TEPHEN HEMPSTEAD, sec-
ond Governoi' of Iowa, is a
native of Connecticut, where,
at New London, he was born
Oct. 1, 1812. He resided in
that State witli his pai'ents
nntil 1828, when the family
came West, locating upon a farm
near Saint Louis. This was the
liome of j'oung Stephen until 1830,
when he went to (ialena. 111., where
he served in the capacity of a clerk
in a commission house for a time,
lie was there during the exciting
period of the Black Hawk troubles,
and was an officer in an artillery
company which had been organized for the protec-
tion of Galena. After the defeat of Black Hawk
and the consequent termination of Indian troubles,
he entered the Illinois College at Jacksonville,
where he remained for about two years. On ac-
count of difficulties which he got into about
sectarianism and abolitionism, he left the college
and returned to Missouri. He shortly afterward
entered the office of Charles S. Hempstead, a prom-
inent lawyer of Galena, and Itegan the study of the
profession in which he afterward became quite pro-

ficient. In 1836 he was admitted to practice in all
the courts of the Territory of Wisconsin, which at
the time embraced the Territory of Iowa, and the
same j'ear located at Dubuque, being the first law-
yer who began the practice of his profession at that
place.

As might be expected in a territory but thinly
populated, but one which was rapidly settling up,
the services of an able attorney would be in de-
mand in order to draft the laws. Upon the organ-
ization of the Territorial Government of Iowa in
1838, he was, with Gen. Warner Lewis, elected to
represent the northern portion of the Territory in
the Legislative Council, which assembled in Bur-
lington that year. He was Chairman of the Com-
mittee Judiciary, and at the second session of that
body was elected its President. He was again
elected a member of the Council, in 1845, over
which he also presided. In 1844 he was elected
one of the delegates of Dubuque County, for the
first convention to frame a constitution for the
State. In 1848, in company with Judge Cnarles
Mason and W. G. Woodward, he was appointed
by the Legislature Commissioner to revise the laws
of the State, which revision, with a few amend-
ments, was adopted as the code of Iowa in 1851.

In 1850 Mr. Hempstead was elected Governor of

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STEPHEN HEMPSTEAD.

i

the State, and served with ability for four years,
that being the full term under the Constitution at
the time. He received 13,480 votes against 11,-
403 east for his opponent, James L. Thompson.
After the vote had been canvassed a committee
was appointed to inform the Governor-elect that
the two Houses of the Legislature were ready to re-
ceive him in joint convention, in order that he
might receive the oath prescribed by the Constitu-
tion. Gov. Hempstead, accompanied by the retir-
ing Executive, Gov. Briggs, the Judges of the Su-
preme Court and the officers of State, entered the
hall of the House where the Governor-elect deliv-
ered his inaugural message, after which the oath
was administered by the Chief Justice of the Su-
preme Court. This was an important period in the
history of the State, being at a time when the pub-
lic affairs were assuming definite shape, and indeed
it was what might be termed the foi-mative period.
The session of the Legislature passed many import-
ant acts which were approved Ijy the Governor, and
during his term there were fifty-two new counties
formed. Gov. Hempstead in his message to the
Fourth General Assembly in December, ISfli,
stated that among other things, the population of
the State according to the Federal census was 192,-
214, and that the State census showed an increase
for one year of 37,786. He also stated that the re-
sources of the State for the coming two years
would 1)6 sufficient to cancel all that yiavt of funded
debt which was payable at its option.

Among the numerous counties organized was one
named Buncombe, which received its name in the
following way : The Legislature was composed of a
large majority favcn'ing stringent corporation laws
and the liability of individual stockholders for cor-
parate debts. This sentiment, on account of the
agitation of I'ailroad enterprises then lieing inaugu-
rated, brought a large number of prominent men
to the capital. To have an effect upon the Legis-
lature, they organized a "lobby l^egislature" and
elected as (Jovcrnor, \'er|)lank \'an Antwerp, who
delivered 1<> tlie seU'-cDnstitutcd body a lengthy
message in vvlii( li lie sharpl}- criticized the regular
General Assi'inbly. Some of the members of the
latter were in the habit of making long and useful
speeches much to the hindrance of business. To

4*

these he especially referred, charging them with
speaking for "Buncombe," and recommended that
as a lasting memorial a county should lie called Ijy
that name. This suggestion wa.s readily seized on
by the Legislature, and the count.y of Binieombe
was created with few dissenting voices. However,
the Cieneral Assembly', in 1S02, changed the name
to Lj'on, in honor of Gen. Nathaniel Lyon who was
killed in the early part of the Civil War.

The season of 1851 was one of great disappoint-
ment to the pioneers of Iowa, and much suffering
was the result of the bad season ot that j'ear. By
the year 1854, the State had fully recovered fi'om
the depression thus produced, and that year as well
as the following, tlie emigration from the East was
unprecedented. The i)rairies of Illinois were lined
day after day with a continuous cai'avan of emi-
grants pushing on toward Iowa. During a single
month 1743 wagons bound for Iowa passed through
Peoria.' So remarkable had been the influx of peo-
ple into the State, that in an issue of the Burling-
ton Teler/raph appeared the following statement:
"Twenty thousand emigrants iiave passed through
the city witliin the last thirty days, and they are
still crossing the Mississippi at the rate of 600 a day."

At the expiration of his term of service, which
occurred in the latter part of the year 1854, Gov.
Hempstead returned to his old home at Dubuque.
In 1855 he was elected Count}- Judge of Dul)U(pie
County, and S(j acceptably did he serve the peoi)le
that for twelve years he was chosen to fill that posi-
tion. Under his administration tlic princii)al
county l)uilding, including the jail, pourliouse, as
well as some valuable bridges, were erected.
Owing to ill-health he was c<(m|)elled to I'etire from
])ublic life, |)assing the reniaimler of his days in
quietude and repose at Dubuque. Tluic lie lived
until Feb. 16, 1883, when, at his home, the light of
his long and evenffnl life went out. Tlic iccord
he has made, wliicli was an iioMor;ililc and distin-
guished one, was closed, and Iowa was called upon
to mourn the loss of one of lier most distinguished
pioneer citizens. He had Ijeen an unusually useful
man of the State and his services, wiiich were able
and wise, were rendered in that unselfish spirit
which distinguished so many of the early residents
of this now prosperous State.

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„ LENOX ^N0

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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

119

gfedSaas^ ■•>*sa

e-aSj^l^fr,

i^

AMES W. GRIMES, the

third gentleman to fill the
Executive Chair of the State
jf Iowa, was born in the
town of Deering, Hillsbor-
ough Co., N. H., Oct. 20,
1816. His parents, John and
Elizabeth (Wilson) Grimes, were
also natives of the same town.
'fe The former was born on the 11th
of August, 1772, and the motlior
March 19,1773. They became the
jiarents of eight children, of whom
James was the youngest and be-
came one of the most distinguished
citizens of Iowa. He attended the
district schools, and in early childhood evinced an
unusual taste for learning. Besides attending the
district schools, the village pastor instructed him
in Greek and Latin. After completing his prepar-
ations for college, which he did at Hampton Acad-
emy, he entered Dai-tmouth College, in August,
1832, which was in the sixteenth year of his age.
He was a hard student, advanced rapidly, and in
February, 1835, bid adieu to the college halls, and
with James Walker, of Peterborough, N. H., he be-
gan tb"- study of his chosen profession.

Feeling that his native State afforded too limited
advantages, and, in fact, being of a ratlier advent-
urous disposition, as well as ambitious, he desired
liroader fields in whicli to carve for himself a fort-
une. He accordingly left the home that had
sheltered him during his boyhood da\'s, and turn-
ing liis face Westward proceede<l until he had
crossed the great Father of Waters. It was in
1836, and J'oung Grimes was indeed young to thus
take upon himself such responsibilities; but pos-
sessing business tact, determination and tenacity,
as well as an excellent professional training, he de-
termined to open an office in the then new town of
Burlington, Iowa. Here he hung out his shingle,
and ere long had establislied a reputation which
extended far beyond the confines of the little city.

In April, 1837, he was appointed City Solicitor,
and entering upon the duties of that office he
assisted in drawing up the first police laws of that
town. In 1838 he was appointed Justice of the
Peace, and became a law partner of William W.
Chapman, United States District Attorney for
Wisconsin Territory. In the early part of the year
1841 he formed a partnership with Henry W. Starr,
Esq., which continued twelve years. This firm
stood at the head of the legal profession in Iowa.
Mr. Grimes was widely known as a counselor with

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JAMES W. GEIMES.

superior knowledge of the law, and with a clear
sense of truth and justice. He was chosen one of
the Representatives of Des Moines County in the
first Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa,
which convened at Burlington, Nov. 1-2, 1838; in
the sixth, at Iowa City, Dec. 4, 1843; and in the
fourth General Assembly of the State, at Iowa City,
Dec. 6, 1852. He carlj' took front rank among the
public men of Iowa. He was Chairman of the
Judiciary Committee in the House of Representa-
tives of the first Legislative Assembly of the Ter-
ritory, and aU laws for the new Territory passed
through his hands.

Mr. Grimes had liecome prominently identified
with the Whig party, and being distinguished as an
able lawyer, as well as a fair-minded, conscientious
man, he was a prominent candidate for Governor
before the convention which met in Februar}', 1854.
It was the largest convention of that party ever
held in Iowa and the last. He was clKjsen as a nom-
inee for Governor, was duly elected, and in Decem-
ber, 1854, assumed the duties of the office. Shortly
after his election it was projjosed that he should go
to the United States Senate, but he gave his;.rvd-.
mirers to understand that he was determined ^iig 'fill
the term of office for which he had been chosen!
This he did, serving the full term to tlie entire sat-
isfaction of all parties. He was a faithful . phrty
leader, and so able were his services that, while at
the time of his election as Governor Democracy
reigned supreme in the State and its representatives
in Congi'css were allied to the slave jiower, he
turned the State over to the Republican party.

His term of office expired Jan. 14, 1858, when
he retired from the Executive Chair, only, how-
ever, to assume the responsibilities of a United
States Senator. Upon the 4th of March of the fol-
lowing year he took his se:it in the Senate and was
placed upon the C(jnimittee on Naval Affairs, upon
which he remained during his Senatorial career,
serving as Cliairman of tliat important committee
from December, 18()4. Jan. IG, IStJi, Mr. Grinies
was again chosen to represent Iowa in the Senate
of the United States, receiving all l)ut six of the
votes of the General Assemljly in joint convention.

His counsel was often sought in matters of great
moment, and in cases of peculiar difficulty. Al-

ways ready to promote the welfare of the State, he
gave, unsolicited, land worth $6,000 to the Congre-
gational College, at Grinnell. It constitutes the
" Grimes foundation," and " is to be applied to the
establishment and maintenance in Iowa College,
forever, of four scholarships, to be awarded b}' the
Trustees, on the recommendation of the faculty, to
the best scholars, and the most prcjniising, in any
department, who may need and seek such aid, and
without any regard to the religious tenets or opin-
ions entertained by any person seeking cither of
said scholarships." These terms were imposed bj'
Mr. Grimes, and assumed Jul}' 20. 1865, bj- the
Trustees. He received the honorary degree of
LL.D. in 1865 from Dartmouth College, and also
from Iowa College. He also aided in founding a
public library in Burlington, donating §5,000, which
was expended in the purchase of costlj- books, and
subsequently sent from Europe 256 volumes in the
German l.angu.ige, and also contributed 600 vol-
umes of public documents.

In January, 1869, he made a donation of s.'j.OOO
to Dartmouth College, and ^l.dOdto the -'Social
Friend," a literarv society of v.hich he was a mem-
• ber-whcn in college.
. itis health failing, ]Mr. Grimes sailed for Europe,
April ' 14, 1869, remaining abroad two years,
reaching home Sept. 22, 1871, apparently in im-

:■ proved health and sjiirits. In November he cele-

■ brate'd his silver wedding, and spent the closing
months of his life with his family. He voted at
the city election, Feb. 5, 1872. and was suddenly
.attacked with severe pains in the region of the
heart, and died after a few short hours of intense
suffering.

Senator Grimes was united in marriage at Hur-
lington, la., Nov. 9, 1846, with Miss Sarah Elizabeth
Neally. Mr. Grimes stood in the foremost ranks
among the men of his time, not only in the Strife

! but of tlie nation. I'he young attorncx nlio left
the granite hills of New IIanii>shire for tlie fertile
prairies of the "West, distinguislied himself both as

I an attorney and a statesman. His personal history
is so inseparably interwoven in th;it of the history
of the State that a sketch of his life is indeed but a
record of the history of his adopted State during

I the years of his manhood and vigor.

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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

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123

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^^<i^sr^r^m9\^^&i^^^

..o*o..@^<^-

f ALPH P. LOWE, tho fourth
Governor of the State of
Iowa, was born in Ohio in
the year 1808, and like many
others of tlic distinguished
men of Iowa, eanie witliin her
'll^^'jv. borders in early pioneer
times. lie was a young man
but a little over thirty years
of age when he crossed the great
Father of Waters, settling upon its
western bank at the then small vill-
age of Muscatine. He at once
identified himself with the interests
of the growing city, and ere long
became quite prominent in local
affairs and of recognized ability in
questions of public policy. He was shortly after-
ward chosen as a representative from Muscatme
County to the Constitutional Convention of 1 844,
which framed the Constitution which was rejected
by the people.

After this cf institutional convention, Mr. Lowe
took no further part in pulilic matters for a num-
ber of years. He removed to Lee County about
1849 or '.50, where he became District Judge as a
successor to George H. Williams, who was after-
ward famous as President Grant's Attorney Gen-
eral. He was District Judge five j-ears, from 1852
to 1857, being succeeded by Judge Claggett. In
the summer of 1857 he was nominated by the Re-
publicans for Ciovenior of Iowa, with Oran Faville
for Lieutenaut-Governor. The Democracy put in

the field Benjamin M. Samuels for Governor and
George Gillaspj- for Lieutenant-Governor. There
was a third ticket in the field, supported liy the
American or " Know-Nothing " party, and bearing
the names of T. F. Henry and Easton Morris.
The election was held in October, 1857, and gave
Mr. Lowe 38,498 votes, against 36,088 for Mr.
Samuels, and 1,000 for Mr. Ilenrj'.

Hitherto the term of office had been four years,
Imt by an amendment to the Constitution this was
now reduced to two. Gov. Lowe was inaug-
urated Jan. 14, 1858, and at once sent his first
message to the Legislatui-e. Among the measures
passed by this Legislature were bills to incorporate
the State Bank of Iowa ; to provide for an agi'icult-
ural college ; to authorize the business of banking ;
disposing of the land grant made by Congress to
the Des Moines Valley Railroad; to provide for
the erection <:)f an institution for the education of
the blind, and to provide for taking a State census.

No events of importance occiu-red during the
administration of Gov. Lowe, but it was not a
period of uninterrupted prosperity. The Governor
said in his biennial message of Jan. 10, 1860,
reviewing the preceeding two years: "The period
that has elapsed since the last Ijiennial session has
been one of great disturbing causes, and of airxious
solicitude to all classes of our fellow-citizens. The
first year of this jjeriod was visited with heavy and
continuous rains, which reduced the measure of
our field crops below one-half of the usual jjroduct,
whilst the financial revulsion which commenced
upon the Atlantic coast in the autumn of 1857, did

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RALPH P. LOWE.

not reach its climax for evil in our borders until
the year just past."

He referred at length to the claim of the State
against the Federal Government, and said that he
had appealed in vain t<j the Secretary of the Lite-
rior for the payment of the j per cent upon the
military land warrants that the State is justly en-
titled to, which then approximated to a million of
dollars. The payment of this fund, he said, "is
not a mere favor which is asked of the General
CJovernment, hut a subsisting right which could be
enforced in a court of justice, were there a tribunal
of this kind clothed with the requisite jurisdiction."

The subject of the Des Moines River gi-ant re-
ceived from the Governor special attention, and he
gave a history of the operations of the State author-
ities in reference to obtaining the residue of the
lands to which the State was entitled, and other in-
formation as to the progress of the work. He also
remarked " that under the act authorizing the (iov-
ernor to raise a company of mountetl men for de-
fense and protection of our frontier, approved
Fel). 9, 1858, a company of thiity such men, known
as the Frontier Guards, armed and equipped as re-
quired, were organized and mustered into service
under the command of Capt. Henry B. Martin, of
Webster City, about the 1st of March then follow-
ing, and were divided into two companies, one
stationed on the Little Sioux River, the other at
Spirit Lake. Their jjresencc afforded securitj' and
gave quiet to the settlements in that region, and
after a service of four months they were disbanded.

" Late iu the fall of the year, however, great

alarm and consternation was again felt in the
region of Spirit Lake and Sioux River settlements,
produced by the api)earance of large numbers of
Indians on the liorder, whose bearing was insolent
and menacing, and who were charged with clan-
destinely running off the stock of the settlers.
The most urgent appeals came from these settlers,
invoking again the protection of the State. From
reiiresentations made of the imminence of their
danger and the losses already sustained, the Gov-
ernor summoned into the field once more the
frontier guards. After a service of four or five
months they were again discharged, and i)aid in the
manner prescrilied in the act under which thej^ were
called out."

Gov. Lowe was beaten for the renomination
1)y Hon. S. J. Kirkwood, who was considered
much the stronger man. To compensate him for
his defeat for the second term, Gov. Lowe
was apj)ointed one of the three Judges under the
new Constitution. He drew the short term, which
expired in 18G1, but was returned and served, all
told, eight years. He then returned to the j)rac-
tice of law, graduall}' working into a claim busi-
ness at Washington, to which city he removed
about 1874. In that city he died, on Saturday,
Dec. 22, 18is;!. He had a large family. Carleton,
one of his sims, was an officer in the Third Iowa
Cavalry during the war.

Gov. Lowe was a man of detail, accurate and
industrious. In private and public life he was
pure, upright and honest. In religious faith he
was inclined to be a bpuitualist.

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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

127

mi^Mwoedo |

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HE fifth Governor of Iowa
was Samuel J. Kirkwood.
lie was bom in Hartford
County, Md., on his father's
farm, Dee. 20, 1813. His
father was twice married,
first to a lady named Coulson,
who became the nu)ther of tw( >
sons. After the death of this
companion, the elder Kirkwood
was united in marriage with
JNIary Alexander, who bore him
three children, all of whom were
sons. Of this little family Samuel
was the youngest, and when ten
years of age was sent to Washington City to at-
tend a school taught by John McLeod, a relative of
the family. Here he remained for four years, giv-
ing diligent attention to his studies, at the close of
which time he entered a drug store at Washington
as clerk. In this capacity he continued with the
exception of eighteen months, until he reached his
majority. During the interval referred to, .young
Kirkwood was living the life of a i)edagogue in
York County, Pa.

In the year 1835, Samuel quit AVashington .and
came westward to Richland County', Ohio. His
father and brother had preceded him from Mary-
land, locating upon a timbered farm in the Buckeye
State. Here Samuel lent them valuable assistance
in clearing the farm. He was ambitious to enter
1 f the legal profession, and in the year 1841, an oppor-

tunity was afforded him to enter the ofl^ce of
Thomas W. Bartley, afterward fJovernor of Ohio.
The following two years he gave diligent applica-
tion to his books, and in 1843, was admitted to
pr.actice by the Supreme Court of Ohio. He was
then fortunate enough to form an association in
the practice of his profession with his former pre-
ceptor, which relatii>ns continued for eigiit years.

From 1845 to 1849 he served as Prosecuting
Attorney of his county. In 1849 he was elected
as a Democrat to represent his county and district
in the Constitutional Convention. In 1851 Mr.
Bartley, his partner, having been elected to the
Supreme Judiciary of the State, Kirkwood formed
a partnership with Barna])as Barns, ^vith whom he
continued to practice until the spring of 1855,
when he removed to the West.

Up to 1854 Ml". Kirkwood had .acted with the
Democratic party. But the measures proposed and
sustained that year Ijy the Democracy in Congress,
concentrated in what was known as the Kansas-
Nebraska Act, drove him with hosts of anti-slavery
Democrats out of the party. He w.as besought l>y
the opposition in the "Richland District" to be-
come their candidate for Congress, but declined.
In 1855 he came to Iowa and settled two miles
northwest of Iowa City, entering into a partnership
with his brother-in-law, Ezekiel Cl.ark, in the mill-
ing business, and kept .aloof from public affairs.
He could not long conceal his record and abilities
from his neighbors, however, and in 1856 he was
elected to the State Senate from the district com-

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128

SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD.

4

posed of the counties of Iowa and Johnson, and
served in the last session of the Legislatnre lield at
Iowa City and the first one held at Des Moines.

In 18")',) Jlr. Kirivwood was made the standard-
bearer of the Kei)ul)lieans of Iowa, and though he
had as able and popular a competitor as Gen. A.
C. D(jdge, he was elected Governor of Iowa by a
ni.ajority of over 3,000. He was inaugurated Jan.
11, 1860. Before the expiration of his first term
came the great Civil "War. As Governor, during
the darkest daj's of the Rebellion, he performed an
exceedingly important duty. He secured a prompt
response by volunteers to all reqiiisitions by the
Federal Government on the State for troops, so
that during his Governorship no "draft" took
place in Iowa, and no regiment, except the first,
enlisted for less than three 3'ears. At the same
time he maintained the State's financial credit.
The Legislature, at its extra session in 18(J1,
authorized the sale of $800,000 in bonds, to assist
in arming and equipping troops. So frugally' was
this work done, that but |;i00,(l()0 of the bouds.
were sold, and the remaining $.jOO,000 notluwing
been required, the Ijonds representing this amouiit
were destroyed hy order of the succeeding Legis-
lature.

In October, 1801, Gov. Kiikwond was, with ciini-
paratively little op|)osition, re-elected — an honor
accorded for the lirst time in the history of the
State. His majority was about 18,000. During
his second term he was apjiointed by President
Lincoln to lie INI inister to Denmark, but he declined
to enter upon his diitlomatic duties until the expir-
ation of his term as Governor. The position was
kept open for him until that time, but, when it
cnnic, iiressim;- private business compelled a declin-
ation iif the olllce altogether.

In January, 18(;(;, he was a prominent candidate
before the Legislature for United States Senator.
Senator Harlan had resigned the Senatorsliip upon

his ajipointment to the office of Secretary of the
Interior by President Lincoln, just before his
death, liut liail withdrawn from the cabinet soon
after tlie accession of Mr. Johnson to the Presi-
dency. In this waj' it happened that the Legisla-
ture had two terms of United States Senator to fill,
a short term of two years, to fill Harlan's unexpired
term, and a long term of six j'ears to immeiliately
succeed this ; and Harlan had now become a candi-
date for his own successorship, to which Kirkwood
also aspii'ed. Ultimately, Kirkwood was elected
for the first and Harlan for the second term. Dur-
ing his brief Senatorial service, Kirkwood did not
hesitate to measure swords with Senator Sumner,
whose natural egotism had begotten in him an ar-
rogant and dictatorial manner, borne with humbly
until then by his colleagues, in deference to his
long experience and eminent ability, but unpalata-
ble to an independent Western Senator like Kirk-
wood.

At the close of his Senatorial term, ^larch 4,
1867, he resumed the practice of law, which a few
yeiU'S later he relinquished to accejjt the Presidency
<jf,the, Iowa Citj' Savings Bank. In 1875 he was
again elected Governor, and was inaugurated Jan.
13, 1876. He served but little over a year, as
early in 1877 he was chosen United States Senator.
He filled this position four years, resigning to be-
come Secretary of the Interior in President (iar-
i field's Cabinet. In this office he was succeeded,
April 17, 1882, by Henry M. Teller, of Colorado.

Ciov. Kirkwood returned to Iowa Citj', his home,
where he still resides, being now advanced in years.
He was married in 1813, to Miss Jane Clark, a na-
tive of Ohio.

In 1886 Mr. Kirkwood was noniniatcd for Con-
gress by the Republicans of his district. Consider-
able interest was manifested in the contest, as both
the Labor and Democratic parties had popular can-
didates in till' lii'id.

4

GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

131

-o4o-@X^o*o..

ILLIAM M. STONE, the
sixth Governor of Iowa, was
born Oct. 14, 1827. His
parents, Truman and La-
vina (Nortli) Stone, who
were of English ancestry,
moved to Lewis County, N.
Y., when AVilliam was but a
William's grandfather, Aaron
Stone, was in the second war with En-
gland. Wlien our sidjject was six years
of age his parents moved into Oiiio, lo-
cating in Coshocton Countj'. Like many
other self-made men, William M. had few
advantages. He never attended a school
of any kind more than twelve months.
In lioyhood lie was for two seasons a team-driver
on the Ohio Canal. At seventeen he was appren-
ticed to the chairmaker's trade, and he followed
that business until he was twenty-three years of
age, reading law meantime during his spare hours,
wherever he happened to be. He commenced at
Coshocton, with James ilathews, who afterward
became his father-in-law; continued his reading
with Gen. Lucius V. Pierce, of Akron, and finished
with Ezra B. Taylor, of Ravenna. He was admitted
to the bar in August, 1851, by Peter Hitchcock
and Rufus P. Ranney, Supreme Judges, holding a
term of couit at Kavenna.

After practicing three years at Coshocton with
his old preceptor, James Mathews, he, in November,
1854, settled in Knoxville, which has remained his
home since. The 3'ear after locating here Mr.
Stone purchased the Knoxville Journal, and was
one of the prime movers in forming the Republican
party in Iowa, being tlie first editor to suggest a
State Convention, which met Feb. 22, 1856, and
completed tiie organization. In tlie autumn of the
same j'ear he was a Presidential elector on the Re-
publican ticket.

In April, 1857, Mr. Stone w.as chosen Judge of
the Eleventh Judicial District. He was elected
Judge of the Sixth Judicial District when the new
Constitution went into oi)eration in 1858, and was
serving on the bench when the American flag was
stricken down at Fort Sumter. At that time,
April, 1861, he was holiling court in Fairfield,
Jefferson Coinit}', and when the news came of the
insult to the old flag he immediately adjourned
court and prepared for what he believed to be more
important duties — duties to his country.

In May he enlisted as a private ; was made Cap-
tain of Co. B, Third Iowa Inf., and was subse-
quently promoted to Major. With that regiment
he was at the battle of Blue Mill, Mo., in Septem-
ber, 1861, where he was wounded. At Shiloh, the
following spring, he commanded the regiment and
was taken prisoner. By order of Jefferson Davis

t-

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132

WILLIAM M. STONE.

he was paroled for tlie time of forty clays, with
orders to repair to Washiiiytuu, and if possible
secure an agreement for a cartel for a general ex-
change of prijioncrs, and to return as a prisoner if
he did not succeed. Failing to secure that result
within the period si)ecified, he returned to Rich-
mond and had liis paroh; extended fifteen days; re-
pairing again to Washington, he effected his pur-
pose and was exchanged.

In August, 1862, he was appointed by Gov.
Kirkwood Colonel of the Twenty-second Iowa
Infantr}-, which rendezvoused and organized at
Camp Pope, Iowa City, the same month. The
regiment was occupied for several months in guard-
ing supply stores and the railroad, and escorting
supi)ly trains to the Army of the Southeast Mis-
souri until Jan. 27, 1863, when it received orders
to join the army under Gen. Davidson, at AVest
Plains, Mo. After a march of five daj's it reached
its destination, and was brigaded with the Twenty-
first and Twenty-third Iowa regiments. Col. Stone
commanding, and was designated the First Brigade,
First Division, Army of Southeast Missouri. April
1 found Col. Stone at Milliken's IJend, Larj-to-^vssis-t.,
Grant in the capture of Vicksburg. 5le//#fts kovf-
in immediate command of his regtmeVrfv'''iv'hich'?'
formed .a i)art of a brig.'ule under Col, C. L. Harris,
of the Eleventh Wisconsin. In tiie .idvahc'e' wjiOn-
Port Gibson Col. Harris was taken sit-k* And -Col. '
Stone was again in charge of a brigade. In the
battle of Port Gibson the Colonel and his com-
mand distinguished thenaselves, and were successful.

The brigade was in the reserve at Champion Hills,
and in active skirmish at Black River.

On the evening of May 21 Col. Stone received
Gen. Grant's order for a general assault on the
enemy's lines at 10 A. M. on the 22d. In this
charge, which was' unsuccessful. Col. Stone was
again wounded, receiving a gunshot in the left
forearm. Col. Stone commanded a brigade until
the last of August, when, being ordered to the Gulf
Department, he resigned. He had become very
popular with the people of Iowa.

He was nominated in a Republican convention,
held at Des Moines in June, 1863, and was elected
by a very large m.ajoritj'. He was breveted Brig-
adier-General in 1864, during his first year as Gov-
ernor. He was inaugurated Jan. 14, 1804, and was
I'e-elected in I860, his four years in office closing
Jan. 16, 1868. His majority in 1863 was nearly
30,000, and in 186') about 16,500. His diminished
vote in 186;") was due to the fact that he was very
strongly committed in favor of negro suffrage.

Gov. Stone made a ver}- energetic and eflicient
Executive. Since the expiration of his gubernatorial
term he has sought to escajjc the public notice, and
■fift^'giVen his time to his private business interests.
jPti^isj in partnership with Hon. 0. B. Ayres, of
Knoxyille, in legal jiractice.
it- ; He: was elected to the General Assembly in 1877.
and served one term.

In May, 1857, he married Miss Carloaet Mathews,
a native of Ohio, then residing in Knoxville. They
have one sou — William A-

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^tVJ YORK
PUBLIC UBRm

.Sv^S:^

GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

--- "» ^-

135 iL

;K$*S;C$*«:s«^;:p*«S«'^;:S'?''g::$«'*A$*^;;;$^*:-S<»$X$*$;rr«««;

••o»o-®X®"<>*0"

AMUEL MElRRILL, Governoi-
from 18G8 to 1H72, was liorn
in Oxford County, Maine,
Aug. 7, 1822. He is a de-
scendant on his mother's side
of Peter Hill, who came from
England and settled in Maine
in 1053. Fnini this ancestr}' have
sprung most of the Hills in Ameri-
ca. On his father's side he is a de-
pendant of Nathaniel Merrill, who
came from England in l(;;5(;,and lo-
cated in Massachusetts. Nathaniel
had a son, Daniel, who in turn had
a son named John, and he in turn
begat a son called Thomas. The
latter was born Dec. 18, 1708. On the 4th of Aug-
ust, 1728, was born to him a son, Samuel, who was
married and had a family of twelve children, one of
whom, Abel, was taken by his father to Boston in
1750. Abel was married to Elizabeth Page, who
had five children, one of whom. A)>el, Jr., was the
father of our subject. He married Abigail Hill
June 25, 1809, and to them were born eight chil-
dren, Samuel being the youngest but one. At the
age of sixteen Samuel moved with his parents to
Buxton, Maine, the native place of his mother,
where his time was employed in turns in teaching
and attending school until he attained his majority.
Having determined to make teaching a profession,
and feeling that the South offered better opportu-
nities, he immediately set out for that section. He

remained, however, but a short time, as he sa3^s "he
was born too far North." Suspicion having been
raised as to his abolition principles and finding tlie
element ik )t altogether congenial, he so< m aljandoned
the sunny South and went to the old (iranite State,
where the next several years were spent in fanning.
In 1847 he moved to Tamworth, N. H., where he
engaged in the mercantile liusiness in company with
a brother, in which he was quite successful. Not
being satisfied with the limited resources of North-
ern Now England he determined to try his good
fortune on the broad prairies of the fertile West.

It was in the year 1850 that Mr. Merrill turned
his face toward the setting sun, finding a desirable
location near McGregor, Iowa, where he established
a branch house of the olil firm. The i)(>pulation in-
creased, as also did their trade, and their house be-
came one of the most extensive wholesale establish-
ments on the Upper Mississippi. During all these
years of business Mr. Merrill took an active part in
politics. In 1854 he was chosen on the abolition
ticket to the Legislature of New Hampshire. The
following year he was again returned to the I>egis-
latin-e, and doubtless had he remained in that State
would have risen still higher. In coining to Iowa
his experience and abilitj' were demanded by his
neighbors, and he was here called into public serv-
ice. He was sent to the Legislature, and though
assembled with the most distinguished men of his
time, took a leading part in the important services
demanded of that body. The Legislature was con-
vened in an extra session of 1801, to provide for

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a 136

M '

SAMUEL MERRILL.

the fxigeiK'ies of the Rebelliun, and in its deliber-
ations Mr. Merrill took an active part.

In the summer of 1.SG2, Mr. Merrill was commis-
sioned Colonel of the 21st Iowa Infantry, and im-
mediate!}' went to tile front. At the time Marma-
duke was menacing the Union forces in Missouri,
which called for iiroin[>t action on the part of the
Union Generals. Col. Merrill was placed in com-
mand, with detachments of the 21st Iowa and d'Jth
Illinois, a portion of the 3d Iowa Cavalry and two
pieces of artillery, with orders to make a forced
march to Springfield, he being at the time eighty
miles distant. On the morning of Jan. 11, 1863,
he came across a l)<"ly of Confederates who were
advancing in heavy force. Immediate preparations
for battle were made by Col. Merrill, and after brisk-
ly firing for an hour, the enemy fell back. Merrill
then moved in the <lirection of Ilartville, where he
found the enemy in force under Marmaduke, being
about eight tliou>and strong, while Merrill had ))ut
one-tenth of tliat mimber. A h(>t struggle ensued
in which the 'rwenty-lirst distinguished- itself. The
Confederate loss was several ollicers and three hun-
dred men killed and wounded, while the I'nion loss
was but seven killed and sixty-four wounded. The
following winter the regiment performed active
service, taking part in the cani|(aign of Vicksburg. ■
It fought under McCIeniand at Port (iibson, and
while making the famous charge of lilack River
Bridge. Col. 3Ierrill was severel_y wounded through
the hip. lie was laid up from the 17th of May to
Januarj\ when he again joined his regiment in
Texas, and in June, 1(S(!4, on account of suffering
from his wound, resigned and returned to Mc-
Gregor. In ISlw Mr. Merrill was chosen Gov-
ernor of the State, being elected u|><m the Repub-
lican ticket. He served with such satisfaction, that
in 1861) he was re-nominated and accordingly
elected.

Under (lie adnihiistration of Gov. Merrill,
the movement for liie erection of the new State
House was inauguiated. The Thirteenth General
Assendily provi<led for the liuil<ling at a cost of
f l,.")(lll.O()(l, and made an appiopriation with wliich
to liegin the work of ¥l.">o,oot). With this sum the
work was begun, and Nov. 23, 1871, the corner
r stone was laid in the presence of citizens from all

•►-•^^

parts of the State. On this occasion the Governor
delivered the address. It was an historical view of
the incidents culminating in the labors of the day.
It was replete with historical facts, showed patient
research, was logical and argumentative, and at times
eloquent with the fire and genius of American pa-
triotism. It is a paper worthy of the occasion,
and does justice to the head and heart that con-
ceived it.

During the gubernatorial career of Gov. Mer-
rill, extending through two terms, from Janu-
ary, 1868. to January, 1872, he was actively en-
gaged in the discharge of his otticial duties, and
probably no incundient of that office ever devoted
himself more earnestly to the public good, stand-
ing by the side of Gov. Fairchild, of Wisconsin.
The two were instrumental in i)lacing the slack-
water navigation l)etween the ]Mississii)pi and the
Lakes in the way (if idtimate and certain success.
The Ciovernor treated this subject to great length
and with marked ability in his message to the Tiiir-
teenth General Assemlily, and so earnest was he in
-liehalf of this impi'ovement, that he again discussed
it in his message to the Fourteenth (ieneral Assem-
lily. In the instigation of the work the Governors
of tile different States interested, called conventions,
and tlu'ough the deliberations of these assemblies
the aid of the General Government was secured.

Samuel Merrill was first married to Catherine
Thomas, who died in 1847, fourteen moutiis after
their marriage. In January, IS.'il. lie was united
in marriage with a Miss Hill, of Huxtoii, Maine.
She became the motlier of four t-hildren. three of
whom died young, the eldest living to be only two
and a iialf years old.

After tlie expiration of liis public ser\ ice he re-
turned to McGregor, but shortly afterward lenioved
to i)es Moines, where he is now residing, and is
President of the Citizens' National Uaiik.

Tiiu> biielh' ha\'e been pointed out the leading
features in tlie life of one of Iowa's most promi-
nent citizens, and one who has maile an honorable
record both in pulilic positions ami private cnter-
[irises. He i> higlilv esteemed in the city where he
resides and is regarded as one of the faithful rep-
resentatives of the sons of New England. In stat-
ure he is fully six feet high and finely propurtioncd.

i

I-

■ii'*;:

ti

"t^.'^f^^-"'-/^

t

-^^

GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

139 u

''^^ug Qla'g' ^a>^^@Tit&T^

I i sist

YRUS CLAY CARPENTER,

Governor of Iowa from 1872
to 1875, inclusive, was born
in Susquehanna County, Pa.,
Nov. 24, 1829. He was left
_ ^^ an orphan at an early age, his
aXV«*;\ mother dying when he was at
the age of ten years, and his father two
years later. He was left in destitute
circumstances, and went first to learn
the trade of a clothier, which, however,
he abandoned after a few months, and
engaged with a fanner, giving a term
in the winter, however, to attendance
upon the district school. When eighteen
he ijegan teaching school, and the fol-
lowing four years divided his time between teach-
ing and attending the academy at Hartford. At
the conclusion of this period he went to Ohio,
where he engaged as a teacher for a year and a
half, spending the summer at farm work.

In the year 1854 Mr. Carpenter came further
westward, visiting many points in Illinois and
Iowa, arriving at Des Moines, then a village of
some 1,200 inhabitants. This place, however, not
offering a favorable location, he proceeded on his
journey, arriving in Fort Dodge June 28, 1854.
Owing to his being without funds he was compelled
to travel on foot, in which way tlie journey to Fort
Dodge was made, with his entire worldly posses-
sions in a carpet-sack which he carried in his hand.
He soon found employment at Fort Dodge, as as-
sistant to a Government surveyor. This work be-

ing completed, young Carpenter assisted his land-
lord in cutting ha}', but soon secured another
position as a surveyor's assistant. In the early
part of the following January he engaged in teach-
ing school at Fort Dodge, but in the spring was
employed to take charge of a set of surveyors in
surveying the counties of Emmet and Kossuth.

On his return to Fort Dodge he found the land-
office, which liad been established at that f)lace,
was about to open for the sale of land. Being
familiar with the country and the location of the
best land, he opened a private laud-office, and
f(jund constant and profitable employment for the
following three years, in platting and surveying
lands for those seeking homes. During this period
he became extensively known, and, being an active
Republican, lie was chosen as a standard-bearer for
his section of the State. He was elected to the
Legislature in the autumn of 1857. In 1861, on
the breaking out of the Rebellion, he volunteered
and was assigned to duty as Commissary of Sub-
sistence, much of the time being Cliief Commissary
of the left wing of the IGth Armj- Corps. In 1864
he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and assigned
to duty on the staff of Gen. Logan, as Chief Com-
missary of the 15th Army Corps. He continued in
the service until the close of the war, and in
August, 1865, was mustered out.

Upon the close of his service to his country he
returned to his home at Fort Dodge, but, owing to
so many changes which liad taken place, and such
an influx of enterprising men into the city, he
found his once prosperous business in the hands of

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140

CTRUS CLAY CA"RPENTER.

others. He tinned his attention to the improve-
ment of a piece of land, where he remained until
his election, in the autumn of 18G6, as Register of
the State Land-Office. He was re-elected in 18G8,
and refused the nomination in 1870. This position
took him to Dcs Moines, but in 1870 he returned
to Fort Dodge. During the summer of the follow-
mg year he was nominated bj' the Republican party
for Governor. He was elected, and inaugurated as
Chief Executive of Iowa Jan. 11, 1872. In 1873
he was renominated by bis partj', and October 14
of that year was re-elected, his inauguration taking
place Jan. 27, 1874. Gov. Carpenter was an able,
popular and faitliful Executive, and was regarded
as one of the most honest, prominent and unselfish
officials the State ever had. Plain, unassuming,
modest, he won his public position more through
the enthusiasm of his friends than by any personal
effort or desire of his o\vn. Everywhere, at all
times and upon all occasions, he demonstrated that
the confidence of his friends was justified. He took
an active part iu t4'';,S,'''\'y<f. fW^4''A*ftVy ^ monopolies
and transportatii mj
tration were ;

wise legislation i ii these respects..

Gov. Carpent

11,11.-., ., i.iv^h '(rrirmg his adminis-
P<yftUftt, W>W^%uch to secure

mMiim^^'

as a

public

speaker of morr tliiiw iiwlinnry ability, aifd has
upon many occasions lieon the orator, and always
appreciated b}' the people.

At the expiration of his second term as Governor
Mr. Carpenter was appointed Second Comptroller
of the United States Treasury, which position he
resigned after a service of fifteen u\onths. This
step was an evidence of his unselfishness, as it was
taken becau.se another Bureau officer was to be dis-
missed, as it was held that Iowa liad more heads of
Bureaus than she was entitled to, and his resigning
an office of the higher grade saved the position to
another. In ISSI he was elected to Congress, and
served with ability, and in the Twentieth General
Assembly of Iowa he represented Webster County.

Gov. Carpenter was n>arrie<l, in March, 18G4, to
Miss Susjin Burkholder, of Fort Dodge. No chil-
dren have been born to them, but they have reared
a niece of Mrs. Carpenter's.

During his entire life Mr. Carpenter has been de-
voted to the principles of Reform and the best

]'

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interests of all classes of citizens who, by adojition
or by birth-right, are entitled to a home upon our
soil and the protection of our laws, under the great
charter of " Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Hap-
piness." In an address in 1852 he took advanced
views upon the leading subjects of public interest.
He had already- laid the foundation for that love of
freedom which afterwards found an ample field of
labor with the Republican party. There was noth-
ing chimerical in his views. He looked at ever}'
strata of human society, and, from the wants of the
masses, wisely devined duty and prophesied destiny.
He would have the people of a free Republic edu-
cated in the spirit of the civilization of the age.
Instead of cultivating a taste f «. .• a species of liter-
ature tending directl}' to degrade the mind and
deprave the heart, thereby leading back to a state
of superstition and consequent barbarism, he would
cultivate princijjles of temperance, industr}' and
economy in every j'outhful mind, as the indispens-
able ingredients of good citizens, or subjects upon
whose banner will be inscribed Liberty, Equalitj'.
Fratemity.

Thus early in life Mr. Carpenter saw the destined
tendency of our American institutions, and the ad-
vancing civilization of the age. He saw it in the
peace congress, whose deliberations have made the
Rhine thrice immortal. He saw it in the prospect-
ive railway, which he believed would one day
unite the shores of the Atlantic with those of the
Pacific — a fact realized by the construction of the
great continental railwaj'.

It was thus early that he began to study the
wants of the world, and with what clearness and
directness m.ay be seen by the correctness of his
vision and the accomplishment of what he consid-
ered an inevitable necessity.

Thus, gi'owing up into manhood, and p.assing on-
ward in the rugged jjathwaj' of time, disciplined in
l^olitical economy and civil ethics in the stern
school of experience, he was prepared to meet every
emergenc}- with a steady hand; to bring order out
of discord, and insure harmony and prosperity'.

Gov. Carpenter is now cng.aged in the quiet pur-
suits of farm life, residing at Fort Dodge, where
he is highly esteemed as one nf ht'r [luic^t minded
and most upright citizens.

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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

a

143

OSIIUA G. NEWBOLD, the
ninth Governor of Iowa, is
a native of Pennsylvania,
lie comes from that excellent
stock known as the Friends,
who very early settled in
New Jersey. Joshua G. is the
son of Barzilla and Catherine
(House) Newbold, and was born
in Fayette County, May 12,
1830. He was born a farmer's
boy and was reared in the vigor-
ous employment of farm work.
Wlien he was eight years of age the
familj' moved to Westmoreland
Count}', Pa., where, in the common
schools and in a select school or academy, young
Newbold received his education. When sixteen
years of age he accompanied the family on their re-
turn to Faj^ette County. Here for the following
eight years he assisted his father in running a flour-
ing-mill as well as devoting much of his time to
teaching school. When about nineteen years of
age our subject began the study of medicine, de-
voting much of his time while teaching to his med-
ical books. He, however, abandoned the idea of
becoming a phj'sician and turned his attention to
(lifTerent walks in life.

In the month of March, 1854, Mr. Newbold re-
moved to Iowa, locating on a farm, now iiartly in
the corporation of Mount Pleasant, Heni'y County.

At the end of one year he removed to Cedar
Township, Van Buren County, there merchandising
and farming till about 1800, when he removed to
Ilillsboro, Henry County, and pursued the same
callings.

In 18G2, when the call was made for 600,000 men
to finish the work of crushing the Rebellion, Mr.
Newbold left his farm in the hands of his family
and his store in charge of his jjartner, and went into
the army as Captain of Company C, 2oth Regiment
of Iowa Infantry. He served nearly three years,
resigning just before the war closed, fm account of
disabilitj'. During the last two or three months he
served at the South he filled the position of Judge
Advocate, with headquarters at Woodville, Ala.

His regiment was one of those that made Iowa
troops famous. It arrived at Helena, Ark., in
November, 18{)2, and sailed in December following
on the expedition against Vicksburg by way of
Chickasaw Bayou. At the latter place was its first
engagement. Its second was at Arkansas Post, and
there it suffered severely, losing in killed and
wounded more than sixty.

After Lookout Mountain it joined in the pursuit
of Bragg's flying forces to Ringgold, where it en-
gaged the enemy in their strong works, November
27, losing twenty-nine wounded. The following
year it joined Sherman in his Atlanta Campaign,
then on the famous march to the sea and through
the Carolinas.

On returning to Iowa he continued in the mer-

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144

JOSHUA G. NEWBOLD.

Hp

cantile trade at Hillsboro for three or four years,
and then sold out, giving thereafter his whole at-
tention to agriculture, stock-raising and stock-deal-
ing, making the stock department an important
factor in his business for -several years. Mr. New-
bold w.as a member of the 13th, 14th and 15th (ien-
eral Assemblies, representing Henry County, and
was Chairman of the School Committee in the 14th,
and of the committee on appropriations in the 15th
General Assembly. In the 15th (1874) he was tem-
porary Speaker during the deadlock in organizing
the House, In 1875 he was elected Lieutenant
Governor on the Republican ticket with Samuel J.
Kirkwood.

His Democratic competitor was E. D. Woodward,
who received D3,000 votes. Mr. Newbold received
134,106, or a majority of 31,106. Governor Kirk-
wood lieing elected United States Senator during
that session, Mr. Newbold became Governor, taking
the chair Feb. 1, 1877, and vacating it for Gov.
Gear in January, 1878.

Gov. Newbold's message to the Legislature
in 1878, shows painstaking care and a clear, busi-
ness-like view of the interests of the State. His
recommendations were carefully considered and
largely adopted. The State's finances were then in
a less creditable- condition than ever before or
since, as there was an increasing floating debt, then
amounting to 1340,826.56, more than $90,000 in
excess of the Constitutional limitation. Said Gov.
Newbold in his message : " The commonwealth
ought not to set an example of dilatoriness
in meeting its obligations. Of all forms of indebt-
edness, that of a floating character is the most ob-
jectionable. The uncertainty as to its amount will

invariably enter into any computation made by per-
sons contracting with the State for supplies, mater-
ial or labor. To remove the present difliculty, and
to avert its recurrence, I look upon as the most im-
portant work that will demand your attention."

One of the greatest problems before statesmen is
that of equal and just taxation. The following
recommendation shows that Gov. Newbold was
abreast with foremost thinkers, for it proposes a
step which }■ early finds more favor with the people :
" The inequalities of the personal-property valu-
ations of the several counties suggest to m3' mind
the propriety of so adjusting the State's levy as to
require the counties to pay into the State treasury
only the tax on realty, leaving the corresponding
tax on personalty in the county treasury. This
would rest with each county the adjustment of its
own personal jiropcrty valuations, without fear that
they might be so high as to work injustice to itself
in comparison with other counties."

Gov. Newbold has always affiliated with the
Republican party, and holds to its great cardinal
doctrines, having once embraced them, with the
same sincerity and honesty that he cherishes his re-
ligious sentiments. He has been a Christian for
something like twentj-five 3'ears, his connection be-
ing with the Free-Will Baptist Church. He found
his wife, Rachel Farquhar, in Fayette County, Pa.,
their union taking place on the 2d of May, 1850.
They have had five children and lost two. The
names of the living are Mary AUene, Emma
Irene and George C.

The Governor is not yet an old man, and may
serve his State or county in other capacities in the
coming years.

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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

147

t

OHN 11. GEAR, the tenth
gentleman to occupy the
Executive Chair of Iowa, is
still a resident of Burlington.
lie is a native of the Empire
State, where in the city of
Ithica, April 7, 1 8-2,5, he was born.
Rev. E. G. Gear, his father, was
born in New London, Conn., in
1792, and became a distinguished
clergyman of the Protestant
I^piscopal Church. His family had
removed with him, while he was
still j'oung, to Pittsfield, Mass., and
in the year 1816, after his ordina-
tion as a clergyman of the Episco-
pill Church, he went to New York
and located at Onondaga Hill near
the city of Syracuse. Shortly after
this settlement, the young minister
was united in marriage with Miss
IMiranda E. Cook. After serving
various congregations in Western
New York for many years, he de-
termined to become a pioneer in
Northern Illinois, w^hich at the time, in the year
18;3G, was ])eing rajiidly settled up. He found a
desirable location at Galena where he remained un-
til 1838, when he received the appointment as
Chaplain in the United States army while located
.at Fort Snelling, Minn. He lived a long and act-
ive life, doing much good, quitting his labors in

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the year 1874, at the advanced age of eighty-two
years.

The only son born to Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Gear
was J. H., afterward the distinguished Governor of
Iowa. As above stated the birth occurred in 1825.
In 1 843, when still a young man, he came West to
liurlington, where he has since continued to reside,
her most distinguished citizen. Shortly after his
arrival in the young city, he embarked in his mer-
cantile career, engaging at the time with the firm
of Bridgman & Bros., in the capacity of a clerk.
Remaining with this firm for a little over a year,
he left them for an engagement with AV. F. Cool-
baugh, who at one time was President of the
Union National Bank, of Chicago, and who at that
early period was the leading merchant of Eastern
Iowa. He served Mr. Coolbaugh so faithfully, and
with such marked ability for the following five
years, that, when desirous of a partner in his busi-
ness, the wealthy merchant could find no one in
whom he could place greater confidence and with
whom he could trust his extensive business rela-
tions that pleased him better than the young clerk.
Accordingly he was associated as a partner under
the firm name of AV. F. Coolbaugh & Co. Under
this arrangement the firm did a prosperous busi-
ness for the following five years, when Mr. Gear
purchased the entire business, which he cari'ied on
with marked success until he became known as the
oldest wholesale grocer in the State. He is at present,
besides filling other prominent business relations,
President (jf the Rolling Mill Co., of Galesburg.

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148

JOHN H. GEAR.

-t

Mr.Gcar has been honored liy his feilow-citizens
with many positions of trust. In 1852 he was
elected Alderman; in 1863 was elected Mayor
over A. W. Carpenter, being the first Republican
up to tliat time who had been elected in Burlington
on a party issue. In 18G7 the Burlington, Cedar
Rapids & Minnesota Railroad Company was organ-
ized, and he was chosen as its President. His ef-
forts highly contributed to the success of the enter-
prise, which did niucli for Burlington. lie was
also active in promoting the Burlington <& South-
western Railwa3% as well as the Burlington & North-
western narrow-gauge road.

He has always acted with the Republican party,
and in 1871 was nominated and elected a member
of the House of Representatives of the 14th
General Assembly. In 1873 he was elected to the
15th General Assembly. The Republican cau-
cus of the House nominated him for Speaker by
acclamation, and after a contest of two weeks he
wae chosen over his opponent, J. AV. Dixon. lie
filled the position of Speaker very acceptably, and
at the close of the session all the members of the
House, independent of party affiliations, joined in
signing their names to a resolution of tlianks, which
was engraved and presented to him. In 1875 lie
was the third time nominated to the Assembly liy
the Republican party, and whik^ his county gave a
large Democratic vote he was again elected. He
was also again nominated for Speaker by tlie Re-
liublican caucus, and was elected by a handsome
majority over his competitor, Hon. John Y. Stone.
He is the only man in the State who ever had the
honor of being chosen to this high jiusition a sec-
ond time. He enjoys the reputation of being an
able parliamentarian, his rulings never having been
ai)pcal(!d from. At the close of the session he
again received the unanimous thanks of the House
of Representatives for his courtesy and impartiality,
and for the able and satisfactory manner in whiiii
he had presided over tiiat body.

In 1877 he was nominated for Governor ])y the
Republican convention which met at Des Moines,
June 28, and at the election held the following
October he received 121,546 votes, against 79,353
for John 1". Irish, 10,631) for Elias Jessup and 38,-
228 for D. V. Stubbs. His plui'ality over Irish

was 42,103. He was inaugurated .Tan. 17, 1878^
and served four years, being re-elected in 1879 ]jy
tlic followiag handsome vote: Gear, 157,571;
Trimble, 85,056; Campbell, 45.430; Dungan, 3,258,
(J ear's majority over all competitors, 23,828. His
second inauguration occurred in January of the
year 1880.

Gov. Gear's business habits enabled him tt> dis-
charge the duties of his office with marked ability.
He found the financial condition of the State at a
low ebb, but raised Iowa's credit to that of the
best of our States. In his last biennial message he
was able to report: "The warrants out-standing,
but not bearing interest, Sept. 30, 1881, amounted
to 122,093.74, and there are now in the treasury
ample funds to meet the current cxijcuses of the
State. The war and defense debt has been paid,
except the warrants for $125,000 negotiated hy the
Executive, Auditt>r and Treasurer, under the law
of the 18th General Assembly, and :i!2,500 of
the original bonds not j'et presented for paj'-
ment. The only other debt owing by the State
am(mnts to !s!245,435.U), due to the permanent
school fund, a portion of which is matle irredeem
aljle liy the Constitution. These facts i)lace Iowa
practically among the States which have no ilebt,
a consideration which must add much to her repu
tation. The expenses of the State for the last two
years are less than those of an3' other period sinco
1869, and this notwithstanding the fact that the
State is to-da}- sustaining sevenil institutions not
then in existence; namelj', the hospital at Inde-
pendence, the additional penitentiarj'^, the Normal
School and the :isvlum for the feeble-minded chil-
dren, bi'sides the girl's department of the reform
school. The State also, at present, makes provision
for fish culture, for a useful weather service, for
sanitary supervision by a Board of Health, for en-
couraging immigration to the State, for the inspec-
tion of coal mines liy a State Inspector, and liber-
ally for the military arm of the Government."'

Gov. Gear is now in the sixty-first year of his
age, and is in the full vigor of both his nientjd and
physical faculties. He was married in 1852 to
Harriet S. Foot, formerly of the town of Jliddle-
burj', Vermont, bj- whom he has had four children,
two of whom are living.

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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

15i

^•=s*^- t^^ssSti^'i

'^NE of the most distinguished
gentlemen who was ever
honored with the position
of Chief Executive of the
(State is Bnren R. Sherman,
the eleventh Governor of
Iowa, who is a native of New Tork.
It was in the town of Phelps, in On-
tario County, that he was horn to his
parents, Phineas L. and Eveline
(Robinson) Sherman, on the •2.Stli of
Ylir-v Maj', 183G, and was the third son of

n i \ vli a distinguished family of children.
His parents were likewise natives of
the Empire State. Buren R. attended the public
schools of his neighborhood, but was subsequently
given advantages of the schools at Almira, N. Y.,
where he acquired a very thorough knowledge of
the English branches. His father, who was a me-
chanic, advised him at the close of his studies to
apprentice himself to learn some trade. He ac-
cordingly made such arrangements with S. Ayers, of
Almira, to learn the trade of .a watchmaker. Tn
18.55, however, he left this position and joined his
familj' on their removal to the then new State of
Iowa. They settled upon a piece of unbroken prai-
rie land on what is now Geneseo Township, Tama

r

County, his father having previously purchased
land from the Government. Here Buren R. labored
diligently in developing his father's fields, devoting,
however, leisure hours which he was granted, to the
study of law. Before leaving his Eastern home he
had decided upon that profession and began its
study while yet in Almira. He soon secured a po-
sition as a book-keeper in a neighboring to'v\ni, and
with the wages earned there, materially assisted his
father in the development of their home farm. In
the meantime he had applied himself diligently to
the study of his books, and so studious had he
been that in the summer of 1859, he was enabled
to pass a creditable examination and to be admitted
to the bar. The following spring the young attor-
ney moved to Vinton, hung out his shingle and be-
gan the practice of his profession. He was associated
with Hon. "William Smyth, formerl}' District Judge,
and J. C. Traer, under the firm name of Smyth,
Traer ik Sherman. The new firm rapidlj' grew into
prominence, building up a prosperous practice,
when Mr. Sherman withdrew to tender his services
to the Government in defense of her integrity and
honor.

It w.as e.arly in l.sCl, directly after the enemy had
assaulted the American flag on Sumter, that the
j'oung attorney enlisted in Co. G, 13th Iowa Vol.

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152

t

BUREN R. SHERMAN.

Inf., and immediately went to the front. He
entered the service as Second Sergeant, and in
February, 1862, was made Second Lieutenant of
Company E. On tiic 6tli of April following he was
very severely wounded at the battle of Pittsburgh
Landing, and while in the hospital was promoted to
the rank of Cajitain. He returned to his company
while yet obliged to use his crutches, and remained
on cluty till the summer of IrtO.'S, when, by reason of
his wound, he was comiielled to resign and return
home. Soon after returning from the army he was
elected County -Judge of Benton County, and re-
elected without opposition in IHGo. In the autumn
of 1866 he resigned his judgeship and accepted the
office of Clerk of the District Court, to which he
was re-elected in 1868, 1870 and 1872, and in
Decemlier, 1 874, resigned in order to accept the
office of Auditor of State, to which office he had
been elected by a majority of 28,42.5 over J. M.
King, the " anti-monojKjly " candidate. In 1876 he
was renominated and received 50,272 more votes
than W. Growneweg (Democrat) and Leonard
Browne (Greenback) together. In 1S78 he was
agajn chosen to represent the i;i'|iulilican party
in that office, and this time received a major-
ity of 7,164 over the combined votes of Col.
Eiboeck (Democrat) and G. V. Swearenger (Green-
back). In the six years that he held this oflice, he
was untiring in his faithful application to routine
work and devotion to his special share of the State's
business. He retired with such an enviable record
that it was with no surprise the peojile learned,
June 27, 1881, that he was the nominee of the Re-
publican party for Governor.

The campaign was an exciting one. The General
Assembly had submitted to the people the prohilii-
tory amendment to the Constitution. This, while
not a partisan (juestion, became ujipermost in the
mind of the public. Mr. Sherman received 13,'3,-
.•j;iO votes, against .s;l,2 14 for Kinne and 28,112 for
D. M. Clark, or a i)lurality of ,")0,(),S6 :ind a major-
ity of 21,974. In l.ssa he was re-nominated by
till' Keiiublicans, ;is well as L. G. Kinne by the
Democrats. The National party olTered .1. 15.
Weaver. During the campaign these candidates
held a number of joint discussions at different
points in the State. At the election the vote was :

Sherman, 164,182; Kinne, 139,093; Weaver, 23,-
089; Sherman's plurality, 2o,089; majority. 2,000.
In his second inaugural Gov. Sherman said :

" In assuming, for the second time, the office of
Chief Magistrate for the State, I full}' realize my
grateful obligations to the people of Iowa, through
whose generous confidence I am here. I .-.m aware
of the duties and grave responsibilities of this ex-
alted position, and as well what is expected of nie
therein. As in the past I have given my undivided
time and serious attention thereto, so in the future
I promise the most earnest devotion and untiring
effort in the faithful perf(_)rmance of my official re-
quirements. I have seen the State grow from in-
fancy to mature manhood, and each year one of
substantial l)etterment of its previous position.

" With more railroads than any State, save two;
with a school interest the grandest and strongest,
which commands the support and confidence of all
the people, and a population, which in its entirety
is superior to any other in the sisterhood, it is
not str.auge the jiride which attaches to our people.
When we remember that the results of our efforts iii
the direction of good govei'ument have been
crowned with such magnificent success, and to-day
we have a State in most perfect ph\-sicai and finan-
cial condition, no wonder our hearts swell in honest
pride as wc contemplate the past and so confidently
hope for the future. What we may become de-
pends on our own efforts, and to that future I look
with earnest and abiding confidence."

Gov. Sherman's term of oflice continued until .Tan.
14, 1886, when he was succeeded by William Larra-
bec, and he is now, temixirarily. jierhaps, enjoying
a well-earned rest. He has been a Ropul>lican since
the organization of that i>arty, and his services a.s a
campaign speaker have been for many years in
great demand. As an officer he has been able to
make an enviable record. Himself honorable and
thorough, his management of public business has
been of the same character, and such as has com-
mendeil him to the ajiproval of his fellow-citizens.

He was married, Aug. 20, 1862, to Miss Lena
Kendall, of N'inton, Iowa, a young Lady of rare ac-
coini)lisliinents and strength of character. Their
union has been happy in every respect. They have
two children — Lena Kendall and Oscar Eugene.

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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

■:^:-'.v.v>..'.A<''.''.-'.'A-!.-r?

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ILLIAM LARRABEE, the

present alile Governor of
Iowa, and the twelfth gen-
tleman selected bj^ the
people as the Chief Magis-
trate of the gi-eat Com-
monwealth, is a native of
Connecticut. His ancestors
were among the French Huguenots who
came to America early in the seventeenth
centurj' and located in Connecticut. At
that time they bore the name of d'Larra-
bee. Adam Larrabee, the father of AVill-
iam, was born March 14, 1787, and was
one of the early graduates of the West
Point Military Academy. He served his
country during the War of 1812, with distinction,
holding the position of Second Lieutenant, to which
he was commissioned March 1, 1811. He was pro-
moted to the Captaincy of his company Feb. 1,
1814, and on the 30th of the following March, at
the battle of Lacole Mills, during Gen. AViUiinson's
campaign on the Saint Lawrence River, he was
severely wounded in the lung. He eventually re-
covered from the injury and was united in mar-
riage to Hannah G. Lester. This much esteemed
lady was born June 3, 1798, and died on the 15tli of
March, 1837. Capt. Larrabee lived to an ad-
vanced age, dying in 1869, at the age of eighty-
two years.

As above mentioned, William, our subject, was

born in Connecticut, the town of Ledyard being
the place of his birth and Jan. 20,1832, the date.
He was the seventh child in a family of nine chil-
dren, and passed the early years of his life upon a
rugged New England farm, enjoying very meager
educational advantages. He attended, during the
winter seasons, the neighboring district schools
until he reached the age of nineteen years, when,
during the following two winters, he fdled the posi-
tion of schoolmaster. He was ambitious to do
something in life for himself that would bring fort-
une and distinction, but in making his plans for the
future he was embarrassed by a misfortune which
liefell him when fourteen years of age. In being
trained to the use of fli-earms under his father's
direction, an accidental discharge resulted in the
loss of the sight in the right eye. This conse-
quently unfitted him for many employments usually
sought by amljitious young men. The family
lived near the seashore, only two miles away, and
in that neighborhood it was the custom for at least
one son in each family to go upon the sea as a
sailor. The two eldest brothers of our subject had
chosen this occupation while the third remained in
charge of the home farm. William was thus left
free to chose for himself and, like many of the
youths of that day, he wisely turned his face West-
ward. The year 1853 found him on this journey
toward the setting sun, stopping only when he
came to the broad and fertile prairies of the new
State of Iowa. He first joined his elder sister, Mrs.

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156

WILLIAM LARRABEE.

4

E. H. Williams, who was at that time living at
Garnavillo, Clayton County. It was this circum-
stance which led the young boy from Connecticut
to select his future home in the northeastern por-
tion of Iowa. lie resumed his occupation as a
pedagogue, teaching, however, but one winter,
which was passed at Hardin. The following three
years he was employed in the capacity of foreman
on the Grand Meadow farm of his lirother- in-law.
Judge Williams.

In 1857 he b(iught a one-third interest in the
Clermont Mills, and located at Clermont, Fayette
Count}^ He soon was able to buy the other two-
thirds, and within a year found himself sole owner.
He operated this mill until lK74when he sold to
fS. M. Leach. On the breaking out of the war he
offered to enlist, but was rejected on account of
the loss of his right e^-e. Being informed he might
possibly be admitted as a commissioned officer, he
raised a conii)any and received a commission as
First Lieutenant, but was again rejected fur the
same disability.

After selling the mill ]\[r. Larrabee devoted him-
self to farming, and started a private bank at Cler-
mont. He also, experimentall}', started a large
nursery, l>ut this resulted only in confirming the
belief thai Northern Iowa has too rigorous a cli-
mate for fruit-raising.

Mr. Larral)ee did not begin his political career
until 1.SG7. He was reared as a Whig and became
a Repul)lican on the organization of that party.
While interested in politics he generally refused
local odices, serving onl}' as Treasurer of the
School Board prior to 1SG7. In the autumn of
that year, on the Republican ticket, he was elected
to represent his county in the State Senate. To
this high p(jsition he was re-elected from time to
time, so that he served as Senator continuously for
eighteen years liefore being iiromoted to the high-
est otiice in the State. He was so popiilar at home
that he was generally re-nominateil liy acclamation,
and for some years the Democrats did not even

make nominations. During the whole eighteen
j'ears Senator Larrabee was a member of the prin-
cipal committee, that on Ways and Means, of which
he was gener;illj- Chairman, and was also a member
of other committees. In the pursuit of the duties
thus devolving upon him, he was indefatigable.
It is said that he never missed a committee meet-
ing. Not alone in this, liut in private and public
Ijusiness of all kinds, his uniform habit is that of
close application to work. Many of the important
measures passed by the Legislature owe their ex-
istence or present form to him.

He was a candidate for the gubernatorial nomina-
tion in 1881, but entered the contest too late, as
Gov. Sherman's following had been successfully
organized. In 1 SS5 it was generally conceded be-
fore the meeting of the convention that he woidd
be nominated, which he was, and his election fol-
lowed as a matter of course. He was inaugurated
Jan. 14, ISSCi, and so far has made an excellent
Governor. His position in regard to the liquor
question, that on which political fortunes are made
and lost in Iowa, is that the niajority should rule.
He was personally in favor of high license, l)ut
having been elected Governor, and sworn to up-
hold the Constitution and execute the laws, he jiro-
poses to do so.

A Senator who sat beside him in the Senate de-
clares him to be '' a man of the broadest compre-
hension and information, an extraordinarily clear
reasoner, fair and conscientious in his conclusions,
and of S|)artaii lirniness in his matured judgment,"
and says that "he l)rings the practical facts and
lihilosoph}' of human nature, the science and his-
tory of law, to aid in his decisions, and adheres with
the earnestness of Jefferson and Sumner to the
fundamental i>rinciples of the people's rights."

Gov. Larrabee was married Sept. 1 2, 1 86 1 , at Cler-
I mont, to Anna M. Appelman, daughter of ('apt.
G. A. Ai)i)elman. Gov. Larrabee has seven chil-
dren— Charles, Augusta, Julia, Anna, William,
I Frederic and Helen.

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INTRODUQTO

If bu

HE time has arrived when it
becomes the duty of the
people of this county to per-
petuate the names of their
pioneers, to furnish a record
of their early settlement,
and relate the story of their
progress. The civilization of our
day, the enlightenment of the age
and the duty that men of the pres-
ent time owe to their ancestors, to
themselves and to their posterity,
demand that a record of their lives
and deeds should be made. In bio-
graphical history is found a power
to instruct man by precedent, to
V4/ « Avs*' enliven the mental faculties, and
^ "^ to waft down the river of time a

safe vessel in which the names and actions of the
people who contributed to raise this country from its
primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly
the great and aged men, who in their jjrime entered
the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their
heritage, are passing to their graves. The number re-
maining who can relate the incidents of tlie first days
of settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an
actual necessity exists for the collection and preser-
vation of events without delay, before all the early
settlers are cut down by the scythe of Time.

To be forgotten has been the great dread of mankind
from remotest ages. All will be forgotten soon enough,
in spite of their best works and the most earnest
efforts of their friends to perserve the memory of
their lives. The means employed to prevent oblivion
and to perpetuate their memory has been in propor-
tion to the amount of intelligence they possessed.
The pyramids of Egypt were built to perpetuate the
names and deeds of their great rulers. The exhu-
mations made by the archeologists of Egypt from
buried Memphis indicate a desire of those people

to perpetuate the memory of their achievements.
The erection of the great obelisks were for the same
purpose. Coming down to a later period, we find the
Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleums and monu-
ments, and carving out statues to chronicle their
great acliievements and carry them down the ages.
It is also evident that the Mound-builders, in piling
up their great mounds of earth, had but this idea —
to leave something to show that they had lived. All
these works, though many of them costly in the ex-
treme, give but a faint idea of the lives and charac-
ters of those whose memory they were intended to
perpetuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of
the people that then lived. The great pyramids and
some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity ;
the mausoleums, monuments and statues are crum-
bling into dust.

It was left to modern ages to establish an intelli-
gent, undecaying, immutable method of perpetuating
a full history — immutable in that it is almost un-
limited in extent and perpetual in its action ; and
this is through the art of printing.

To the present generation, however, we are in-
debted for the introduction of the admirable system
of local biography. By this system every man, thougli
he has not achieved what the world calls greatness,
has the means to perpetuate his life, his history,
through the coming ages.

The scythe of Time cuts down all ; nothing of the
physical man is left. The monument which his chil-
dren or friends may erect to his memory in the ceme-
tery will crumble into dust and pass away; but his
life, his achievements, the work he has accomplished,
which otherwise would be forgotten, is perpetuated
by a record of this kind.

To preserve the lineaments of our companions we
engrave their portraits, for the same reason we col-
lect the attainable facts of their history. Nor do we
think it necessary, as we speak only truth of them, to
wait until they are dead, or until those who know
them are gone: to do this we are ashamed only to
publish to the world the history of those whose lives
are unworthy of public record.

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HENRY COUNTY.

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, RESLP: Y SAUN DEES, who is a leading mer-
chant of Mt. Pleasant, and President of the
First National Bank of that city, is now the
oldest living pioneer of the county, and is
the founder and sponsor of the flourishing city
within whose present bounds he has made his home
for more than half a century. He was born in Flem-
ing County, Ky., in 1<S09, and is a sou of Gunnell
and Mary (Mazey) Saunders, both natives of Vir-
ginia, who emigrated to Kentucky with their par-
ents, and were married in the latter State. They were
farmers, and lived in about the same way as other
pioneers in the "dark and bloody ground," and
there reared a family. In 1828 they decided to fol-
low their sou Presley, who in the previous year had
located at Springfield, III., and emigrated to that
then small village. There they engaged in farm-
ing, and remained several years, wheu once more
they followed the footsteps of their enter|)iising
sons, and came to Mt. Ple.asant, where both died.
They were members of the Christian Church, and
was respected by all who knew them. They were
the parents of the following seven children : Jona-
than It., who was a soldier in the Black Hawk W^ar,
and died at Springfield, 111. ; Nancy, wife of Amos
Locke, who with her husband died in Indiana;
Frances, who was the wife of David Mackej', after
whose demise she married Arthur Miller, and died
in this county; Presley, the subject of this sketch;
George, who is a farmer near Spriugfield, 111. ; Will-
iam, who died in this county ; and Alviu, formerly

a noted citizen of Mt. Pleasant, afterward Territor-
ial Governor of Nebraska, and one of its first
United States Senators after its admission as a State,
and now a resident of Omaha.

Presley Saunders was reared like the majoritj' of
farmers' sons of his day, and received his education
in the primitive pioneer schools of his native State.
Wheu eighteen years old he went with a brother-in-
law to the latter's home in Indiana; he worked for
him a while, and then went to another place in the
same State, but not liking the employment, which
offered no inducements to his enterprising spirit, he
determined to push on still farther west, his destina-
tion being Springfield, 111., of which he had heard
glowing accounts. He had left his liorse with his
brother-in-law, and finding it wonld delay him to
go back for it, he started on his 200-mile journey
afoot. On getting to Springfield, he sought labor
at whatever he could find to do. He mauled rails,
l)uilt post and rail fences, worlced at day's labor,
etc. This rude labor in the open air laid the found-
ation of a constitution that has carried iiim to
nearly fourscore years, and yet leaves him com-
paratively hale and vigorous. Among his opera-
tions while in Illinois w.as the purchase of a farm,
which he improved and sold at an advance. In
1828 he and a Mr. Rogers took a drove of hogs to
Galena, 111., feeding them on the mast found in the
woods on the way. After disposing of the drove,
he hired on a flatboat for a trij) to St. Louis, and
being favorably impressed with tlie appearance of the

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170

HENRY COUNTY.

country along the river, determined that whenever
the land was opened for settlement, he would locate
somewliere there. The treaty of 1832, after the de-
feat and capture of Black Hawk, gave thi?^ oppor-
tunitj', the Indians giving np possession June 1,
1833. In the events which led to that treaty, and
gave thi.s rich Territory* to the white man, Mr. Saun-
ders was an active participant. On the breaking
out of the Black Hawk War, in 1832, he enlisted in
Capt. Moffet's company, and was in the fight at the
Heights of Wisconsin, and at the battle of Bad Ax,
and served until tiie capture of Black Hawk. The
consequent treat}' prepared the way for him to keep
the resolution formed years before, and in 1 834 he,
with four compani(,>ns, started West. His first in-
tention was to locate near the Mississippi, but a
wholesome dread of the ague, inseparable in that
day from the banks of the river, drove him farther
inland, and the little company kept on over the
prairie until the site of Mt. Pleasant was reached.
Struck with the beauty of the place, and finding
water convenient, Mr. Saunders drove his stakes
right there. The selection was a fortunate one for
him. In February. 1835, he brought his family
from Illinois, and knowing this must be near the
center of the new county whenever formed, he laid
out a plat for a village, which he called Mt. Pleas-
ant, a most appropriate name. In 1830 Mr. Saun-
ders opened a store in the new village, and there be-
gan the business life which he has followed, with
strict integrity, and always successfully, for fifty-
two consecutive years, making him the oldest mer-
chant in the State, if not in the entire Northwest.
Beside the original one, Mr. Saunders laid out
two additional plats to the town which he founded.
The county was organized by the Territorial Legis-
lature of Iowa in 1838, and an old law giving the
county the right to a quarter section for count}' pur-
poses, Mr. Saunders gave up almost half his lots in
the village for court-housebuildings, etc. The land
not having yet been surveyed, he sold the balance of
his lots to purchasers with a bond attached, guar-
anteeing a deed when the title was secured from the
Government. From tiiis timi^ on the rapid and
healthy growth of the embryo city was secured, and
Mr. Saunders reaped the reward of his foresight.
Ills proi)erty rapidly increased in value, and that

and the legitimate gains of a carefully conducted
business have made him a wealth}- man, a result in
which his life-long neighbors rejoice, taking a pride
in the success of so justly an esteemed citizen. In
1862, desiring to enlarge his field of operations,
Mr. S;iunder> formed a partnership with James M.
Kibben, and established a private bank under the
name of Saunders & Kibben. This was the fore-
runner of the First Natif>nal Bank of Mt, Pleasant,
which w.as organized under the National Banking
Law, and of which be has been President, and a
guiding spirit ever since its inception. To his
sag.acious and prudent management must be attrib-
uted in a large degree the success which has made
it one of the soundest financial institutions in the
State.

Notwithstanding his prominence in the city and
county, Mr. Saunders has .always refused to hold
public office, but has given his attention exclusively
to business matters. His duties as a citizen he has
discharged in a quiet, unostentatious manner, and
many are the quiet, good deeds recorded of him by
those who know him best, aceoiniting in a meas-
ure for the regard in which he is held b}' the peo-
ple of Henry County.

Our subject has been twice married, first in San-
gamon County, III., in 1830, to Miss Edith Cooper,
who was born in Tennessee, and was a daughter of
John Cooper, a native of the s.ame State, who w.as
one of the earliest settlers of Sangamon County.
Mrs. Saunders died at Mt. Pleasant in 1 836, leav-
ing three children, of whom a daughter Mary, now
a resident of Colorado, is the sole survivor. Mrs.
Saunders was an estimable lady, who had the re-
spect of the people among whom she lived : she was
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The second m.arriage of Presle}' Saunders was the
first within the bounds of Henry County. It was
soknnnized in 1837. His wife was Huldah Bowen,
with whom he has now passed a happy wedded life
of over half a century. Mrs. Saunders was born
near Chillicolhe, Ohio, in 1817, and is a daughter
of Isaac and Rhoda Bowen, who were natives re-
spectively of Maryland and Kentucky, who were
married in Ohio, and removed to Mt. Pleasant,
where both died. Mrs. Saunders is a member of
the Christian Church, in which she is an active

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HENRY COUNTY.

171

worker and a liberal supporter. Her long life has
lieeu one of content ami happiness, and she, with
her luisband, shares the good-will of the people of
the city where they have lived so long. Their
union was blessed with four children, all now liv-
ing, viz.: Smith, who is married to Emma Jenness,
and is a dealer in real estate in Council Bluffs, Iowa;
Alvin B. married Alice Saunders, and was a real-
estate dealer at Harper, Kan., Ijut is now manag-
ing his father's store at Mt. Pleasant; Eliza, the
wife of John Bowman, .and Etna, the wife of
Fred Hope, all residents of Mt. Pleasant.

As an illustration of the changes which have
taken place during the long residence of Mr. Saun-
ders in Henry County, he cites the fact that he had
one child born in the Territory of Michigan, one in
the Territoi-y of Wisconsin, one in the Territory of
Iowa, and one in the State of Iowa, and during all
the time wherein these births occurred, was living
on the same quarter section, an extraordinary in-
cident, prob.ably without parallel.

The life of Mr. Saunders is full of encourage-
ment to young men who have an earnest desire to
succeed, and are possessed of the necessary quali-
fications. His capital at the start was a good con-
stitution, temperate and frugal habits, industry,
and unquestioned integrity of character, with un-
bounded pluck and perseverance, and but |.5 in
money. From these humble beginnings he has
raised himself to the prominent position he has held
in the community for many years, and has acquired
an ample fortune, and no man in the county stands
higher in the estimation of his fellowmen then
does Presley Saunders, the pioneer.

For the excellent })ortrait of this honored citizen,
which appears on an adjoining page, our readers
are indebted to friends whf) contributed this
memorial in honor of the most eminent pioneer
of Henry County. That he is worthj' of the lead-
ing place in this record of the best citizens of the
county, will be conceded by every resident.

[§I^ELS KLEN, a farmer residing on section 23,
jj Wayne Township, Henrj' Co., Iowa, was
^ born near Hesselholm, Sweden, Oct. 15,
1838, and is the sou of Nels and Panilla (_ Benson)

Rasmusson, born in thesanie country, where they
were reared, married, and became the parents of
seven children. Nels Rasmusson was a farmer
and carpenter in Sweden, and during his life en-
gaged in those occup.ations. He became quite
wealthy and died in the autumn of 1878. His
widow resides on the old homestead and has reached
the mature .age of seventy-eight years. Only U\o
of the children are residents of America, our sub-
ject and Rasmus Nelson, who resides in York
County, Neb., the husband of Louie Palmblad. The
children living in Sweden are : Peter Nelson, who is
the eldest brother and unmarried ; Banta, wife of
O. Oleson, resides on the old homestead ; Anna
came to America in 18C8, but in 1872 returned to
Sweden where she afterward married ; Bengt, the
youngest son, is also unmarried, and is a farmer in
his native country.

In 1865 our subject came to America and went
to Galesburg, 111. He was married, December 16
of that year, to Miss Panilla Benson, who came
to America from Hastveda, Sweden, the same year
with her brother John, now of Brown Count3% Kan.,
and a cousin, John Swenson. Her people remained
aU their lives in Sweden, and died on the old home-
stead before the daughter left her native land. A
brother, Benjamin, preceded Mrs. Klen to America,
coming in 1868. He became an employe of the
Government in the Naval Department. Prospering
greatly, he went to Helena, Mont., began mining,
became wealthy, and now owns extensive water-
works in that city. He was married in that country
to a German lady and they now have three chil-
dren. There were six children in the Benson fam-
ily who reached adult age : the two mentioned
above, Mrs. Klen, Mrs. John Peterson, and two
brothers yet in Sweden — Peter, who married Bessie
Oleson, and Nels, who is unmarried.

Mr. Klen was acquainted with his wife in Sweden
during her girlhood, and since their marriage many
happy d.ays have been spent. The trials of life
have long since been passed. When Nels arrived at
Galesburg he only had $1 in his pocket, and being ill
for almost six months, he ran greatly behind. Upon
their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Klen started even with
the world, but with strong arms and willing hearts
they began the battle of life, and to-day have a nice
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HENRY COUNTY.

competency and are yet in their prime. They be-
came residents of Henry County, Iowa, in 1872,
having purchased his land three years previously.
The broad acres that are now so finely iniprcjved
were a vacant prairie, and every stick, every tree,
everything in fact which makes life enjo3'able, have
been placed there by Mr. Klen. No children bear
their name. No more worth}^ family is a resident
of the township, and since their arrival here both
have been members of the Swedish Lutheran Church
at Swedesburg. Nellie Patterson, known as Nellie
Klen, has been reared from her third year by Mrs.
Kleii, and in her tidy home Nellie has l»een taught
all the mysteries of housekeeping.

Mr. Klen is a Republican and received his citi-
zenship in full in this county. He owns a fine farm
on section 23, and we gladly give him and his wife
a deserved place among tJie noted Swedish families
of the county.

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) OHN P. SMITH, a farmer of Henry County,
residing on section 16, Centre Township,
was born near Elizabeth City, N. C, April
11, 1818, and is of English and Welsh de-
scent. He is a son of Samuel and Lydia (Pritch-
ard) Smith, both of whom were natives of North
Carolina. They were the parents of two children,
one of whom is living, the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Smith was previously married to Gresham
Overton, and by this union there were two chil-
dren, both of whom are now dead. Of all this
family Mr. Smith is the only one left to record
their history. John was a boy when his parents
died and was bound out to John Gregery, a painter,
but not liking this he ran away, and resolved to
earn his own living. In 1838 he was married to
Miss Julia Kenyon, a native of North Carolina,
born in 1812. In 1843 they emigrated to Hemy
County, Ind., and in 1 849 came to Henry Count}',
Iowa. They made the journey with teams, camp-
ing out at night, and located on land in Jackson
Township. In 1830 he purciiased his present farm
of forty acres in Center Township, situated a mile
and a half south of Mt. Pleasant. The union of
Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been blessed with six chil-

dren: Thomas J. enlisted in Company K, 19th Iowa
Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of
Sterling Farm, in Louisiana, Sept. 29, 18C3; Will-
iam L. also enlistetl in Company K, 19th Iowa ^'ol-
unteer Infantry, and participated in the following
battles: That of Ft. Morgan, Jliller's Ford, Browns-
ville, Tex., siege of the Spanish Fort and the bat-
tle of Mobile. He served thirtj- months and was
always found at his post of duty. James M.,. of
Ft. Madison, Iowa, also served in the same regi-
ment. The other three died in infancy.

Mrs. Smith departed this life in 1863. She was
a sincere Christian, being a member of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church, and a kind wife and mother.
In the fall of 1863 Mr. Smith was again married, to
Elizabeth J Booth, a daughter of Henry and Eliz-
abeth Booth, who died in Guernsey County, Ohio.
They were members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. By this last union there were live chil-
dren: Rose E., who died Aug. 13, 1886; Bertram
E., Jesse B., Joseph H. and Minnie E. Politicallj',
Mr. Smith is a Republican, but before the organi-
zation of that part}' he was a Whig. Mr. and Mrs.
Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and are greatly respected throughout the
commvmity. Mr. Smith has lived in Henry County
since 1849, and lias witnessed the changes that have
transformed it from a wild, uninhabited region, to
one of the most cultivated counties in the State.

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ON. JOHN S. STEPHENSON, deceased, an
honored pioneer of Henrj- Comity, Iowa,
of 1836, was born in \'irginia, in the old
(^) block house :it the fort, on the site of the
city of Parkersburg, now West ^'irginia, when the
Northwest Territory was ceded b}- A'irgiuia to the
I'nited States. His liirth occurred April 11, 1800,
while his parents were temporarily seeking shelter
at the fort from a threatened Indian attack. Their
home properly was in Wood County, \a., to which
they returned soon after the birth of our subject.
His i)areuts, Edward and Elizabeth (I)ilts) Stephen-
son, were worthy people of Scottish birth, and had
emigrated to America in tiie first }-ears of tiie Re-
public John S. was educated at Parkersburg, ^'a.

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HENRY COUNTY.

173

He was a farmer by occupation, and was married in
Dearhorn County, Ind., in 1821, to Miss P^lizabeth
Archibald, daughter of WiUiam and Elizabeth
(White) Archibald. Mrs. Stephenson was born in
Massachusetts, Oct. 28, 1801, and died in New
London, Iowa, April 7, 1887. Mr. Stephenson
removed to Dearborn County, Ind., from \'irginia,
while a single m.an, but resided in Hamilton County,
Ohio, from the date of his marriage till 1836, when
he emigrated from that county to Henr}' County,
Iowa, and settled in what is now Baltimore Town-
ship, on what is now known as the Britton farm.
Three years later he removed to Jackson Township,
in the same count}', where he bought a large tract
of land, and was engaged in farming till 1 857, then
removed to the village of Lowell, Baltimore
Township, where he had established a general store
several years before. He also had a store at Boyls-
ton, which he left in the cue of his sons.

Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson's familj' consisted of
five sons and two daughters: William A., born
Nov. 5, 1823, and died Jan. 26, 1844; Edmund
J. was born Oct. 2, 1826, went to California in
1849, and died at New Orleans, La., on his return
voyage. May 2, 1854; Edward H. was born April
27, 1829, married Permelia Smith, and is engaged
in the drug business at New London. (See his
sketch elsewhere in this work). Alva H. was born
March 7, 1831, and married Nellie Kearns, and
died April 29, 1885; his wife survives him, and
resides in Memphis, Tenn. John S. was born Oct.
2, 1834, and married Anna Price, and is a farmer
of Pleasant Ridge Township, Lee Co., Iowa ; Sarah
E., born Sept. 9, 1838, is the wife of Charles Kirk-
patrick, of Lowell, Henry Co., Iowa; INIar^- Eliza,
born Oct. 2, 1841, is the wife of William Jack-
man, and resides in New London, Iowa.

AVhen Mr. Stephenson settled in Jackson Township
he purchased a claim on which he built a double-
room log cabin, and named his place " Hard-
scrabble," where he kept open house after the
whole-souled, hospitable manner of the Virginians.
He was known far and near, and every stranger or
belated traveler who sought shelter with him was
sure of a warm welcome, and the best the house
afforded. Mr. Stephenson was a man of very
superior mental endowments, a thorough scholar,

■^a —

and a great student of history and political econ-
omy. He soon became prominent in'publicaffairs,
and was elected Register of Land ^Claims in this
part of the county, and Notary 1 Public, and was
one of the first Justices of the county, and held
that position for several yeixrs. He was chosen to
i-epresent his district in the State Senate, and was
influential in framing laws for the young common-
wealth of Iowa.

In early life he was a Whig of the pro-slavery
t3'pe, and on the dissolution of his party in 185C
attached himself to the Democratic party, of which
he was an ardent supporter till the day of his death.
While bitterl}' opposed to the policy of the Repub-
lican party, during the war he was true to the
Union, and the Constitution as made Lj' the fathers
of the Republic. His fund of general information
was comprehensive and varied, while his affable,
courteous manner and entertaining conversation
made him an agreeable hf)st and a welcome guest.
His generosity was unbounded; no one ever asked
in vain a favor within his power to grant. His
brother Edward w.as a gentleman of marked ability,
and thorough culture, a great linguist, and a promi-
nent lawyer of Virginia. His de.ath occurred
at Mataraoras, Mex., April 11, 1870. Another
brother, James, was born in Virginia, in 1791, and
w;is a prominent and wealthy attorney of Wood
County, Va. Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson were mem-
bers of the Presbyterian Church from early life
until its close. Mr. Stephenson continued to reside
at Lowell until the time of his death, which
occurred in 1866. His memory will long remain
fresh in the hearts of his numerous friends.

ylLLIAM L. SMITH, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
one of the early settlers of Henry County,
was born in Monongahela County, W.
Va., Dec. 25, 1827. His father, Thomas P. Smith,
was born in Virginia, in 1799, and was a soldier of
the War of 1812. He married Sarah Lazell, a
native of Monong.ahela County, Va. They settled
in what is now West Virginia, where eight children
were born, four sons and four daughters, four of
whom are living: ,b)hn W., of Moundsville, W.

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HENRY COUNTY.

Va. ; William L., the subjoot <if this sketch; ,lane,
wife of William Logstun, v( West Xirgiiiia;
Amanda, wifo of Frank Morgan, of l>elinonl
County, Ohio. Thomas P. Smith was well posted on
all affairs, and was a man iiiyhly respected in the
country in which he lived. He died in ISoo. Mrs.
Smith died later.

The subject of tiiis .sketcli when four years of age
went to live with ISIarcus Moore, and remained with
him until nineteen years old, attending the common
subscription schools in the winter, and working
upon the farm during the summer months. On
leaving Mr. Moore he returned to his old home,
and engaged in the butchering business. On the
;)d of July, l!54it, he was united in marriage
with Miss Mary K. Grandstaff. a native of Marshall
County, \'a., born in 18;U. While a citizen of
Marshall County he w.as appointed Deputy' Sheritf,
and served two years. In 1855 he left his native
State and came to Iowa, locating at Muscatine,
wlierc he engaged in the butchering business. In
1856 he came to Mt. Pleasant and embarked in the
same trade, continuing in it until 18(!1. In 18G2
he was api)ointcd United States Deputy Provost
Marshal, and commissioned by Provost Marshal
(General Fr_v, serving until the close of the war. Dur-
ing this time he had some rough experiences. At Ft.
Wayne, Ind., he came near being mobbed by rebel
sympathizers. On the close of the war he engaged
in the livery business at Jit. Pleasant, in wiiirh he
continued for several years under the linn n.iuie of
W. L. it J. M. Smith. In 18(>!i lie went to lUuling-
anii', Kan., and embarked in the lumber tradi'
under the firm name of Smith A' K'oads, and also at
Wicltita, Kan,, under tlie tirni n:une of McClure it
Co. In 1m7!I he went to Colorndi) where he w.as
interested in the Columbus mine, and also in the
Tt>michi mining district, in IJunuison County". In
188;i lie returned lo Henry Ciuinty, whore he has
since continued to reside. Mr. and .Mrs. Smith are
the parents of four living children: George W.,
now residing at Detroit, Mich.; Clara, wife of
Dewitt Harden, of Monmouth, 111.; Ada, wife of
A. W. Morton, of .Moninoulh. 111.; and Sally M.,
residing at home.

Mr, Smith lisis taken great interest in Masonry,
and was Miuster of Mt. Pleasant Lodge Xo. 8, for

six years, and was a charter member of Xerium
Lodge No. 207, of which he was appointed Worship-
ful Master by dispensation, and was elected three
successive terms thereafter; he wjw also High Priest
in Henry Chapter No. 8, R. A. M., for two years,
and was a Charter Member of Jerusalem Com-
miuidery No. 7, K. T., in which he was Captain of
the Guard. He has also taken the C(.)nsistory de-
grees, being a :V2^'. In 1 8(59-70 he was Grand
Warden of the (irand Lodge of Iowa, Politically,
ISIr. Smith is a Hepublican. As a citizen he stands
high in the estimation of the general public, and in
every enterprise calculated for the jiublic good he
is ready to do iiis part.

•S^^—

v* MLLIAM SUMMERS, one of the proinimiu
wiJ/l ^''''"'^'■* ^^^'■^ stock-raisers residing on SCO-
'S^ tion 27, (enter Township, was born in
Warwickshire, lingland, on the 2i)th daj- of No-
vember, 1833, His parents were John and Mary
(Hopkins) Sunnners, and to them three children
were born: Richard, a machinist residing in Lon-
don; Mary A., who died in Morgan County, AIo,,
was the wife of W, C. Wheatlev; and William, our
subject, Mr, and Mrs. Summers both departed
this life in Kngland. For m;uiy years they were
earnest workers in the Kpisct>pal Church.

William Summers, deciding lo leave his native
lan<l and come to America, embarked in a ship at
Southampton for this country, in 185G. Soon
aftei' lauding he purchased some land, but subse-
quently removed to lleury County, where he still
resides. In those day> hogs wore w^irth ?1.50 per
hundred pounds, and thinking this might be a pay-
ing iu\ estniont he killod and packed several hundred
hogs, which he shipped to Kngland in 18(!2.' Corn
at this time solil :it twelve :ind ^me-half cents per
bushel, potatoes at tifleen cents, and eggs at two
cent> per ilozen. After reni:iining in Kngland for
about a year Mr. Summers returned lK>me.

Mr. Sunnners was united in marriage before he
was twenty-one years old to Kliza JIarv Wood-
cock, a native of Kngland. born in Warwick-
shire. Mr. and Mrs. Summers are the happy parents
of ••even children: ,)t>seph. burn June 15, 1855, a

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HENRY COUNTY.

175

resident of this cdimty; Theresa, born Dec. 8, 1856,
wife of William R!ithd(jii, of Antehjpe County,
Neb.; Helen, born April 3, 1863, a graduate of the
university of Ml. Pleasant, is now a teacher in
Fremont, Neb.; Mary, born JJec. 18, 1864, wife (^f
William Moore, of Trenton, Mo.; Colletta, born
April 21, 1867, now a student at the University of
Mt. Pleasant; Maria, born Aug. 20, 1870; and
John F., born March 6, 1874; are still inmates of
the parental home. The deceased are William,
Ambrose, Lucy and Waltei'. In politics Mr. .Sum-
mers is a Democrat, and an active W(jrker for his
party ; he has also held several township odices with
credit to himself and to his constituents. In edu-
cational matters he always takes an active interest,
having a good, practical education himself, and has
endeavored to give his children such an education.
He is a man who keeps well [losted on the affairs of
the county, and is always ready t<j advance any
public enterprise. Mr. and Mrs. Summers are
members of the C'atholic Church, and are univer-
sally respected throughout the conimuiiiiy.

^^^ YLVESTKR SMITH is a farmer and Post-
^s5. master, residing <^n secti(ni .'>, Wayne
|ll/)l) Township, Henry Co., Iowa. Only one
person, Mrs. Elizabeth Woodruff, antedates
oui' subject in priority of citizenship in Wayne
Township. He was born in Lake County, Ohio,
March 7, 1831, ;ind is a son of Sylvester and Lii-
eretia (Woodworth) Smith, both natives of Franklin
County, Mass. They were perhaps married in that
State, removed later to Warren County, N. Y., and
afterward to Lake County, Ohio, where Mr. Smith
purchased a tract of woodland, and cleurcd up a
fine farm prior to their removal to Iowa in 1«12.
Sylvester .Sniitli, Sr., came the ^-ear previous and
purchased lands, t<j wliieii tiic family removed the
next spring. A house was erected within a few
feet of where the fine residence of our subject now
stands, and iierc for forty-five 3'ears the represent-
atives of tiie honored father have held possession
and wieldeil a power for good, both in the social
anil business worlds. Nine children were born Ite-
fore the family removed to Iowa, two of whom

died in infancy, and a daughter, P^liza, when twenty
years of age ; and the following six sons comprised
the family in 1842: Dexter C, husband of Pluebe
Pence, both now deceased; Edward, the husband,
first of Celia .Schockley, and after her death of Mrs.
Fannie (Buflington) Haines, all now deceased;
John L., husband of Lucretia C. Woodworth;
Elijah P., who wedded Catherine Haines, and after
her death Addle Kimbal; Charles A., husband of
Margaret Young; and Sylvester. The sons aided
in the improvement of the new farm, at that time
Wayne and Scott Townships forming one voting
pr(;cinct, with thirteen polled voters. Through the
instrumentality of Sylvester .Smith, .Sr., Wayne
post-office was established in 1851, and he received
in August of that year his commission, and a mail
service was established between Iowa City and
New London, one round trip made each week.
Perry Ketchum was the first mail carrier. After
the resignation of his father, our subject was ap-
pointed Postmaster of Wayne, Nov. 10, 1858, his
commission bearing the signature of Aaivni V.
Hnnvn, Postmaster General, and from that time
has held the place, being to-day the oldest con-
tinuous Postmaster in the county, having for more
than twenty-nine years filled that position.

Charles A. Smith, one of the brothers, was u
volunteer in Company G, 11th Iowa, and served
from 1802 until the close of the war. He was cap-
tured at the battle of Atlanta, July 27, 1861, and
was confined in the (irison pen at Andersonville for
several weeks, but was later sent to Florence where
he was exchanged.

Our subject, Sylvester Smith, is the son of a sol-
dier of the War of 1812, and Sylvester Smith, Sr.,
laid his land warrant, received at that time, after
he came to Iowa. He was an able man and one
who aided largely in the culture and imjirovement
of this community. Being a professed Christian, a
ineniljer of the Congregational Church, the family
were in attendance at the organization of the Craw-
fordsville Congregational Church Uie next Sunday
after they came, and when sufliciently strong to
organize a church in Wayne Township, both him-
self and wife aided in its establishment, Sylvester
Smith, Sr., becoming its first Deacon, and remaining
in that capacity the remainder of his life. The

t

176

HENRY COUNTY.

(leatli of that solid man occurred Dec. 21, 186.3.
lie was known far and wide as " Yankee Smith,"
and was one of the organizers of the Republican
part}' in this county, being an avowed Abolitionist
for j-ears. His wife survived until Aug. 13, 187.'),
having lived to see the principles so long advocated
by her husband full}' established.

Sylvester Sniitli, Jr., was married, Feb. 18, 1857,
to -Miss Delilah J. Coen, of this count}', born in
Washington County, Ohio, and a daughter of Will-
iam and Racliel Coen. Both parents are now
deceased, and only tliree of their children are liv.-
ing: James S., who married a lady of Kansas, near
(iarden City; Susan, wife of I'erry Ellis, of Carroll
County, Mo.; and Delilah, wife of Mr. Smith.

Since the spring of 1842 our subject has never
known .-uiy other home but his present; changes, of
course, have been made ; the roomy mansion has
taken the placJ; of the unpretentious home of almost
lialf a century ago ; children have been born, reared
and married ; one generation has passed aw.ay, and
the second is of mature years, and wealth has come
as he and liis good wife have grown in years. Five
children have graced their home, four now living:
Charles S., a resident farmer of this township,
wedded to Cliarlotte Kitch, of Marion Township;
Harry K. is tlie husband of Margaret McKee, and
also resides on a farm near tlie Smith homestead;
William K. almost readied tlie .age of manhood ere
sunnnoned from earth; Francis I. and Rosa J. are
unmarried and still inmates of the parentid home.
Francis has become an expert telegraph operator,
and if his health permitted would make that his
liusiness. We arc pleased to present this brief sketch
of one of the oldest and best known families of the
township, as they deserve this recognition of their
long, useful, jjrosperous and happy domestic life
witliin hei- boundary.

j^^ AMUEL CANTWELL, a farmer of Henry
_^^^ County, Iowa, resides on section 32,

]|^^ Wayne Township. With pleasure we pre-

~ ' sent tiiis sketch of Samuel Canlwell, one

of tlie best known men of Wayne Townsiiip, who

h.i- for many }cai's been a resident, and always ac-

counted one of her most worthy citizens. He was
born in Coshocton County, Ohio, and is the sou of
Tlionias and Jemima (Kelley ) Cantwell. Thomas and
probably his wife were of Irish parentage. They
were married in Coshocton County, and during his
lifetime Thomas Cantwell resided there. Ten
children were born to them in that county, three
only of whom are now living: our subject; Rachel,
widow of Daniel Ryan, a farmer of Muskingum
County, Ohio, and Hezekiah, a tailor of Coshocton,
and the husband of Mary Rannels. After the
death of Thomas Cantwell his widow married John
Baker, a farmer of Muskingum County.

Our subject wiis carefully reared until his seven-
teenth year, when his mother died and Samuel was
allowed to m.ake his own living. His step-father
removed to Southern Illinois, where the remainder
of his life w.as spent. Samuel Cantwell remained
in Ohio, working b}' the month, having had noth-
ing left from iiis father's estate to begin business
on. He saved his money carefully, and in 184fi
made a trip to this county, and purchased forty
acres of timber land. He returned to Ohio and
continued farming in partnership with his brother
Barn:ibas, who was also well known in this county
as one of the early settlers, coming first in 184(!
and later becoming a i)ermanent citizen, and until
1874 was a familiar figure in Wayne Township.
He removed to "Adams County, Neb., and died
there in 1883. In 18.50 Samuel Cantwell returned
to Iowa from his native State and ni.ade a purchase
of 200 acres of land in this county, and went back
to Ohio, where he remained until 1860. He w.as
r.apidly merging into bachelorhood before selecting
a wife, and was thirty-three years of age when his
marriage to Miss Charlotte Campbell was cele-
brated. The ceremony was performed March 4,
1852, by Rev. Wolf, a Metiiodist Episcopal minis-
ter. Miss Campbell was the daughter of Samuel
and Lydia (Harris) Campbell. Her father was
born in Ireland, and came a single man to Virginia,
in which State he was married to Lydia Harris,
who was born near Wheeling. \\ . \a. They be-
came residents of Washington County, and seven
children were born before the death of the father.
By trade Mr. Campbell was a miller, but in Ohio
iii.iilc farming his occnpalion. .lolni. Iii> (irsl son,

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HENRY COUNTY.

177

married Yurith Lane, anrl resides in Douglas
County, 111.; Lavina wedded Thomas Kinney, a
resident ofTireat Bend, Kan.; Phn>be, deceased,
became the wife of William James, who later re-
moved to Kansiis; Jane married William McKane,
now deceased, and resides in Coshocton, Ohio;
Mary, also _ deceased, was twice married, John
Cochrane becoming her first liusband, and William
Dewson her last. Josephus died unmarried, and
Mrs. Cantwell completes the family list.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cant-
well before their removal to Iowa: Mary J., the
wife of Presly Allender; Margaret, wife of George
Meeker; Sarah E. died in childhood, and Matilda,
wife of Samuel Taylor. In 186ft Samuel Cantwell
and his family removed to Wayne Township, and
upon his land he erected a small house the same
year. Every improvement, every tree, fence and
building, has been placed upon this tract since
1860. Here his children "grew to maturity. Besides
those named, other children were born in their new
home: Emma, wife of Henry James; William II.,
now deceased; Alohzo, completing his education at
Mt. Pleasant; Nora, Francos, Elma, Jessie M. and
Annie M., all unmarried and inmates of the par-
ental home. Here the faniil}- live in that style
that comes to those of ample means, and as the
family have increased in years so has the prosperity'
of the parents, who for more than a quarter of a
century have been ranked among the best families
of Wayne Township. For several terms Mr. Cant-
well has been connected with the School Board, and
careful attention has been given to the education
of his children. To such families as this Henry
County is indebted for the business growth, pros-
perity and social culture which so largely abound
within its borders.

ANIEL M. CAMPBELL, fanner and dairy-
man, residing on section .SI, New London
Township, was born in Ashland County,
Ohio, Sept. 12, 1843, and is the son of
Rol)ert and Margaret (Archibald) Campbell. His
father was a native of Pennsylvania, born in West-
moreland County, Jan. 26, 1800, and was descended

from the Scotch. He married Miss Margaret Archi-
bald in that State, by whom he had nine children,
seven now living: the eldest. Dr. John Cam^jbell,
residing in Gallion, Ohio, married Rachel Bryan;
James married Ruth Cole, and is a farmer of New
London Township; William married Lizzie Spear-
man, and resides in Centre Township; Sarah Jane,
wife of Thompson Chambers, a farmer of New
London Township; Milton M., of Denver, Col.,
wedded Lucy Weston; Daniel M., a farmer of New
London Township, wedded Mary Rhodes: Mary,
wife of James Patten, of Centre Township. Robert
Campbell removed to Ashland County, Ohio, in an
earl}' day, and went from there with his family to
Henry County in 1865, and located in New London
Township, where he spent the remainder of his
days, dying in June, 1877. His wife, an estimable
lady, died in November, 1872. He spent his whole
life in tilling the soil.

Daniel M. was reared on a farm, and learned the
plasterer's trade, at which he worked several years.
He came to Henry County in the spring of 186.5,
and was married near Salem, this county. May 30,
1872, to Miss Mary Rhodes, daughter of John W.
and Sarah (Thompson) Rhodes. Mrs. Campbell
was born in Morrow, Warren Co., Ohio, Oct. 28,
1844, and came to Henry County with her parents
in 1851. Five children have graced their union,
three of whom are now living. Daisy May, the
eldest, died when four and a half j'ears old; Ross
A. died when two and a half years old. Those liv-
ing are Florence A., aged seven ; Daniel W., aged
five, and Mary Helen, one 3'ear of age. Mr. and
Mrs. Campbell are members of the First Presbj'-
terian Church of New Loudon. iSIr. Campbell is a
Democrat in politics. He has a fine dairy farm of
240 acres, on which he keeps a large herd of cows,
and manufactures butter and cheese.

Mrs. Campbell's father, John AV. Rhodes, was
born near Georgetown, Va., ,Iuly 10, 1800, and
was descended from an old and highly respected
Virginia family. He witnessed the burning of
Washington by the British in the War of 1812.
He moved to Morrow, Warren Co., Ohio, in
his youth, and there married Sarah Thompson, a
native of Virginia, boi'n of New lilngland parents.
Her family were natives of Maine and weie of

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178

^

HENRY COUNTY.

English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes had a
family of eleven children, six sons and five daugh-
ters. Clarksoii went .South prior to the late war and
was a Captain in the Confederate army ; his death
occurred in 1881. Samuel was a soldier in the
Union army, a member of the California battalion,
enlisted for a Massachusetts regiment, was cap-
tured while on a scouting expedition, but escaped
soon. Franlilin was a member of a Kans.as regi-
ment, was captured, and he also soon escaped;
Newton, Milton and Wesley were in the 14th
Iowa Volunteer Infantry; Wesley was wounded,
Newton and Milton were talven prisoners at Shiloh,
and both escaped from Macon, Ga. Caroline is
the wife of Joel .Jones, of Salem Township; Hen-
rietta is the wife of Caleb Trapp, residing in
Florida; Eliza died at tiie age of twenty-eight;
Mary is the honored wife of D. M. Campbell, of
New London Township; Emma is the wife of
Oliver Garretson, of Buffalo, N. Y. Mrs. Rhodes
died in Ohio in 1848. Mi-. Rhodes came to Henry
County in 1851, and settled in Tippecanoe Town-
ship, wlierc liis death occurred in tiic spring of 1880.
Mr. Rliodes was a second time married, to Mrs.
Daraaris Alden, by whom he had four children, two
of wliom are living. .Julia married Addison
Frasier, living in Lincoln, Neb. : Edwin married
Melissa Frasier, a sister, also living in Lincoln,
Neb. Those deceased are Alice 1'. and Jennie. The
mother is still living at an advanced age witii her
daughter.

OLIVER STEPHENSON, farmer and Trustee
of W.ayiie Townsliip, Henry Co., Iowa, re-
siding on section 18, was liorn in Southern
.Sweden in 18.'54, and is tlie son of .Ste|ihen and
Christiana C. (Poulson) Steplienson, who in IfSIl)
cmigi'ated to America, settling in Trenton Town-
ship, llcnry County. They bronglil witii Iheni
eight children — Paul, Oliver, Charles ,J., Stephen,
Caroline, Christiana, Mary and Louisa. The latter
died in Chicago of ciiolera wliile on tlie way to
luwa. ,Ste|)hcn Steplienson, .Sr., purciiased liie farm
upon wliich Daniel Vorliies now lives, in 'I'lenton
Township, and upon this the parents, two brotiiers

and cue sister died. Besides Oliver, two sisters are
now living. Caroline wedded Peter Alsen, who
resides near Madrid, Boone Co., Iowa; and Chris-
tiana is married to James Sexton, a native of Ohio, a
Commercial agent for a Chicago firm, and a resident
of Pella, Iowa.

Our subject grew to manhood in Trenton Town-
shii), and from boyhood developed the character-
istics which have been so marked during his later
years. He received but a limited school education,
but, as his business liabits were formed he secured
a practical one, and to-day takes front rank among
the prominent farmers of the county. He was
married in 1 860 to Miss M.arj- H. Johnson, also
born in Sweden, who came alone from that country
in 1858. The young couple began their domestic
life ill Jefferson County, and six years later moved
to Wayne Township, tiiis county, Mr. Stephenson
purchasing a quarter section of land. He has made
this one of the most beautiful farms in tlie town-
ship, and has expended large sums of money in the
erection of a mansion and fine out-buildings, and
as his means increased, his liro.ad acres have grown
to a half section of land, where he resides; and he
also owns other farms, in Nebraska, Kansas, and in
this township aii<l in other parts of the count}',
showing what can Ije accomplished in a few j-ears
by industry and thrift, backed by good judgment.
When Oliver was a lad he worked for twenty-five
cents per d.ay, but is now one of the largest tax-
payers in Wayne Township, and every dollar he is
worth is tlie legitimate result of a successful busi-
ness.

Since their mai'dage ten children have blessed the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson : Tiliie, wife of
John Lindell, a farmer of Wayne Township; Caro-
line, Charles, Clara, Solomon, Archie, Alma, Mclvin
(deceased), Ettie and George. Charles has taken
a course at Howe's Academy, Mt. I'leasant, ;ind in
point of education the children arc :ill intended to
have every advantage.

Oliver Stephenson has tilled almost ever}- town-
ship office, and for years was President of the School
Board, and also Treasurer from the organization
of the independent district. He has repeatedly
filled the offices of Township Supervisor, Township
Trustee, and is the present incumbent and his own

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HENRY COUNTY.

179 fl

successor. He was one of the original members of
the Swedish Lutheran Churcli, at Swedesburg, and
was one of its first Trustees, being both Trustee
and Deacon, with the exception of one year, from
its organization. He was elected one of the Board
of Directors of the Augustana College, of Rock
Island, 111., in 1885, and has another year to serve.
As a useful citizen the township and county are
proud of Oliver Stephenson. As a family, all are
held in high esteem, and with pleasure we offer this
sketch of one of the best known men of his nation-
ality in Wayne Township.

^ OHN BANGS, a prominent pioneer of Henry
County, Iowa, tirst settled in the township
of New London May 29, 1838, in company
_ with his father and family. He still re-
sides on the old homestead, where he Las a finely
improved farm of 440 acres, situated on section 36.
Mr. Bangs was born in Yarmouth, Barnstable Co.,
Mass., Oct. 10, 1826, and is the son of John and
Polly (Clark) Bangs. His father was born in
Brewster, in the same county. The family is of
English origin, and the first to emigrate was Edward
Bangs, who landed from the English ship, "Anna,"
at the Plymouth Colony, Mass., in June, 1621.
John Bangs, Sr., was born June 5, 1701, was a
sailor in early life, and later a salt manufacturer.
His father, John Dillingham Bangs, was born in
Massachusetts, Dec. 30, 17.')7, and his mother. Con-
tent (Smith) Bangs, daughter of Charles and Content
Smith, was born May 16, 1757, in the same county
as her husband. John Bangs, Sr., father of our
subject, emigrated from Massachusetts with his
family in May, 1838, and purchased a claim on
what is now section 30, New London Township,
and moved into a little log cabin which the f(jrmer
proprietor had built. His family included his wife
and five children, two boys and three girls; one had
died in Massachusetts. Polly is the widow of
William M. K. F'inley, now residing in Davis
County, Iowa; Emeline was the wife of O. D.
Laughlin, and died Sept. 6, 1851; Bethiah is the
widow of 0. D. Laughlin, and now resides in New
London; .John married Miss Lavina Cresap, and is

^0

a prominent farmer of New London Township, liv-
ing on the old homestead; James IL, who married
E. E. Burge, died in 187G. John Bangs, Sr.. died
July 29, 1860, and his wife on the 10th of Sep-
tember, 1866. They were both honored members
of the Baptist Church. Mr. Bangs was a Democrat
in his political views in early life, and most uncom-
promising in his opinions. He was a strong free
trade man, and opposed to National banks and
monopolies. Later in life he became a Republican,
and was just as ultra in his views from that stand-
point. He was earnestly patriotic in his sentiments
and was a soldier of the War of 1812.

John Bangs, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was
married in Danville, Des Moines Co., Iowa, July 2,
1864, to Miss Lavina Cresap, daughter of Joseph
Cresap. Mrs. Bangs was born in Maryland, and
came to Iowa with her parents m 1850. Three
children were born of their union, one son and two
daughters: I'^mma, born July 14, 1865, now the
wife of Charles Watkins, resides in New London
Township; Cora, born Sept. 24, 1868;, and William
H., born Jan. 17, 1877. The two youngest reside
at home. Mr. Bangs has passed nearly half a cen-
tury in Henry County as a resident of New London
Township, during which time he has contributed
his share to the improvement and development of
the county. His residence, a fine brick structure,
occupies the site of the pioneer cabin of 1838. Mr.
Bangs is a Democrat in his views, but not an office-
seeker, never having held office except as Super-
visor, etc. He is a member of Charity Lodge No.
56, I. O. O. F., of New London.

aHARLES S. HOWE is a dealer in staple and
fancy groceries, west side of Square, Mt.
'' Pleasant, Iowa. He was born in Cincinnati,
Ohio, Sept. 16, 1846, and is the son of Joseph and
Fanny E. (Marsh) Howe. The father was born in
Tuscarawas County, Ohio, June 21, 1819, while his
mother was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 22,
1823. The pai'ents removed to Los Angeles, Cal.,
in 1877, where his mother still resides. His father
died there May 2, 1883. The family, including
Charles S., removed from Ohio to Taylorville, 111., y

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180

HENRY COUNTY.

in 1852, and from there to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in
1854. Charles learned the tinner's trade in this
city, and opened a sliop in tliat line in 1868, at
Marshall, now Way land, Iowa. Shortly afterward
he started in business with his father in a general
store at Marshall, and carried on the business until
1870, when they returned to Mt. Pleasant, moving
the slock of goods to this place. He continued in
business with his father until 1.S75, and in May of
that year he sold out to his father and was employed
as a clerk till 1878, when he formed a partnership
with S. and L. W. Sutton in the grocery trade,
under the firm name of Howe & Sutton. This con-
nection continued from Sept. 1. 1878, till April,
1 884, when Mr. Howe purchased his partner's in-
terest, and has since conducted the business alone.

Charles S. Howe was married at IMt. Pleasant,
June 6, 1872, to Miss IMar}' Sutton, daughter of
Philip Sutton, a native of Greene County, Ohio.
Four ehildri'u were born of their marriage, three of
whom are now living: Charles R., born Jul}' 14,
187.3; Frank S., born Nov. 24, 1875; Laura E.,
born Oct. G, 1880; Bert, born Sept. 22, 1884, died
.Sept. 25, 1884. Mrs. Howe died May 10, 1885.
Mr. Howe was married again, Jan. 2, 1887, at Mt.
Pleasant, to Miss Nina Abbe, a daughter of Henrj'
U. Aljbe, and a native of Hcnr}- County, Iowa.
Her father was a soldier in the late war, and was
one of the early settlers of Henry County. Mr.
and Mrs. Howe are members of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church. Mr. Howe is a Republican in poli-
tics, lie is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of
Xenium Lodge No. 207, of Mt. Pleasant.

c^^HOMAS MOREHEAD, one of the early
'~~ settlers <if Butler County, Ohio, was born
in Wostmorel.'ind Count}', Pa, in about
178G. Ilis fatiier, Robert Morciiead, was a sol-
dier in the War of 1812, and went to Cincinnati.
()hii>, in 1801, and settled in Butler County, where
Thomas was miirried to Hester Aim Shields, a native
of Ireland, by wliom he liad a family of seven chil-
dren: Mary Ann married (Jeorgc !'. Gi-afl, of
Butler County, and died in thatcunnty; Jane,
wife of Dr. Josej)!! Waterman, a I'ciebr.'ited Meth-

odist preacher, died in Oxford, Butler Co., Ohio;
Eliza, born in 1811, resides in this (Henry) county;
Thomas married Miss Ann Be vis; Hester Ann, wife
of William Pottenger, of Preble County, Ohio;
Caroline, wife of William Lytic, came to this county
where she afterward died ; her husband was sup-
posed to have been murdered near Hamilton, Ohio,
and his body thrown into the Miami River. John,
who .settled in this count}' in 1840. Thomas More-
head and wife were members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and for some years he was a Class-
Loader. He was a man highly respected in the
county where he lived. In politics, he was a stanch
Jackson Democrat.

Joiui S. Morehead was an earlj' settler of Henry
County, Iowa. He was born in Butler Count}',
Ohio, Aug. 12, 1820, and there grew to manhood
and received a liberal education. In the fall of
1846 he married Miss Charlott Forbes, a native of
Butler County, Ohio, born .Jan. 1, 1827. Soon
after their marriage they came to Henry County
and located in Centre Township, where they re-
mained until their death. Six children were born
unto them, four of whom are living: Hester, wife
of Erskine Becker, residing in New London Town-
ship; Mary, wife of Nelson Cornick, of this county ;
Callie, residing on the old homestead; Annettie,
wife of Cornelius Smith, of Jefferson County, Iowa.
Tlie deceased are John and an infant daughter. Mrs.
Morehead died in 1865. Slie was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church and a sincere Christian
woman, loved by all. Mr. Morehead came to
Iowa in the same year it was admitted into the
Union of States. The greater part of the connti-y
at this time was in a wild state, and in common with
the pioneers generally he had but little capital
other than a brave heart and willing iiands. He
went immediately to work and soon had a splendid
farm under a high state of cultivation. He was a
man of marked ability, one calculated to make
friends wherever known. Religiously, he was con-
nected Willi the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
as a member of that body did all in his power to
advance liie Master's cause. Politically, he was a
stanch Democrat, a Jinn believer in the principles
advocated by Jefferson and Jackson. A friend of
education, he gave each of his children opportunity

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181

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sufficient to become well versed in the various
sciences of the day. June 21, 1887, Mr. Morehead
was trampled by a frightened horse, which caused
his death June 26, 1887. He was a kind husband
and an indulgent parent, and no man could say
aught against him. His death was universally
mourned alike by his family and friends.

Miss Eliza Morehead, the sister of John, has al-
ways made her home \vith the family. She is a
woman of superior ability and has been a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years.
Of a family of seven children she is the sole surviv-
ing one.

LFRED J. CAMPBELL is among the
01 oldest and best known citizens of Henry
Count3'. He was born in Sussex County,
Del., April 2, 1816, and is a son of Rob-
ert and Hannah (Hazard) Campbell, both na-
tives of the same State, where their whole lives
were passed. They were the parents of four sons
and three daughters who grew up. Besides the sub-
ject of this sketch, one other member of this fam-
ily is now living, a brother, John S., who is now in
his seventy-seventh j^ear and is a resident of Passa-
dena, Cal. Both of his parents died when Alfred
J. was six years old, and he went to live with older
brothers and sisters. He received such education
as the schools of that day afforded, and was reared
on a farm until he was fourteen years old, when he
came West with an older brother, William H., who
kept a general store at Shelby ville, Ind. He was in
his brother's employ for eight years, when he began
on his own account in the same town. Two years
later he began trading in the South, and some-
times clerking, usuallj' spending the summers in
the North.

On the breaking out of the Mexican War, Mr.
Campbell enlisted in the 3d Indiana Volunteers,
under Capt. Sullivan, their Colonel being the after-
ward celebrated Gen. James H. Lane, of Kansas
border war fame. He participated in the battle of
Bueiia Vista, fought by Gen. Taylor against tre-
mendous odds, and which was one of the most
brilliant victories of that war. On his return to
peaceful pursuits he again settled in Shelby County,

Ind. Mr. Campbell was married in September,
183;), at Dayton, Oliio, to Miss Mary Sullivan, who
died in July, 1848. The fruit of this union was
one child who died in infancj'. In Seiitember,
1849, Mr. Campbell was married to Mrs. Prudence
Lockhart, widow of Benjamin Lockhart, of Ripley
County, Ind., who died July 1.5, 1848. This couple
had no children.

In 1853 Mr. and INIrs. Campbell emigrated to
Iowa, settling on a farm in Henry County, on which
he lived for twent}- years, and on which, by the aid
of his industrious and thrifty habits and good
judgment, he accumulated a competence. In 1873
he retired from active life on the farm and removed
to his present home in Mt. Pleasant. In earlj- life
Mr. Campbell acted with the Democratic party, but
on the breaking out of the Rebellion joined the
ranks of the Republicans with whom he has ever
since affiliated. In his religious views he is a be-
liever in Christianity and a liberal supporter of
churches, but not a member of any denomination.
His wife is a member of the Christian Church. A
man of sound judgment, well informed as to public
matters, and of undoubted probity of character,
Mr. Campbell commands the respect of his fellow-
men.

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VILLIAM SMITH, born Oct. 5, 1833, is a
native of Beaver County, Pa. He resides
on section 20, Trenton Township, where
he owns a fine farm of eighty acres. AVhen but a
lad of twelve years he emigrated with his parents,
Robert and Nancy (Bryarly) Smith, natives of
Pennsylvania, to Indiana. In that State William
was reared on a farm and received his education at
the district schools. He came to this county in the
fall of 18.55 with his parents, who subsequently re-
moved to Decatur County, where they both died.
The father departed this life in August, 1877, and
the mother in August, 1885. They were both
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He
was a Republican, always taking a lively interest in
jjolitical affairs. They reared a family of eight
children : Sarah S., wife of John Jones, now resides
in Decatur County, Iowa; Jane M., widow of John

Bouse, now living in Tipton County, Ind. ; AVill-
1 ^

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HENRY COUNTY.

iaiii. (iiir subject; Agnes, wife of Isaac Dick, resid-
ing in Indiana; Margaret, widow of Jolin Stone, of
Decatur County, Iowa; Robert, a soldier in tlie
34th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, enlisted in August,
18G2, and died at Helena, Ark., when fighting foi'
hi.s country ; Mary A., wife of Preston Creveling,
of Decatur County, Iowa; Louisa Ann died in
infancy.

William Smith, our subject, went with his par-
ents to Decatur Countj^ Iowa, in the spring of
1856; remaining but a short time, he returned to
Henry County, engaging as a farm hand, then rent-
ing farms until October, 1861, when he responded
to his country's call for troops. He enlisted in
Company D, 4th Iowa Cavalry, and served until
Aug. 9, 1864, as Corporal. His eyes became sore
and he suffered from other disabilities, from the
effects of which diseases he has never fully re-
covei'ed. After his discharge he returned to Henry
County, and was united in marriage, in February,
1865, with Rhoda Ann Messer, a native of Henrj'
County, and a daughter of Hiram Messer. He made
his home upon a rented farm on section 20, Tren-
ton Township, until 1873, when he made a home
on a farm of eighty acres which he had previously
bought, and has developed a good farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith were the parents of two chil-
dren— W. G. and E. M. His first wife died April
14, 1870, and ho was .again married in 1873, to
Margaret Messer, a sister of his former wife, and
by their union eight children have been born — Will-
iam Sherman, Robert Hiram, John Miller, Ann
Eliza, Rosa Blanche, Maggie Luella, Nanc}' Ade-
line and .lames Harlan. Mr. Smith has held the
office of Township Trustee for six years. Politically
he is Republican. He is one of the stanch sup-
porters of the party, and takes great interest in all
political affairs. Mr. Smith commenced life a poor
boy, and has made his own way in the world with-
out .a.ssistance.

I

J' OB CODNER, a farmer residing at New
London Village, has a finely imjjroved farm
of 205 acres adjoining the east city limits,
another of seventy-seven acres in the same
township, besides forty acres of good timber. Mr.
-^•-

Codner was born at Athens, Athens Co., Ohio, in
December, 1820. His father, .John C. Codner, was
a large land-owner in that county, but was born in
Rhode Island, his parents being of French descent.
The name uriginally was Cadnea, liut was changed
to Co<lner bj' the founder of the family in America.
John Chaplin Codner, our subject's father, was a
farmer by occupation, and died in 1823, when his
son Job was in his fourth year. His wife, Job's
mother, was Fanny Tillinghast before marriage.
She was also born in Rhode Island, and was of En-
glish descent. Her death occurred in 1828. Left
an orphan at the age of eight years, Job was placed
in the care of a widow, Mrs. Esther Miller Ming-
ham, a Connecticut woman of sterling practical
sense and kind heart, and under her judicious cai-e
Job was reared to industrious, frugal habits, and
taught to be truthful, upright and honest. Mr.
Codner still reveres the memory of his foster
mother as one who did much to lay the foundation
of a character that has aided him materially in his
successful business career.

Mr. Codner was married at Athens, Ohio, to a
"maid of Athens," Miss Hannah Raj'nor Graham,
daughter of Josiah and Clarissa (Ra^-nor) Graham,
a native of Athens. Mrs. Codner's father was born
in Scotland during a brief sojourn of his parents in
that country while refugees from the North of Ire-
land during the Irish rel)ellion. His people were
Scotch-Irish of the old-school Presbyterian sort.
He emigrated to America in his youth, and married
Miss Clarissa Raynor on Long Island. .Mrs. Gra-
ham was born on Long Island and was of Scotch
parentage.

Mr. and Mrs. Codner have two children, sons:
Henr^' Hayes, born near West Point, Lee Co., Iowa,
Nov. 17, 1850, wlio is a farmer of New London
Township; the 3'ounger son, John C, was also
born near West Point, Iowa, on the 6th of April,
1855, and is married to Lillie Biesen, and is a
farmer of New London Township, where he has a
well-improved farm of eighty-one acres. Mr. and
Mrs. John C. Codner have three children, two
daughters and a son : Irena Maude, born Sept. 16,
1882; Mabel May, born Dec. 5, 1884, and Leroy
Champlin, born Sept. 3, 1887. Mr. Codner came
to Iowa in 1817, purchasing a farm in Lee Count}'

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HENRY COUNTY.

183

and then returning to Ohio. He sold his land soon
afterward, but returned to Iowa with liis family in
1850, and purchased another farm near West Point,
Lee Countjs which he improved and cultivated
until 1864. He then came to Henry Count}', lo-
cating in New London Village, and one year later
purchased a farm in New London Township and
again engaged in tilling the soil. Having a turn
for speculation, and possessing a good knowledge
of values, he sold and bought several farms in rapid
succession, making money l>y every transfer. In
1878 he purchased the farm of 20.") acres near the
east village limits which he still owns, and the ele-
gant residence in the village, his jiresent home. Mr.
Codner has not confined himself strictly to farm
life, but has traveled over the world more or less.
In 18.56 he made a trip to Texas, going overland
through the Indian Territory. He left home in
September, 1856, spent the winter in Texas and re-
turned via the Red River, Louisiana, Arkansas and
Missouri. While in North Missouri he was stricken
with Spanish or yellow fever and came near dying.
He reached home on the 25th of May, 1857. On
the 16th of September, 1869, he started with
his family for a cruise to the Pacific Slope, spent
two months in California, visiting .San Fsancisco
and other chief points of interest, and then returned
to Iowa. In his younger days he was an old-line
Whig, and on the formation of the Republican
party, joined that organization, and has since been
an earnest supporter of the party. Mr. and Mrs.
Codner are members of the Baptist Church, and are
highly respected by that society and by the entire
community in which they make their home.

s^-

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^=^EORGE SHANER, merchant. New London,
[|[ ,— , Iowa, a pioneer of Henry County of 1844,
^^Jj was born in Westmoreland County, Pa.,
Jan. 15, 1840. His parents, George and Juliana
(Bricker) Shaner, were Pennsylvanians by birth and
of German descent. The family originally settled
in Maryland, and went from there to Westmore-
land County, Pa., where the father was born.
George came to Iowa with his parents in 1844,
when but a child. They spent a short time in
Burlington and then came to New London.

■-4^

The subject of our sketch was educated in the
village schools of that place, and on the breaking-
out of the Civil War he was among the first to enter
the .service in defense of the Union. He enlisted
in June, 1861, and was sworn into the United
States service July 17 following as a private of
Company H, 6th Iowa Infantry, under command of
Col. John Adair McDowell, who was succeeded by
Col. John M. Corse, late Major General. His regi-
ment was assigned to duty in the Army of the Ten-
nessee, under Gen.' Slierman. The history of
the 6th Iowa Infantry was one of hard-fought cam-
paigns in which the regiment made a brilliant rec-
ord for brave and efficient .service, and during
which time it sustained a loss of 140 men killed
outright in line of battle, and 349 wounded. The
first important battle in which the regiment engaged
was the battle of Shiloh, where they entered with a
force of 600 men and sustained a loss of 284 in
killed and wounded. Our subject participated in
the following-named engagements: Battles of Shi-
loh, March 16, 1862; siege of Corinth, May, 1862;
siege of Yicksburg, winter of 1862-6.3. At the
battles near Jackson, July 16, 1863, the regiment
covered Itself with glory and was highly compli-
mented in the reports of the general officers. In
the mouth of November, 1863, it was engaged in
the battle of Mission Ridge. In December follow-
ing, the regiment took jiart in the famous expedi-
tion for the relief of Knoxville, Tenn. Early in
1864 the regiment veteranized and became the 6th
Iowa Veteran Volunteers, and was granted a thirty-
days furlough. Returning at the expiration of
the furlough, about the last of April, 1864, it
rejoined Sherman and fouglit the battles of Resaca,
May 14 and 15; Dallas, May 28; New Hope, June
1 to 4; Big Shanty, June 15, and Kennesaw on
the 27th; then in all the great battles before At-
lanta, July 21, 22 and 28, and at Jonesboro, in the
rear of Atlanta, on the last of August and first of
September. The roster at Dalton showed not more
than 400 men when the regiment returned from
veteran furlough, and on the campaign before At-
lanta the casualties numbered over 200. When
the regiment started with Sherman on his famous
march to the sea, it numbered but little more than
one full company. It took part in the battles of
«>.

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J 184

HENRY COUNTY.

4-

Griswoldville, Ga., Nov. 22, 1864, where they r<uf-
fered severely. It participated in the battle of
Bentonville, March 20, 1805, the last battle of Sher-
inan's campaign. In addition to the battles enumer-
ated, Mr. Shaner tooli part in nnmerous skirmishes
and many minor engagements. During all of
this active and perilous service he fortunately es-
caped without a scratch or a wound, but hardship
and exjMjsure in a hot climate impaired his health
seriously, producing a chronic complaint peculiar
to the soldiers of the late war, but he kept to his
post, driving ambulance when he could not march,
until he w.as finally discharged, April 13, 18G5,just
at the close of the war. On his return from the
war, and partial recovery of his health, he engaged
in milling at New London. lie was employed at
that work until 18CH, when he went to Oregon,
Linn Co., Iowa, where he spent three years in a
mill at Ilarrisburg. He then returned to New Lon-
don, and in 1872 engaged in mercantile business.
Mr. Shaner carries a fine stock of general merchan-
dise and has built up a good trade.

He was married at New London, Oct. 3, 1872, to
Miss Mary E. L^'man, daughter of Ambrose Ly-
man, Esq. Mrs. Shaner was born near Columbus,
Ohio. Tiiey have four children, three sons and a
daughter: Ambrose L., born Sept. 17, IStS;-
Charles Ira, born Jan. 24, 1875; Aria Belle, born
Jan. 23, 1878. and Ora J., Dec. 22, 1884. -Mr.
Shaner is a Master Mason, a member of New Lou-
don Lodge No. 28, A. F. & A. M., also a member
of Charity Lodge No. 56, I. O. O. ¥. Politically,
he is a Republican, having always voted with that
party.

EDAVAKI) II. STEPHENSON, druggist. New
London, Iowa, and a pioneer of Ilenrj'
County of 1836, was born in Dearborn
County, Ind., April 27, 1830. His parents, John
S. and I';h'/,abctli (Archibald) Stephenson, were
.'inKing the eaily jiioneers of Henry County,
Iowa. His father was born in Wood County, \' a.,
April 11, 1800. lie came to Henry County, Iowa,
in 1836, and was prominent in the early history of
that countj', at one lime representing his district

■-4*-

*~

i in the State Senate (see sketch elsewhere in this

! work).

Our subject removed with his parents in early
childhood to New Haven, Hamilton Co., Ohio, and
from there to Henry County, Iowa, in 1836. He
was brought up on his father's farm, and in the
spring of 1849, in company with his elder brother,
Edmund J., he started overland for California with
ox-teauis for conveyance. The long and tedious
journe}' was accomi)lished in safety after encounter-
ing numerous adventures and hardships incident to
crossing the plains in those early days. His party
was fortunate in not finding the Indians so hostile
as they became a few years later. The experience,
however, was peculiar and attractive to our subject,
who was but a boy in his teens. Arriving in Cali-
fornia, young Stephenson engaged in placer min-
ing, washing the precious metal by hand with the
traditional rocker. Later he engaged with the
Government at Benicia, building docks and ware-
houses, spending three j'ears in that line. Mr.
Stephenson remained in California five years, and
was quite successful in his various ventures. He
returned home via Panama and New Orleans. His
brother Edmimd had been failing in health for some
time before they started on their return voyage.
He succeeded in reaching New Orleans, where he
died May 2, 1854. After burying his brother, Mr.
Stephenson returned to Henry County, Iowa, and
engaged in farming. In 1857 he went to Lowell
in the same county, where he engaged in milling
and general merchandising in company with Dr. E.
Archibald. He was manied at Lowell, Henr\- County,
in April, 1851), to Miss Permelia Smith, daughter of
Hiram Smith. Mrs. Stephenson was born in Lee
County, Iowa, where her people were pioneers.
Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson have two daughters,
Clara and Nora. Mr. Steiihenson continued in
business at Lowell until 1873, when he removed to
New London and engaged in the dry -goods trade
in company with Mr. Stoddard, under the firm
name of the " Stoddard Company." That connec-
tion continued till 1877, when he sold out and lived
retired until 1884, when he commenced the drug
business at New London, which he still carries on.

Mr. Stephenson is an e.arnest Democrat in his
political views, and a cordial supporter of the pres-

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fOONO

P.HO

ftTIONS.

Jj^^-^chtiYK

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HENRY COUNTY.

187

ent National administration. He is a Master
Mason and a uiembor of New London Lodge No.
28, A. F. & A. M. He was made a Mason in Lowell
Lodge No. 48, in 1858. The lodge was removed
to Danville in 1864. Mr. Stephenson is one of the
oldest settlers of Henry Count}', and is widely
known and highl}' resjjected. His mother, a lady
who was held in high esteem b}' all who knew her,
survived her husband and lived to the good old age
of nearly eighty-six years. She was born Oct. 28,
1801, and died April 7, 1887.

-^•-* ^?~^~g^?r"f~:^ — • —

'Jp H. DRAKE, M. D., the most prominent and
successful practicing homeopathic physician
of Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa, was born
^^^ in St. Thomas, Canada, Dec. 28, 1845. His
ancestors were of Scotch and English descent, and
came to America prior to the Revolution, settling
in Northern Vermont. His paternal grandfather
espoused the cause of the British during that
struggle and removed to Canada, where his family
were reared. The parents of the subject of this
sketch were William and Eliza (Malott) Drake.
The former was by occupation a builder and con-
tractor, but later in life became a farmer, owning a
large tract of land in Essex Countj^ Ontario, Can-
ada. He was a prominent and well-known citizen,
and a leader in the public affairs of that countj'
and Province, and had held many local oflices. He
was a man of unquestioned integrity, and de-
servedly stood high in the estimation of the com-
munity. He was a prominent member of the
Masonic fraternity, and for seventeen years was
Treasurer of the lodge in Kingsville, where he lived.
He was also an ardent and consistent friend of the
cause of temperance, antl abstained not only from
the use of intoxicating liquors but of tobacco in
every form. He and his wife were life-long com-
municants of the Episcopal Church, and were
known as zealous and efficient church workers.
Mr. Drake died Feb. 4, 1882, aged seventy-six, his
wife preceding him to the grave twenty years,
dying Feb. 3, 18fi2, aged forty-five. Of their ten
children, the following six are now living: James
W., Thomas and Benjamin, contractors and

builders, residing .at Kingsville, Canada; Margaret,
wife of David Fuller, of Amherstburg, Canada;
Kenneth M., a farmer at Meston, Canada, and Dr.
J. H. The latter received his primary education
in the common schools of his native place, and
when seventeen years old came alone to Sandusky,
Ohio, where he entered the graded school. Having
from boyhood an ardent desire to become a phy-
sician, he read all the medical works he could find,
and in that way obtained a good general knowledge
of the healing art. His means were limited and he
was compelled to work his way through college,
which he did successfully, graduating with honor
in 1874. That same year he went to Linn County,
Iowa, engaging in practice at Mt. Vernon, and
acquiring a large and paying clientage and an ex-
cellent reputation. Owing to his arduous labors in
his extensive practice his health failed, and for a
time he was compelled to rest. In the winter of
1879-80 the Doctor attended Il.ahnemann Medical
College, Chicago, where he gave especial attention
to the study of diseases of the eye and ear, in
which specialty he has been exception.tlly successful.
In 1880 he settled in Mt. Pleasant, this county,
where fi'om the first he has had a large and lucra-
tive practice, and has gained a reputation as a
skillful, kind and painstaking physician and surgeon,
of which he may justly be proud.

In 1871 Dr. Drake was married to Miss Mary E.
Boyingtou, a native of Saratoga Countj^ N. Y.,
born in September, 1853. Their union has been
blessed with four children — Frank J., Leon D.,
Carrie G. and William B. Dr. Drake is a member
of the Hahnemann Medical Society of this State,
and filled the office of Treasurer in 1885 and 1886.
He is also a member of the Cedar Valley Medical
Association, of which he was Secretary for three
years. He is essentially a self-made man, and no
person living in Henry County to-day is entitled to
greater credit for raising himself from a compara-
tively humble position to one of eminence in his
profession, of which he is a leading member. He
is still a student, as is every first-class member of
the profession, and keeps abreast of all the latest
discoveries in medical science. He possesses by
far the finest collection of instruments and appli-
ances of anj' physician in the county, and h.as

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188

HENRY COUNTY.

i

apartments fitted up for the administering of
Turkish, Russian and vapor baths, and for electrical
treatment and the practice of dentistry. He and
his wife are active workers in the cause of temper-
ance, Mrs. Drake being now Grand Superintend-
ent of Juvenile Templars, having charge of the
juvenile work under the auspices of the State
Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars,
and the Doctor is Grand Deputy Chief Templar for
this district. Both are also members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church of Mt. Pleasant, the
Doctor filling the office of Steward. He is also a
Master Masun, a member of Xenium Lodge No.
108, A. F. & A. M., and politically is a warm
supporter of the Republican part3', and in every
way an honored citizen of the county'.

The portrait of this gentleman appears on an
adjoining page.

AMUEL I. SHANER, merchant. New Lon-
don, Iowa, dealer in clothing, gents' fur-
nishing goods, notions and jewelry, and ex-
County Treasurer, is a pioneer of Henry
County of 1844. He was born in Westmoreland
County, Pa., Dec. 7, 1832, and is the son of
George and Juliana (Bricker) Shaner. His father
was born in the same county, while his father's par-
ents were of German birth, who on emigrating to
America first settled in Maryland, and removed
from there to Westmoreland County, Pa. Samuel
came to Iowa with his parents in 1844, landing in
Burlington on the lOtli of April; ten da3'S later they
came to New London. His father was a tailor by
trade, and engaged in that business until 1850, when
getting the gold fever, he went overland to Cali-
fornia, where he spent seven years in mining and
other pursuits, and returned home in 18/)7, via
Panama and New York. On his return he entered
the service of the Burlington & Missouri Rall-
waj' Company, as Station Agent at New London ;
his death occurred in the winter of 187(5.

Samuel learned the tailor's trade, but not being
pleased with that vocation, did not follow it. He
entered the service of the Burlington ifc Missouri
Railway Company as agent at New London

in 1858, Ijeing the second person to serve in that
capacity at that place. He was retained in the
company's employ until 1 872, covering a period of
fourteen years, during which time he served as
Station Agent, first at New London, as we have
said, next at Fairfield, then atOtturawa, and again
at New London. In 1872 he engaged in mercan-
tile business at New Loudon, and continued it
until 1882. He was elected Treasurer of Henry
County in the fall of 1879, and entered upon the
duties of the office ,Tau. 1, 1880. He was re-elected
and served until Jan. 1, 1884. Mr. Shaner made a
capable awd faithful officer. He had continued the
mercantile business up to the close of his first term
of office. He did not again I'esume active business
until 1886, when he engaged in his present trade.
He has held various local offices, and has taken an
active part in public affairs. He was married at
New London, Jan. 27, 1859, to Miss Martha G.
McManus, a daughter of James N. McManus. Mre.
Shaner was born in Fairfield, Ind. Thej' have two
children, a daughter and a son. The daughter,
Clara L., is the wife of M. B. Cullum, of St. Paul,
Minn. The son, Frank N., was born at New Lon-
don, Aug. 24, 1870, and is with his father in the
store.

Mr. Shaner is a Republican in politics, and has
licen associated with that party since its organiza-
tion. He has man}' friends in the count}', and
bears an honoralile name in the comniuuity in
which he resides.

^8^

■^OEL C. GARRETTSON, farmer, is one of
the oldest settlers within Jackson Township,
and for many years has been prominent in
(^// its history. He was born in Highland
County, Ohio, Dec. 1.'), 1809, and is a son of Isaac
and Alice (I'axton) Garrettson. Isaac Garrettson
was a native of Adams County, Pa., and his wife
was born in Stafford County, Va., and was a
daughter of John and Mary Paxton, who soon after
her birth removed to Loudonn County, in the same
State. Later the I'axtons removed to Logan
Countj-, Ohio, where the parents died at a ripe old
age. They vvere the parents of four sons and five

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HENRY COUNTY.

189

daughters, the youngest of whom, Susan, wedded
Richard Shockly, removing to Jefferson County,
Iowa; the remainder staid in Ohio. Isaac Garrett-
son was l)orn May 17, 1765, married his wife in
Grayson County, Va., April 5, 1801, and died
Dec. 13, 1844. His wife, Alice, was born May
19. 1769, and died Nov. 18, 1855. Soon after
marriage the young couple emigrated to Highland,
now Clinton Country, Ohio, traded for lands, and he
began farming. Their tract comprised 230 acres
of virgin woodland, which he cleared up, the first
settlement being made about 1824. In that State,
Joel C. and Isaac H., the latter now a resident of
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, who wedded Jeauette Pringle,
were born. Their two eldest children, John G.,
who wedded JMary Goodson, and Mary A., wife of
D. W. Henderson, of Salem, were born in 'N'irginia.
After a lengthy experience in pioneering in Ohio,
the Garrettson family removed to Iowa, being [ire-
ceded by their sons, Isaac and .Joel, who located in
this county in June, 1837. Our subject was
married prior to their coming, to Miss Elizabeth P.
Goodson, of Franklin County, Ohio. She was a
daughter of George and Rebecca Goodson, of Vir-
ginia, who left that State at an earl}- daj' and
became pioneers of Ohio. Of the Goodson familj-
there were six daughters and five sons, of whom the
youngest son, George, married Eliza Hoffman, and
they now live in Madison County, Ohio, and he is
the onlj' survivor of the family.

Isa.ac and Joel Garrettson both took claims, our
subject selecting his present homestead, Isaac taking
lands in Lee County, adjoining. These they
secured at the first land sale in Burlington. As an
incident of that sale, Mr. Garrettson informs the
writer that ff>r all the registered claims in this
township he was the bidder on behalf of the
respective claimants, and perhaps the only man
now living in this county who performed the same
service. Isaac Garrettson was the inventor of the
first nail cutting and heading machine ever in-
vented, of which there is any record, and which
was patented while George Washington was Presi-
dent, the patent bearing the name of the Father of
his Country.

The first cabin built by Joel Garrettson was
erected on the creek ou the east half of the south-

west quarter of section 27. Their first son, Amos
P., was born in Ohio; Emilj' R. was bc>rn in the
first cabin built on their purchase in Iowa, on
March 15, 1840. With two yoke of cattle hitched
to a wagon, the journey was made from Ohio, and
the team played no unimportant part after they
were fairly settled. They turned over the virgin
sod, drew the logs for their cabins, and as both
brothers brought with them a horse, they also had
a team for driving. Our subject and his brothers
began life in the new country like other pioneers.
They built their own cabins, split the puncheons
for floors, and fashioned the clapboards for the
roof. They also made a •' hominy mortar " of a
hollowed log, and with a pestle made with a spring
pole, somewhat similar to the old well-sweep, the
corn was crushed into meal, and some of the neigh-
bors, among whom were Ephraim Ratliffe and wife,
patronized the primitive mill. The prosperous days
that came later on did away with all that kind of
labor, and the crushed corn was replaced by bolted
rae.al and wheaten flour. Flocks and herds dotted
the pastures, and almost before our subject and his
young wife were aware of it they were wealthy
people and the parents of a family of children,
whose merry voices made the walls of the old cabin
ring with their shouts of glee. As tlie days went
by a modern house took the place of the pole cabin.
The deer and wolves no longer raced across the
prairies; the Indians who for years had hunted
over the now fertile lands had gone, and Mr. Gar-
rettson's remark to his friends when leaving Ohio,
" that he had come West to secure lands and grow
with the growth of the country," was fully real-
ized. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Garrettson
are: Amos, wedded to Mary A. Huffman, and who
is a resident mechanic of Leon, Decatur Co., Iowa;
Emily R. is the wife of Irenius M. Hoffman, a
mechanic of Indianapolis, Ind. ; Julia, wife of Ben-
jamin F. Pratt, a resident physician of Clarks,
Merrick Co., Neb., is a gi-aduate of Whittier
College, and also of the Florence Heights Medical
College, New Jersey ; Albert H., the husband of
Louisa Smith, is a graduate of the State University,
and a resident attorney of Keokuk; John G., also
graduated at Whittier and the State University,
wedded Laura Bartlett, and is his brother's law

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190

HENRY COUNTY.

"4

partner, the firm Ijeiiig favorably known as Gar-
rettson & Garrrttson; Owen A. graduated at
Whittier College, and resides with his father on
the farm, and is married to Miss Emma J. Diltz, a
sister of Dr. Diltz, and daughter of Thomas Diltz,
a well-known citizen of this township.

Long since our subject gained a competence, and
he and his wife for years took life easy. They
lived uprightly, did faithfully their life work, and
in their mature age, before death came to break
their long companionship, could look upon children
who are prominent factors in the business and
social world. Having passed with honor all the
offlcial positions in the gift of the i)eople of his
township, Mr. Garrettson resigns public life to
younger men. The golden wedding anniversary
of Mr. Garrettson and his wife was celebrated in
188G, and all their children were present. They
were the grandparents of sixteen children and one
great-gi'andchild.

On Dec. 4, 1887, the Angel of Death entered
the happy home, and the loving wife and faithful
mother passed from earth, rendering up her soul to
Him who gave it, and the aged husband was left to
mourn the loss of a tender wife, by whose side he
had passed more than half a century. She was a
noble woman, who nobly discharged all her duties,
and was truly a helpmeet to her husband. Her end
came suddenly and peacefully, and her memory is
enshrined in the hearts of not only her family but
of a large circle of friends, by whom she was held
in high esteem. Mrs. Garrettson was born May 5,
1816, in Franklin County, Ohio.

^OHN KURTZ, a farmer residing on section
7, Jefferson Town.fhip, Henry Co., Iowa, was
^_^^ born in Maryland in 1 829, and is the son of
(^^ John and Margaret (Harget) Kurtz, who
were of German origin, Init were born, rcnred and
married in Maryland. His grandfather on his
father's side was born in Germany, and his name
was also John Kurtz. The given name of his wife
was Susan, who bore two children: Jolui and Susan,
who remained in Mar3land, and |)rob:ih!y never
married. The children of John Kurtz, fallier of

our subject, are mentioned individual^ in the
sketch of Newton INIcClintic, who wedded Ann R.,
the second youngest daughter. John Kurtz, Sr.,
died at the age of sixtj'-four, and his wife survived
him a number of years, reaching the mature age of
seventy-two. Both were buried on the old home-
stead, and side by side all th.at was mortal reposes,
also one son, Peter, who died unmarrieil.

John Kurtz, our subject, was married in 1850 to
Martha A. Mason, a daughter of A. W. and Cyn-
thia (Rogers) Mason, who were married in Monroe
County', Teun. Mrs. Kurtz was born there, and
came with her parents to Henry County in 1842,
settling where Wayland is now located. Later Mr.
Mason purchased a farm on section 8, where he
lived for some years, but later purchased a small
home on section 6, where himself and wife died.
They were born in North Carolina, and reared a
family of ten children. The first eight were born
in Tennessee— James N., William R., Martha A.,
Mary J., Andrew J., Arch McC'racken, Rufus and
Thomas. Leo and Margaret, in Iowa. Thomas
died in Tennessee. The wife of A. W. Mason died
in her forty-first year, and Mr. Mason wedded Isa-
bella Murry, who bore Ilenrj' H., Charles A.,
Elizabeth C, Eliza E., Almeda M., Hettie, Homer
C, Samuel D., Viola J. and Ida, all born in this
county. A. W. Mason died in May, 18C9, aged
sixty-four years. His widow yet resides in Wash-
ington Count}', now the wife of Josejih Young, and
has reached an advanced .age.

Forty-six years in this county have crowned the
head of John Kurtz, Jr., with hairs of gray, but he
is the same genial man of twenty-live years ago.
He is the father of seven children : Samantha, wife
of John Lute, a farmer of Jefferson Township:
Aramintha, wife of Abner Edwards, a farmer of
Washington County; William, husband of Mattie
Esslej', is farming near Coppack; David, the hus-
band of Mary Windliiig, resides in Jefferson
County, Iowa; Mattie, wife of John Page, an em-
ploye on the C, B. it C^. R. R. ; Charles, an em-
ploye in the State Asylum, and Frank, complete
the number. Mr. Kurtz owns 140 acres of line
land situated near Wayland, and within easj' walk-
ing distance of Coppack. He lias grown wealthy
willi l\is years, and lias served longer on the School
.^

J^

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HENRY COUNTY.

191

Board than any man in his district. We iioint with
pleasure to this family, who have come frym a race
who have done much to build up and develop the
new counties, and deserve a special mention.

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••o*o.-^5^><V®-.o*o..

^^^HOMAS McMILLEN, one of the early set-
tlers of Henry County, Iowa, resides on sec-
tion 5, Center Township. He is a native of
Wayne County, Ohio, born Nov. 11, 1832, and is
a son of Thomas and Mary (Hoagland) McMillen.
When Thomas was but eight years old the family
came to Henry County, Iowa, and settled on sec-
tion .5, Center Township, where his father purchased
a claim of John II. Randolph, on which was a small
building in the course of erection. Here our sub-
ject remained until 18,52, working on the farm in
the summer and attending school during the winter
months, the school-house being situated a mile and
a iialf from his home. It was a primitive log cabin
with puncheon tloor, shakes for roof, slab se.ats, and
lighted by means of a hole cut out from one of the
logs, over which paper was pasted. An old-fash-
ioned tirepl.nce which extended almost over one
side of the room afforded warmth for those attend-
ing the school. In the spring of 1852, in company
with C. B. Dart, Mr. McMillon left for Oregon Ter-
ritory with an ox-team. Leaving the Missouri
River on the .')th of May, they arrived at Portland,
Ore., August 10 of the same year. The jour-
ney was a long and toilsome one, much unlike that
which is made to-day in one of Pullman'.s jwlace
cars. From Portland Mr. McMillen went to Ault
House Creek, near Jacksonville, where he engaged
in mining and where he remained four years. In
185G he returned home by water, the first part of the
journey being on the "Golden Age" to Panama,
thence by the "Nortliern Star" to New York. He ar-
rived at his home in Henry County July 3, 18.56.
His experience in the gold regions served but to
intensify his desire once more to engage in mining,
and therefore after remaining at home a period of
three years, he once more started across the plains,
California being his destination. With ox-teams
he traveled as far as S.alt Lake, when the oxen were
exchanged for p.ack ponies ami the remainder of

the journey was made in that way. He located at
Coloma where gold was first discovered. Here he
once more embarked in mining, and followed that
occupation until 1866, when he again returned
home, arriving here sometime in May of that year.
Since his return home Mr. McMillen has been en-
gaged in superintending the farm. With the ex-
ception of the time spent on the Pacific Coast Mr.
McMillen has been identified with this county a
period of forty-seven years, during which time
most wonderful changes have been made. When
the family first settled in Henry County it was
six years before Iowa's admission as a State, and
fifteen years before a i-ailroad was started. The
changes that he has witnessed and of which lie has
been an active participant can scarcel}' be realized.
"Wlierever known, Thomas McMillen is universally
respected.

0"^ HARLES C. MILLER, a retired farmer of
New London, was born in Fowle's Parish,
, ' Forfarshire, Scotland, May 16, 1800. His

parents, William and Cecelia (Walker) Miller, were
also of Scottish birth. The mother was of High-
land descent; the father died when our subject was
but an infant. Charles C. learned the trade of
landscape gardener, and when twentj' j-ears of age
went to London, England, where he followed that
occupation six years. He then went to County
Kilkenny, Ireland, to accept a position of gardener
to a ricli gentleman, and later .accepted the position
as steward or superintendent of the estate of a large
landed proprietor in County Wcstmeath, Ireland,
where he staid thirteen years, until the death of his
principal. He had a large number of hands to oversee ,
and was placed in a position of great responsibility
and trust, and received a good salary for his serv-
ices. He then entered the service of the Earl of
Desert, in County Kilkenny, as superintendent of
his estate, remaining four j'ears, when having a
strong desire to be proprietor of a landed estate
himself, he determined to emigrate to America, the
country of cheap lands.

Having several relatives and friends who wished
to seek their fortune in the New World, he organ-
ized a party of sixteen persons, of which he was

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192

HENRY COUNTY.

leader, and in 1850 emigrated from Ireland to
America, landing in New York. They came at
once tt) Iowa and located in Pleasant Grove Town-
ship, Des Moines Coimt3', where Mr. Miller pur-
chased a farm of 200 acres, which he still owns.
Some of his party settled near him, others in Henry
Count3^ Several of these are now dead and others
have removed farther west.

Mr. Miller was married in New London Town-
ship, Henry County, July 7. 1858, by the Rev.
McBride, a Presbyterian minister, to Miss Martha
W. Davis, daughter of Tamerlane W. W. and Jane
Smith (Payne) Davis. Mrs. Miller was born in
Bedford County, Va. Her parents were of Welsh
and English descent and came of old families of
Virginia. Mrs. Miller is a woman of superior in-
telligence and culture, and is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Miller was en-
gaged in farming in Des Moines County until 1862,
when he rented his farm and removed to New
London, where lie has since resided. He has three
and a half acres of land in the suburbs of the vil-
lage, which he cultivates with great care and taste.
He is now in his eight3--eighth year, but is still act-
ive and has full possession of his mental faculties.
Mr. Miller has been a man of robust constitution,
remarkahlj- active and energetic. He was a skilled
sportsman, fond of his gun and dogs. In his mid-
dle age, and even long after most men would have
laid aside the gun, he could bring a quail or snipe
to the ground as often as the most expert shot.
His eye is still bright and his nerve stead}-, but he
contents himself with llie cue of his little farm and
domestic animals. He has accumulated a valuable
property, and both lie and his cstiinal)lc wife are
held in high esteem b^- their neighbors and fellow-
citizens.

flfc.^ AVJl) DAVIE8 is a farmer residing on sec-
tion 4, Jefferson Township, Henry Co.,
Iowa. From a country far across the seas
came a family of note in the history of this
county. Henry Davies, Sr., was married lu Eliza-
beth .Jenkins, in Wales. They had a faniil}' of
twelve children prior to the emigration to America,

of whom two are deceased. In Wales Henry
Davies, Sr., w.as a farmer, and owned two farms.
These he sold after purchasing 1,000 acres in this
and Washington County. With his wife and chil-
dren he left Liverpool in 1853. The voyage was
made without accident, but the loving wife and
tender mother died on the ocean, and was buried
in the blue waters of the Atlantic. That was a sor-
rowful time for the company- of emigrants. The
girls were young and knew but little about life's
duties, but the family came to Henry County and
! here found a home. The blow was a sad one to
the husband, who had laid the foundation for a
most successful business, but as joys and sorrows
come to all alike, he bore the loss with all the pa-
tience of a devoted Christian, and to her memory
Henry Davies remained true, and reached the I'ipe
old age of eighty-four j-ears. Of the eliildien we
speak individually : David, our subject, is the eld-
est; Henrj' Davies, Jr., married Mary, a daughter
of John Davidson, of AV'ashington County, and re-
sides in Wayland; Mary wedded Evan E. Davis, a
farmer of Louisa County, who was .also born in
Wales; Elizabeth married John Park, a dealer in
stock and a resident ol Wjishington, Washington
Co., Iowa ; Dinah is the wife of Robert T. Jones, a
farmer residing in Louisa Count}' ; Hannah is the
wife of Huston D. Fishburn, a farmer of Jewell
County, Kan; Evan wedded Elizabeth Williams, a
daughter of Hopkin Williams, who was one of the
first settlers in the county, and in whose homir
Williams Creek received its name; \Vinnie A. be-
came the wife of William Sutheiland, a resident
farmer of Washington Count}- ; Sarah, deceased,
wedded J.acob Izenliart, who is in the restaurant
business at Brighton, Washington Co., Iowa; Jolin
married Addie Park, and resides on the original
Davies homestead.

Perhaps no family enjoy a higher degree of pros-
perity or are nnjre favorably known for their excel-
lence of character than the family under consider-
ation. All are prosperous, and the m.ajority are
members of the Methodist Episcoiial Chureli. David
Davies, our subject, was born in 1832, and was
married first to Miss Sail}-, a daughter of Hopkin
Williams, in 18fiO. One st)n, William H., gr.aced
the marriage, but his death occurred when a babe

*

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HENRY COUNTY.

■*►-•-

193

of four months, dying Sept. 11, 1861. His mother
was disconsolate, and a short time afterward also
died, her death occurring Nov. 26, 1861, and their
bodies repose side by side in the village cemetery.
In 1866 JMr. Davies was again married, Mrs. Nancy
(Anderson) Schooler becoming his wife. This
couple have enjoyed a happy married life of twen-
ty-one years, during which time one son. Homer E.,
has brought added joy to their home. He is now
in his fourteenth year. Two hundred and nineteen
acres pay tribute to the energy of Mr. Davies, and
his home overlooking the pleasant village of Way-
land is cuninianding in appearance, and his large
barn- and outhouses show him to be a man of enter-
prise ami thrift. We welcome to these pages the
history of such a family.

ILLIAM BENNELTT, residing on section
33, .Scott Township, Henr}' Co., Iowa, was
born in Ross County, Ohio, May 17, 1820.
He is a son of George and Mary (Holloway) Ben-
nett. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and
the mother of New Jersey. In 180(; they emi-
grated from Winchester, Va., to Ross County,
Ohio. Four of the family of ten children were
born in the former State: Enoch, a blacksmith and
farmer, died in Miami County, Ohio, in May, 1886;
Sarah, the wife of Newton Hicks, of Ross County,
Ohio, died in Clarke County, in August, 1882; her
husband had died in November, 1845. James,
born Nov. 2, 1800, died in Clarke Count}', Ohio, in
August, 1881 ; Elizabeth died while yet an infant
but a year and a half old. After the removal to
Ohio six other children were born: (leorge, born
April 28, 1809, died in Clarke County, Aug. 30,
188.5; Benjamin, born in April, 1811, died June
27, 1812; Rebecca, wife of Jacob Yager, died in
Henr3' County, Iowa, March 13, 1857, at the age
of forty-four; Mary, wife of M. McCafferty, resides
in Winfield, Iowa; Benjamin H., born June 21,
1817, was drowned in the Ohio River, July 3,
1840; our subject is the youngest of the family.
During most of his life George Bennett was a
blacksmith, but when this labor became too heavy
for him he moved upon a farm. He was calUMJ to

his final home, in Clarke County, Dec. 19, 1861, at
the age of ninety-two years, two months and seven-
teen days. His wife departed this life Aug. 25,
1853, aged seventy-seven years, seven months and
four days. She was a member of the Society of
Friends.

William Bennett, our subject, was reared upon a
farm in his native State. His education was
received at the subscription schools of those times.
He remained at home until twenty-one years of age.
Mr. Bennett was united in marriage, in 1841, with
Ann McCafferty, a native of Madison County,
Ohio. He afterward rented his father's farm,
residing upon this for nine years, at which time,
Oct. 3, 1850, he removed to Henry County, Iowa,
settling on a homestead of eighty acres on section
11, Scott Township. He improved this farm,
making it his home until 1869, when he sold out
and removed to Mt. Pleasant, in order to furnish
better educational advantages to his children.
While residing in that city, on the 22d of Novem-
ber, 1870, Mrs. Bennett was called to her final
home. She was born in September, 1815. Two
years later Mr. Bennett removed to Osborne
County, Kan., where he improved a claim, resid-
ing there for eight months, and in December of the
same year returned to Henry County. He pur-
chased eighty acres of land on section 33, Scott
Township, where he still resides.

Mr. Bennett was again married, April 7, 1874, to
Margaret A. Harkness. She was born in New York,
and is a daughter of James and Margaret (Fleming)
Harkness, both of whom were natives of the same
State. Her father died at Morning Sun, Iowa,
March 20. 1880, when seventy-three years of age.
He was a devoted church member, and one of the
organizers of the Presbyterian Church of Winfield,
having been an Elder for many years. Upon his
removal to Morning Sun Xw. joined the United
Presbyterian Church of that place, and was well
known and universally respected. The mother
died Jan. 24, 1887, aged seventy-six, and was also
a believer in the United Presbyterian faith.

B}' his first wife Mr. Bennett had five children:
Sarah, wife of Emmons Courter, of Osborne County,
Kan.; Mary, wife of W. R. Custer, residing in
Taylor County, Iowa ; Electa Jane, wife of Stewart

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194

HENRY COUNTY.

B. Terry, a farmer and stock-raiser of Jackson
County, Mo. ; Elizalieth Ann, wife of Thomas F.
Hull, residing in Hardy, Neb.; William Franklin, a
merchant of Pomoua, Cal. By the second union
there are two children, Edna and Georgiana. Mr.
Bennett and wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, he being one of its Trustees.

Mr. Bennett has five times been elected Justice
of the Peace, and has held various other township
offices. Politically, he is a Republican. Mr. Ben-
nett always takes an active part in public enter-
prises for the good of the community, and is a
liberal friend to education, in fact, is foremost in
all good works, and it is with pleasure that we place
his sketch in the record of Henry County's people.

(jp^ OLOMON H. DOVER, an honored pioneer
^^^^ of Henry County, Iowa, of 18;U, and a
l(|l£_j) resident of New London Township since
18;!6, was born in Burke County, N. C, in
1806, and is the son of Joshua and Elizabeth (ChiU
ders) Dover. His father was also born in Burke
Comity, N. C. His mother was born in South Caro-
lina, and was a sister of Mrs. James K. Polk, wife of
President Polk. Our subject removed to Warren
County, near Bowling Green, K3'., with his parents
when an infant, spent nine years in the State, and
then removed to Tennessee, locating in Anderson
County, later in Overton County, same State, where
he married, Oct. 6, 1827, Miss Matilda Davis.
Mrs. Dover was born in Kentucky. Mr. anil Mrs.
Dover began life with a very limited auio\uit of
this world's goods, but a good stock of health, hope
.and jiluck, as their history shows. They had little
else than a pair of horses, and the least iwssible
amount of household goods. They had the inis-
fortime to lose one of their horses just as they were
on the point of cniigratiiig to Illinois. Nothing
daunted, they p.icked what goods they could upon
the remaining horse — a bed on one side was bal-
anced by a bundle on the other. The liride was
perched in tlie center, while the luisliand trudged
along by her side on foot. At times the wife
would insist on taking a turn at walking while her
husband rested iiimself 1)3^ a short lide. In this

-<*■

manner they made their w.ay to Montgomery
County, 111., and located at Hillsboro. Mr.
Dover had 13 when he started on the journey.
This was in 1828, when that region was a frontier
country. Mr. Dover was a shoemaker by trade,
but did not like the business, so engaged in farm-
ing in a small way. He worked out to support his
family, and earned enough to buy a mate to his
horse. To make matters worse the climate proved
unhealthful, and they were both sick with the ague,
so after a short time thej' moved to Morgan
Count}-, where Mr. Dover taught school a couple
of years, and earned some money for a start. They
then removed to Macomb, 111., in 1832. In 183i
he came to Henry County, Iowa, and made a claim
on section 3C, township 71 north, range 5 west,
now New London. He erected a cheap shantj- on
the claim, but a big storm coming on he gave up
trying to improve his place, and leaving it to the
care of his brother Abram, who had preceded him
and was established here, he returned to Macomb.
In April, 1836, he again started westward, and
located his familj- on his claim, where the}' made
their home till 1882, when Mr. Dover sold out his
well-improved farm of IGO acres, and removed to
the village of New London, where he now resides.

Mr. and i\Irs. Dover were blessed with a large
famil}-, having fourteen children, seven sons and
seven daughters: Andrew, born Dec. 11, 1S2S, is
unmarried, and resides in California; Cclina. born
Feb. 10, 1831, is the wife of J. A. Hardin, of
Beaver City, Neb.; Louisa, born March 16,
1833, died in 1835; Sarah C, born Nov. 3, 1835,
is the widow of George Matthews, who was a sol-
dier in the late war, and was killed at Helena, Ark.,
July 0, 1863; she resides at New London. Will-
iam L., born Aug. 20, 1836, w.as the first while
child born in New London Township; he is sup-
posed to have been killed in the late war. Ellen
E., born Feb. 10, 1838, died aged four years; C}'-
rus W., born Nov. 30, 1839, married Eliz:a)etli
Hampton foi' his lirst wife, and Snllic ll:iys for his
second wife; he was a soldier of tlu' late war, and
now resides in .Southern Kans;is. llenrie Anna,
born Nov. 17, 1812, is the wife of J. T. Kennett,
of Missouri; Harriet M., born Aug. 18, 1844, is
the wife of Henry Hampton, a blacksmith of New

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^^

195 ')

London; John F., born Sept. 16, 1845, died Aug.
■23,1805; Joel M., born July 29,1854, married
Martha Hiles, and died Oct. 24, 1880; Zachaiy T.,
born Sept. 17, 1849, married for his first wife Agnes,
daugliter of Prof. Maj'or, and for his second wife
Ellen Rowland, and resides at New London ; Win-
field Scott, born Aug. 26, 1851, is the editor and
publisher of the New London Suii\ he married
Miss Jennie New, who died in December, 1883.
Laura JL, born Sept. 23, 1854, is the wife of Will-
iam Reese, of New Loudon.

IMrs. Dover, who had been lier husband's faithful
lielpmeet through all the trials and hardships of
their daily life and through the later cares and re-
sponsibilities of rearing up so large a family, passed
to eternal rest Sept. 3, 1869. Mr. Dover was mar-
ried again, April 7, 1870, to Mrs. Eliza Beardsley,
daughter of Benjamin Matthews, and widow of Lu-
cian Beardsley, who died in March, 1857. Mrs.
Dover was born at Yarmouth, Barnstable Co.,
Mass., Dec. 22, 1828. Her family were of English
descent, but had been residents of Massachusetts
f< ir generations. She had four children bj' her former
marriage, tvyo sons and two daughters: Horace
M., born Feb. 6, 1850, married Clara Ashley, and
resides at Springfield, Mass.; Lorinda C, born
Nov. 1, 1853, unmarried and lives at Danville, Iowa;
Edwin D., born June 12, 1855, died aged twenty-
one months; Harriet L., born in March, 1857, died
aged two years. One child, a daughter, Lulu Belle,
was born of the latter marriage, now a beautiful
girl of sixteen years.

Mr. and Mrs. Dover are members of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Dover was a Whig
in his political affiliations in his earl\' life, but since
the formation of the Republican party has voted
with that organization. He has always been a hard-
working, temperate man, upright and honorable in
his relations with his fellowmen.

ENOS GHEEN, a prominent farmer and stock-
raiser residing on section 21, Marion Town-
ship, Henry County, was born in Chester
County, Pa., Dec. 24, 1844. From his did home
cf)uld be seen the Brandywine battle-field, and the

old Friends' meeting-house that was used for a
hospital, and where the blood-stains may yet be
seen. In this meeting-house Enos received his
early religious instructions, his parents attending
the same. His father, Enos Gheen, Sr., was of
Scotch descent, and his mother, Ann (Seeds)
Gheen, of Irish, though both were natives of Chester
County, Pa. They were the parents of five chil-
dren, the two eldest dying in infancy: Hannah
A., wife of SarauelGuss, emigrated to Linn County,
Mo., where he died in 1872, while she departed this
life Sept. 8, 1882, leaving three children — Mary
A., Enos and Frank. Mary lives with her grand-
ma Gheen; the sons are now living with our subject.
Mrs. Guss was a member of the Congregational
Church of Hickory Grove. The second child was
Mary E., wife of John Dugdale, a resident of Mt.
Pleasant.

The father of our sul)ject came to Henry County in
the fall of 1862, and bought 190 acres of land on sec-
tions 2 and 9, Marion Township, eighty acres of which
were improved. In the spring of 1863 he removed
with his famil}- to his farm. In his native State he
was a devoted member of the Society of Friends,
and was one of the Stewards of the old Birming-
ham meeting-house, spoken of in the first part of
the sketch. His occupation has alwaj's been that
of a farmer and drover. He died Dec. 16, 1871,
from typhoid fever, after six days' illness. He was
a public-spirited man; his time and money were
always ready to advance an}' interest for the good
of the community. He was a noble and faithful
friend to those who needed a friend and a highly
I'espected citizen. His wife survives him, and at
the age of seventy-two is a well-preserved lady
both physically and mentally. She is a member of
the Congregational Church, and does her part in
all church work.

Enos Gheen spent his earl}' life in attending the
district school in winter, and working on the farm
in summer. In the winter of 1860-61, he attended
the academy of Malboro. After coming to Iowa
he attended Howe's Academy at Mt. Pleasant,
and in the winter of 1865 he commenced teach-
ing in Louisa County, continuing in that occupation
two years, wlien lie took charge of the home farm.
He bought 120 acres on section 2, Marion Town-

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196

HENRY COUNTY.

sliip, and was united in marriage, Aug. 1.3, 1874,
with Miss Sarah A. Beeson, who was born Jan. 19,
1848, in Henry County. Her parents were Ames
and Lydia (Pickering) Beeson, the father a native
of Ohio and the mother a native of Virginia. Her
parents came from Ohio to Henry County in 184G.
Mr. Beeson departed this life May 2G, 1887, at the
age of sixty-seven. His wife still resides in Mt.
Pleasant. Mr. Gheen remained on his first farm
until Nov. 23, 1886. He then bought 240 acres on
sections 16 and 21 in Marion Township, upon which
he now lives ; he also owns ten acres of timber land
on section 17, Trenton Township, and in Monroe
County, eighty acres on section 17, Urbana Town-
ship, making in all 450 acres. He also has four
lots in Mt. Pleasant. He takes great interest in all
public matters. Mr. and Mrs. Gheen are the parents
of three sons and two daughters. Anna was born
Aug. 18, 1876; Fred was bom Oct. 28, 1878; John
was born April .30, 1880; Elizabeth was born April
6, 1882; Benton H. w.as born Feb. 23, 1884.

Mr. and Mrs. Gheen are kind friends to the
needy. Though not members of any church, they
have always taken their part in all good works.
Socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and
politically a Democrat.

-^>J ■o«o..(§Jn^<!;^^..o*o <,^ —

<ifjOIIN K. DnMARS, a tinner u{ \\ infield,
Iowa, was born in Harrisburg, Pa., Jan. 3,
1841, and is the son of William G. and Ilan-
naii (Piiiil) DuMars, lK)th of wIkiui were
also natives of Pennsylvania. Tlie}' were the par-
ents of ten ciiildren, seven of wiiom .are living:
Mary L., wife of Maj. William Ernest, of Harris-
burg, Pii. ; Elizal)eth, also a resident of Harrisburg;
Caroline is the wife of Samuel Franklin; Cornelius,
a resident of llnrrisburg, was also a soldier, a mem-
ber of a Pennsylvania reginienl, and was captured
and confined in Libliy I'rison; James and M.aggie
are also both residents of Hari'lsburg, ami .lolm isour
subject. Those deceased are : Thomas; Susan, who
married Capt. William Miller, a soldier <hning the
late war, and (ieorge, who died in iiifanc}'. Mr.
DuMars was a tinsmith, which ocrn|)ation he fol-
lowed for five years. Before the lireakin" out of the

Rebellion he was a Democrat, but after that war
he voted with the Republican party. He was a
consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal

j Church. He departed this life in 1878, his wife

j surviving him one year.

.John K. DuMars is a prominent citizen of Win-
field, Iowa. He is a tinner by trade and one of the
best mechanics in the State. He was reared at
Harrisburg, Pa., where he received a liberal educa-
tion. When fifteen years of age he began an ap-
prenticeship^of three years, receiving for his serv-
ices for the first year $32, the second, $40, and the
third, $60, and he was to board himself. He was
also under instructions in New York for a year,
where he received $1 a day. On the 18th of April,
1861, Mr. DuMars enlisted in the 1st Penn-
sylvania Infantry, when Lincoln called for 7."), 000
men for three months. During that time he was
mostly on guard duty, though he participated in
some skirmishes. He re-eulisted at the end of that
time in Battery D, 5th United States Artiller3%
under Gen. Griffin, and was mustered in at Harris-
burg. The command was then sent to Arlington
Heights. He participated in the battles of York-
town, Hanover Court-House, Mechanicsville, Gaines
iSIill, and Malvern Hill in the seven-days fight.
Manassas Junction, Fredericksburg, Chancellors-
ville, Alton, Antietam, Blackman's Ford, Gettys-
burg, Rappahannock Station, ]Mine Run, Bethe.sda
Church, Wilderness, Spottsj'lvania, Todd's Tavern,
Petersbtirg and Weldon Railroad, where, as his
time had expired, he w;is discharged. He re-en-
listed in the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry, and while
in thnt commimd participated in the battle of Five
Forks. lie was mustered out at Lynchburg, Ya.,
at the close of the war. He was a brave soldier
and was always found at his post of duty. At one
time he was thrown from his horse, having been
ambushed; at the battle of Gaines Mill he was cap-
tured, but was recaptured in about twenty minutes
by his comrades. He was at one time offered the

I command as Second Lieuteuimt but would not ac-
cept.

Returning to his home in Harrisburg, Mr. Du-
.M;ii>, in I8(!6, was united in marriage with Miss
F.-mnie llutchins, a daughter of David and ^Mar-

j gari'tta (Wooils) Ilutchius. She was a native of

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197

Ohio, her parents being early settlers of that State.
In the same 3' ear they were married Mr. and Mrs.
DuMars removed to Elmira, N. Y., but later re-
turned to Harrisburg, where Mr. DuM.Trs worked
at his trade. In 1872 they again removed, this
time settling in Columbus Junction, Iowa, from
thence came to Crawfordsville in 1883, and the fol-
lowing year to AViulield, where they have ever
since resided. Mr. DuMars is a member of Scott
Tent No. 6, Knights of the Maccabees Insurance
Company, and Mort Hobart Post, G. A. R. Mr. and
Mrs. DuMars have had twelve children, four of
whom are living — Anna M., William G.. John B.
and Frankie D. The remainder died in infancy.
Mrs. DuMars and her daughter are members of the
Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. DuMars is a
stanch Republican, and an earnest worker for his
party.

ENRY DAVIES, Jk., a retired farmer, re-
siding on section 10, .Jefferson Township,
Henry Co., Iowa, is a member of one of the
oldest and wealthiest families of Jefferson
Township, and we add with pleasure his sketch iu
this volume. He was born Dec. 22, 1833, in South
Wales. His education was commenced in Wales,
and completed iu Jefferson Township. He was
married, in 18()7, to Miss Mary Davidson, of Wash-
ington County, Iowa, a daughter of John and
Elnora Davidson. The young wife was brought to
a new home on the farm owned by her husband, a
part of the Davies' land. On this farm their mar-
ried life w,as begun. Here their children were born,
namely: Sarah E., wife of William Ilenss, Jr., a
resident on the home farm, and Jesse E. In 1883
Mr. Davies became a resident of Wayland, pur-
chasing twentj' acres of the Warren addition, atl-
joining the original vill.age plat. After the marriage
of their d.aughter the husband occupied the homo-
stead and has since engaged in farm work, although
bj- trade a mechanic, and the son of one of the old-
est residents of Wayland. One grandson, Lester,
plays gladly in the arms of the fond grandparents,
who on both sides are living. No better name than
that of Davies can gr.ice these pages, and in pre-

-^0

senting their history we offer the public a record
of a people who have no superiors in social and
moral virtues. Henry Davies, Ji'., broke with sev-
eral yoke of cattle all the sod of his, and a part of
the David Davies' tract, and with pleasure he re-
lates his love for the work, and the way in which
he could inan.ige his cattle in turning down the tall
h.azel brush and the long prairie grass.

R. MePHERSON, residing on section 8,
WJv Scott Township, Henry Co., Iowa, was

//rii born in Hamilton County, Ohio, near Cin-
(^' cinnati, Feb. 2, 1812. His parents were

Robert and Margaret (McCormick) McPhei'Son, the
former born in Virginia in 1769, the latter near
Baltimore, Md., iu 17S4. In 1811 they went to
Hamilton Count}'. Ohio, and near Cincinnati, which
was then but a small village, they made a home.
Eight children were born to them, four sons and
four daughters, five of whom are living: George;
Mary J., wife of Dr. Jordan, now deceased; Mar-
garet married John Myers, of Licking County,
Ohio; John lives in Licking County, Ohio, and A.
R., the subject of this sketch. Those deceased are:
Adah, Elizabeth and William. Mr. McPherson was
a prominent Mason, and he and his wife were
reared, lived and died in the Presbyterian faith.

The early life of our subject was spent under the
parental roof, remaining on the farm until he w.as
twenty years of age. In 1832 he left home, going
to Illinois, but returning the following year, he sub-
sequently made two trips to New Orleans. His
father, anxious that he should receive a good edu-
cation, gave him #50 vvith which to pay his tuition
at a school in Athens. About this time the Texas
rebellion broke out, and, in com[)any with James
McDonald, Mr. McPherson went to New Orleans,
where he enlisted with the Texas Rangers under
Gen. Morgan. He went with that command to
Texas, where the Rangers were employed as scouts,
doing some hard fighting, and having some hair-
breadth escapes. At one time a company of ninety-
six men were ambushed by tiie Comanelio Indians
and Mexicans, and out of that number only thirty-
two escaped, they having a hiind-to-hand fight.

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HENRY COUNTY.

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Mr. McPhersoii received several lancet wounds,
but escaped otherwise uninjured. He served in the
war until its close, receiving half a league of land
for his services, which he afterward sold for $500.
For several years he worked on the river, aceuinu-
lating considerable money.

In Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1811, he was
joined in marriage with Miss Jane Daniels. Seven
children came to make glad the parents' hearts:
William, now a civil engineer, served in the late
Kebelli(jn with honor; Joseph, now deceased, en-
listed in the oOtli Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and
was afterward promoted to the rank of Lieutenant:
Elizabeth, deceased wife of Josephus Brown; Or-
nian, also a soldier, in the 19th Iowa Volunteer In-
fantry, resides, in Mercer County, 111.; Jlmma
wedded H. White, of St. Louis, who is connected
with the Globe Democrat; R. Franklin, of Chariton,
Mo., and one child, who died in infancy. Mrs.
McPherson was taken from her happy home in 1 S-OO.

In 1846 Mr. McPherson enlisted in the Mexican
War, serving in Company (', Cth United States
Infantry. lie was appointed to the command as
Seconil Lieutenant, but served as First. He partici-
pated in the llattlc of I'alo Alto, where the regi-
ment lost heavily, and also in the capture of Vera
Cruz. In 18.J3 Mr. McPherson was again mariied,
to Miss Martha M. Morris, a daughter of William
and Abigal (Klwell) Morris, one of tlu- pioneer
settlers of Louisa County, Iowa. Again seven chil-
dren brought joy and gladness to their home, and
six of these children are yet living: Clara, wife of
A. R. Dayton, of Sherman County, Kan.; (irant, a
resident of Henry County; Sherman, FIlie, James
and Chnrles, who still reside with Iheii' parents;
Adah died in infancy. In I8()2 Mr. McPherson
with his family settled in Liiuisa County, Iowa,
but in 1883 decided t() make Henry County his
home, and here he has since resided. Success and
losses co'iie alike to all, and Mr. McPherson's life
has not been an exception to the general rule. lie
has traveled extensively over our country, and has
seen much that vvas pleasant, and this beautiful land
of ours. In all his wanderings never during his life
has h(? used toliaeeo or whisky. A remaikable rec-
ord, ti'uly. In many of his tr;uis:u'tions he has be(»n
very successful, liul. on tlu' other hand lie has met

with seveial losses, which he paid dollar for dollar.
Atone time he lost, through a partner, $30,000, but
were it not for these very trials we could not fully
appreciate our blessings.

'\f| ESSF KKTCIIFM, of Mt. Pleasant, was born
atFishkill, Dutchess Co., N. Y., on the 9th of
April, 1809. His father, Timothy Ketchum,
was born at Huntington South, Lons>- Island,
in 1731. He served through the Revolutionary
War, and at Fairfield, Conn., was wounded in the
head, necessitating the removal of some i)ieces of
skull. After the war he returned to Danbury,
Conn., where he had previously located. Ho was
twice married; his second wife was Miss Rebecca
LaDue, :i native of New York. l{y this union
there were nine children, three of whom are now
living: Jesse, of Mt. Pleasant; James Madison, of
Long Island; and Mary, of Queens County, Long
Island, widow of George W. Anderson. Those de-
ceased are Charity, Samuel, John, Ebenezer. Timo-
thy, and an infant. Timothy Ketchum was a man
who was highly respected for his honestly and integ-
rity, and his word was as good as his bond. His
motto was "to do good for evil." In politics Mr.
Ketchum was an old-time Republican, and was a
great admirer of President Madison. At the time
when Dr. Barton White was elected to Congress he
told Mr. Ketchum that when he went to W:ishing-
ton he would get him a pension. Mr. Ketchum
said he diil not want one, but when the Doctor re-
turned he had a pension of * 1,800 for him, but he
would not receive a cent, returning it to the Gov-
ernment, saying: "I did not fight for nu)ne3' ; it was
for liberty, the country, and ni}' God." Mr.
Kelcliuin died at the advanced age of ninetj'-eight.
Mrs. Ketchum was a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Cluu'ch, and an earnest Christian. She
died at the age of forty-nine, in Dutchess County,
N. V.

The subject of this sketch grew to ni:inhood in
Dutchess Count}', N. V.. and was educated In the
primitive school-houses of those times, his books
consisting of a Testament and :i Websler's spelling-
book. He was married to AHss l'A\/.:i ChiM'chill, of
v^

4

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HENRY COUNTY.

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199

Dutchess County, July 30, 1830. She was the
daughter of John Churchill, a soldier of the French
and Indian wars. Eight sons and three daughters
were horn to them : Julia A. is the wife of Richard
Armstrong, of Tuttle's Point, 111. ; Oscar C, a resi-
dent of Southern Kansas; William B., living at Alt.
Pleasant; Leander, also of Mt. Pleasant; Edward D.,
who enlisted in the 4th Iowa Cavalry, died of disease
contracted in the army; Eliza is the wife of John
Peterson, of Mt. Valley, Kan. ; Frank, of Henry
County; Winfield, of Mendota, Mo. ; Albert, now
deceased; Hattie, at home, and Jesse, Jr., at home.
In 1855 Mr. Ketchum came to Henry County
and located, and the following year moved his
family. He worked at the carpenter's and joiner's
trade for a short while, but afterward became a
butcher, and gave that up to live on a farm. In
1865 he removed to Mt. Pleasant, at which place he
has since resided. In politics he is a stanch Re-
publican. Mr. and Mrs. Ketchum stand high in the
community where they have so long resided. Thej'
are both members of the Baptist Church, always
living a true Christian life, and ai'e only waiting
the call of their Master to their final home.

J AVID KINNEY, deceased, was aprominent
pioneer settler of Henry County, Iowa,
having come to this county first In 1845
from Ohio. Remaining some six months he
returned home, and again, in April, 1850, came to
Henry Count}-, at which time he purchased 160
acres of land on section 33, Trenton Township.
He removed to this farm the same year, and by his
own labor ti-ansformed it into one of the best in
the county, residing upon it until his death. He
was one of the successful farmers of Henry County,
and in time became owner of 532 acres of land.
Mr. Kinney was born Jan. 0, 1814, and died April
5, 1883, mourned by a large circle of friends as
well as relatives. Having lived in this county for
so many years he was universally known, and was
respected alike by old and young, rich and poor.
I On the 22d of December, 1835, he was united

~ in marriage with Margaret Johnson, a native of

Ohio, and a daughter of Frederick Johnson. Five
children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kinney:
Mary Catherine, wife of Thomas J. Wilson, now
residing in Harvey C'ounty, Kan. ; Frederick J., re-
siding in Tippecanoe Township, married Mary Bon-
field, 25th of March, 1870, and died on the 20th of
September, 1881; thc}^ had one child, Franklin 1.,
who died in infanc}' ; Elizabeth S., died when eleven
years of age; Rosamond, wife of Warren Chandler,
a resident of Jefferson County, Iowa, died June 27,
1877: and Franklin T.

lOBERT S. GILLLS, Cashier of the National
State Bank, of Mt. Pleas.ant, Iowa, was born
in Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa., May 1, 1840, and
^lis the son of Hon. James L. and Cecilia A.
(Berry) Gillis. He i)assed his childhood and youth
in his native State, receiving his education in the
common schools. In 1859, his father having been
appointed Indian Agent by President Buchanan,
the family, including our subject, removed to the
Pawnee Indian Reservation in Eastern Nebraska,
and later to Omaha, from which place Robert S.
entered the United States Naval Service in 1862, as
Paymaster's Clerk in the North Atlantic and Gulf
Squadron, and served till the close of the war. He
was on board the United States man-of-war " Mil-
waukee," which was commanded b}' his brother,
James H. Gillis, when she was blown up b}' a tor-
pedo in Mobile Bay. In 1 865 he went to Wash-
ington with the Paymaster, and was connected with
the Treasury Department till the fall of 1868. He
then returned to his old home in Pennsylvania, and
two years later came to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. On
coming to this city he was employed as bookkeeper
in the State Bank, and was next made Assistant
Cashier, and later was made Cashier to succeed Mr.
J. H. Whiting, and has since held that position.

Mr. Gillis was married at Mt. Pleasant, Aug. 4,
1868, to Miss Sophia E. Whiting, daughter of
Timothy Whiting (see sketch). Mrs. Gillis was
born at Bath, Steuben Co., N. Y. Four children
were born of this union, three sons and a daughter:
James Timothy, now .aged eighteen ; Sarah Cecilia,

I

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HENRY COUNTY.

aged fifloon; Robert Iloiiry, .ii^fi I lour, and Hugh
(!laudiiis, aged Olio year. Mr. and Mrs. (^illis are
memhors of llic ricsliytorian Cliurcli. Mr. Oillis
is -A uu'inhcr of Mf. Plciisanl Iif)dgo No. s. A. V. &.
A. M. riilitic.-illy 111' is M Dciiiocr.'il. I'cr.sonally he
is regiirded as a gciillciiiaii of unlilemished ciiar-
aeter, llioroiighly uprigiil in all Imsinoss (-raiisaotions,
and a sl.raiglitforward iii;ni and ij'ood cilizcn.

...j^^^^rA;^'.

<P*tf--'

I

■UANKIilN T. KINNKV, residing on section
1^ .!;!, 'I'ri'iiton Township, Ilonrv Co., Iowa,
was lioiii .liiiu' U), 18.')7, on the farm where
he now lives. His education was received at the
district school. He was married, April 19, 1877, to
Emma Mickey, a native of JelT'erson County, Iowa,
and a daughter of Br^'soii and Harriet (Hcrlin)
Micke}-, the father .'i native of Ohio, and the mother
of Kentucky. Tliey came to Iowa ;i1 an early
, day, settling in .Ii^tTerson County. Mr. and Mrs.
Kinney are the i)arents of two children: Myrtle
Keele, born .luly 21, 188.'1; and Frederick Johnson,
born April 0, 1880. Politically he is a Democrat.
He owns 285 acres of land, which constitutes one
of the best farms in the county. The lessons of
thrift and industry taught by Mr. Kinney's father
have never been forgotten, and among the enter-
prising citizens of Henry County none more truly
deserve a phicc in this vohinie th;m does Franklin
Kinney.

5>)ARniNER & ROTH are dealers m hardware
and agricultural implements at ^\'ayland,
Henry Co., Iowa. Desiring to make men-
tion of the resjiective families of these gentlemen
in comiection with their business we speak first of
the senior member of the firm.

Benedick Gardiner was born in New Hamburg,
Canada West, in 18.'5!), and is the son of Christian
and Anna (Roth) Oardiner. Christian Gardiner
came to Washington County, Iowa, in 1857, being
at the time the husband of Plnebe Roth, a relative
of his lirst wife, who died in Canada, .'ind was the
mother of seven children, and FlKche (Roth)
Gardiner was the mother of three children. The

death of Christian Gardiner, Sr., occurred in
Iowa, and I'IkcIic, his widow, now resides in .lolni-
son. Renedick Gardiner came to Iowa three years
prior to his father, and when he was but fifteen
years old. He worked on a farm in Lee County
for a year and a half, when he went to Washington
County, where he remained about the same length
of time. Thence lie went to Davis County, and a
3'ear later, in 1 855, came to Henry County. On
his marriage he rented a farm for a j-ear, and a year
later bought a farm in Trenton Townshii), on which
he lived for nineteen years, and until his removal
to Wayland, in 1881. He was married to Nauc}- A.
Roth, of this county, in ISCl. They have three
children living: F^lla, wife of Ed. II. I-'arris, the
Station Agent at Wayland ; Ida .and Guy, who are
unmarried, and live with thcii- parents. One son,
William Edward, died in 1880, aged twelve years.

On his removal to Wayland, in 1881, Mr. Gardiner
engaged in a general mercantile business, which he
hiter disposed of, and purchased a half interest in
the hardware stock of Charles Bergh. This he
later sold to Mr. Bergh, and for some time did an
exclusive business in agricultural implements; but
in 1886, with Joseph Roth, purchased the hardware
stock and good -will of Mr. Bergh, and they have
since done a large business in that line, besides
dealing largely in all kinds of agriiadtural imple-
ments. They carry a ^2,000 stock of hardware,
and their sales the past season of buggies and agri-
cultural im()lements alone amounted to over ^$4,500.
Both the gentlemen named are enterprising business
men, and their Integrity and courtesy have drawn
trade remote from their legitimate business center.
Such men arc valuable factors in any community,
and to such the growth .ind prosperity of Wayhuid
are due.

Joseph Rotli, the junitir nieinlier of the firm, is
the brother-in-law of Mr. Gardiner. He was born
in Wayne County, Ohio, in 181;), and is the son of
John and Katie (Grever) Roth, who eanie to this
counUy in 1840. Several children who were born
in Ohio came with their parents to Iowa — Michael^
John, Peter, Joseph, Nancy A., .Mary and Lydia.
After their arrival in this State Katie, David and
Elizabeth were born. The family reside on a farm
near Trenton, and are highly- spoken of.

4

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HENRY COUNTY.

201

Joseph Roth wedded Miss Nettie MoC'ra3', of
Trenton, Iowa, Sept. 5, 1876. She was born P'el).
11,18.5.'). Their domestic life w.as begun upon a
farm in Trenton Township, Vjut in Miucli, 1884,
they removed to Wayland. Mrs. Roth engaged in
the millinery and fancy goods business, and to iier
is the honor due of having a large and well-selected
Stoclt, and the only one in Wayland. Everytliing
in ladies' goods is to be found there, and tlie store
does a fine trade. Mr. and Mrs. Roth are parents
of three children, all born in this county — Lulu,
Earl and Clark. Tiie parents of Mrs. Roth, Frank
and Hester (VanVoast) McCray, reside near Tren-
ton, upon the same farm where foi' forty years a
happy married life has been enjoyed. They were
tlie parents of eight children, six living: Orlando,
unmarried, a bookkeeper in tlie bank of Sioux City;
Nettie, wife of Joseph Roth ; Joiin, unmarried, a
farmer in Dakota; Mary, wife of Prof. William
Hart, a resident teacher of Holdrege, Neb., where
she is also a teacher; Joseph and Frank, unmnnicd,
reside on the old homestead.

\¥j ACOB S. KINNEY, a prominent farmer
11 residing on section 30, Marion Township,
^.^^ I was born in Pennsylvania, Sept. 1.5,1817,
^g// and is tlie son <jf John and Betsej' (Hunt)
Kinney. His father was a native of Pennsyl-
vania and liis niotlier of Germany, and by tlieir
union tliere were four children: David, wlio came
to Henry County in 18')5, died near Rome, Iowa,
in March, 1883; Elizabetii, wife of William Cass-
ner, both died in Greene County, Ohio; Aaron, a
fanner near Red Oak, Iowa; our subject was tlieir
second cliild. .Mrs. Kinne\' died in Greene County,
Ohio, in 1823. She was a devoted rnemlier of the
Presbyterian Church. Mr. Kinney was again
united in marriage, in 182.5, to Margaret Boren, and
by this union there were twelve children, all of
whom grew to man and womanhood. Mr. Kinnej'
was a public-spirited man, and always cast his vote
with tlio Democratic party, taking a live]}' interest
in all that pertained to tlie same. He was also a
memlier of tlie Presbyterian Church, and was
called to his final home in 1804.

Jacob Kinney, our subject, remained at home
until 1830, at wiiich lime lie led t(j the marriage
altar Miss Susan Glasg(nv, a native of Maryland.
He rented a farm, for which he gave lialf that was
raised in liaymcnt of rent, and also had to thrash
the grain and deliver it at the mill. Mr. Kinney
lived on a rented farm in Ohio until 18,51, when
he decided to go west. He accordingly loadeil his
effects into a wagon and started for Illinois, but
passed through that State and located in Tippeca-
noe Township, Henry Co., Iowa. Here he rented
a farm for three 3'ears, and in 1 8,53 purchased
100 acres of land, on whicii he now resides.
Mr. Kinney now owns 210 acres in all, and has
given 155 acres to his children. What this worthy
couple possess they have obtained by hard labor
and close economy. Mr. Kinney brought to Henry
County some of the finest horses seen in this part
of the State, and now owns a number of fine
horses, which sell at good prices. Mr. Kinney
received his education in a log-cabin school-house
in Ohio. He is a pioneer of both Ohio and Iowa,
and takes an active interest in all public affairs.
He cast his first vote for the Democratic part3-, and
has ever since favored the same. He is an active
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
is much interested in the welf.are of humanity.
The union of Jacob Kinney and Susan Glasgow
has been graced with five children : Robert J.
married Emeline Gaston, who died about 187G,
when he subsequenlh' married Mary Loganstein,
and lives in Marion Township, having four children
living and one deceased ; George married Martha
Allender; Martin L., a sketch of whom appears in
this work ; Franklin P., at home ; Nancy J. married
Asbury Allcndei-, and resides in Marion Township,

— "' "#5~#- ^

OHN G, KOCH, manufactui'er of and dealer
in boots and shoes, Mt, Pleasant, Iowa, was
born ill the village of Iloefingeii, Oberamt.
Leonberg. in the Kingdom of Wiirtemberg,
Germany, Oct. 25, 1849, and is the son of Frederick
and Anna Mary (Etzel) Koch. In his youth our
subject served a regular apprenticeship to the shoe-
making trade in his native country, first serving

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202

HENRY COUNTY.

r

three years and then spending one year iil travel as
a journeyman. He emigrated to America in 18G7,
coming direcll3' to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he
engaged with WillLini Tiiiimermann & Co. as a jour-
neyman, and continued to vvork with them for ten
years. In 1878 he formed a partnership with Mr.
William Schnurr in the boot and shoe business, under
the firm name of Koch & Schnuri-. This connec-
tion continued five and a half years, since which
time Mr. Koch has conducted the business alone.
Mr. Kooh was married at Mt. Pleasant, Feb. 8,
1874, to Miss Catherine Schmitt, daughter of Peter
and Katherine (Bardo) Schmitt. Mrs. Koch was
born near Augsburg, Gernian3', Dec. 24, 1850, and
came to America in 18.55. Five children were born
to their union — one son and four daughters — all
born in Mt. Pleasant: Clara M., born Jan. 26,
1875; Anna M. Helen, born April 1.3, 1876; John
Frederick, born Jan. .31, 1878; L. Julia, born Nov.
14, 1879; L. Katie, born Jan. 10, 1885. Mr. and
Mrs. Koch are members of the German Presby-
terian Church, of which he is a Trustee, and has
been Superintendent of the Sunday-school; at
present he is Assistant Superintendent. Mr. Koch
is a Republican in his political views, with a tend-
ency to being independent in local elections. He
has built up a fine trade, and has made a reputation
for good work and fair prices. Repairing receives
his special attentiim. His store is situated on the
south side of the Public Square.

\t;UDGE JAMES L. GILLIS, who died in
I Mt. Pleasant Jiil3' 8, 1881, was, during his
^.^1 residence in that city, one of the mostprom-
^^^ inent figures in its business and social life.
He was born in Hebron, Washington Co., N. Y.,
Oct. 2, 1792. When eighteen years of age he went
to Ontario County, in the same State, and two
years later, in 1812, enlisted in the volunteer serv-
ice in the war with Great Britain, and was com-
missioned as Lieutenant of Cavalry. He participated
in a number of battles and skirmishes, and among
others was engaged at the battles of Ft. George,
Chippewa and Lundy's Lane, under Gen. Winfield
Scott, and in the latter engagement was severely

wounded. He was taken prisoner near P't. Erie,
Aug. 7, 1814, and was confined in jail at Toronto,
Kingston, Prescott and Montreal, in Canada.
Making his condition known to the Governor Gen-
eral of the colony, that official released him, and
gave orders that he should be well eared for, and
near the close of the war he was exchanged at
Quebec. Returning to New York he was, in 1816,
united in marriage to Miss Mary B. Ridgway, of
Philadelphia, and in 1821 removed to Jefferson
County, Pa., then on the frontier. Here he got a
tract of timber land manj' miles away from any
neighbor, and set about clearing his land and build-
ing a sawmill and a gristmill on the Clarion River.
In two years he had 200 acres of land cleared and
both his mills running, his lieing the first lumber
rafted down that river. This energy and enter-
prise was ever a distinguishing ciiaracteristic of Mr.
Gillis. In 1825 his wife was in ill-health, and he
took her to his old home in Ontario County, N. Y.,
for medical treatment, but her health was under-
mined, and she died at Victor, N. Y., June 29, 1826,
leaving two sons and one daughter. The daughter,
Jeannette C, is the widow of J. Y. Houck, and is
living at Ridgwaj', Pa. The sons, Ridgway- B. and
Charles B., both died in Mt. Ple.asant. It was while
Mr. Gillis was in New York, after his wife's death,
that the celebrated Morgan abduction case took
place, with which he became identified, and of
which more will be said hereafter.

Returning to Penns}dv.ania, Mr. Gillis continued
his lumber manufacturing interests until 1862, and
became a leader in that part of the State. In 1828
he was married to Cecelia Berry, of New York
State, who died in April, 1 855, leaving seven chil-
dren, as follows: Mary B., wife of Samuel Porter,
residing in Chautauqua County, N. Y. ; Augusta
E., wife of .lames V. Noxon, of Volusia, N. Y. ;
James H., a Commodore in the United States Navy,
now temporarily residing in Binghamton, N. Y. ;
Bosanquet W'., in Washington, 1). C; Claudius \'.,
in Kane, McKean Co., Pa. ; Cecelia, wife of Henry
Whiting, now in Melbourne. Fla. : and Robert S.,
of Mt. Pleasant. (See sketch of Robert S. in an-
other part of this work.) One of the sons, James
H., made a brilliant record in the navy during the
war of the Rebellion. He w.as ciimmandcr of the

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HENRY COUNTY.

205

iron clad, " jNIilwaiikce," wliich was blown np by a
rebel torpedo at the siege of Mobile. Being among
those saved, he continued in active service there,
commanding a battery until the surrender of the
city, and handled it in such an able manner as to be
highly complimented by Gen. Canby in general
orders. At the close of the war he was placed in
command of a vessel at Norfolk, ^'a.

While in Pennsylvania, Mr. Gillis was appointed,
by Gov. David R. Porter, Associate Judge of Elk
and Jefferson Counties. He was three times chosen
Representative in the State Legislature, and three
times was elected to the State Senate. In 1856 he
was elected to Congress, serving two years. A
man of marked ability, he made an honorable
record in every position to which he was called, and
was a friend of such men as Gen. Jackson, Henry
Clay, Daniel Webster, Silas Wright, John C. Cal-
houn, and other leaders. During President Bu-
chanan's administration he was appointed Indian
Agent at the Pawnee Reservation, discharging the
duties of that position for three years. In 1862 he
came to Mt. Pleasant, where he resided until his
death.

The Morgan abduction was an unpleasant episode
in Judge Gillis' life. For a supposed connection
with that affair he was twice arrested and tried, but
was finally acquitted. His was the last trial, and
he was the last survivor of those accused of ccmi-
plicity in that mystery, which can now never be
solved in this world. When the indictment was
first found against Mr. Gillis he was attending to
his business in Pennsylvania, and knew nothing of
it for some time. But when he learned of it, through
the slow and infrequent mails of that day and
region, he at once set out for New Ycirk and de-
manded a trial. He was jointly indicted with John
Whitney, one of the men who took Morgan from
the jail at Batavia. The latter had not been found,
and the District Attorney refused to give Mr.
Gillis a separate trial, but agreed to notify him
when he was wanted, and he therefore returned to
Pennsylvania. In May, 1829, the joint trial was
had in the absence of Mr. Gillis, and Whitney was
found guilty, but the jury disagreed as to Mr.
Gillis. The rabid anti-Masonic feeling of the times,
however, had to be pandered to, and the Sheriff was

•^

sent to rearrest Mr. Gillis at his Pennsylvania home,
over 200 miles distant through a wild and mount-
ainous country. He returned to New York, pro-
cured a trial in November, 1 830, and was honorably
acquitted, and with that the celebrated Morgan
trials were ended.

tludge Gillis was a life-long Democrat, and had
lived under the administration of every President
from Washington (during whose second term he
was Ijorn) to the time of his death. His first Pres-
dential vote was cast for James Monroe ; his last
for Gen. Hancock. During the visit of Kossuth to
this country, he was Chairman of the committee
appointed to escort the distinguished Hungarian
patriot from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. After
taking up his residence in Mt. Pleasant, Judge
Gillis became one of the noted men of the young
citj'. Of a lofty and stately carriage, his dignified
form was noticeable vvhenever he appeared upon
the streets. His stirring and eventful life had
made him familiar with all classes of society, and
his urbanity endeared him alike to all. He took an
especially warm interest in educational matters,
and was earnest in his support of all measures tend-
ing to the advancement of the city. He was a
liberal patron of the Ladies' Library, to which he
made many valuable donations. His advanced
years did not impair his faculties or dull his interest
in the society of his neighbors or friends, whom he
liked to have around him, and his death, although
he had reached the ripe age of nearly eighty-nine,
was mourned by a large circle of friends. After
religious services at the house, his remains were
taken in charge by the Masonic fraternity, of
which he had been an honored member for nearly
seventy years, and interred with impressive cere-
monies, and a life full of stirring and eventful
experiences, and rounded out with more honors
than fall to the lot of most men, was brought to a
fitting close.

eV. ARNOLD, Treasurer of the Iowa State
Hospital for the Insane, and senior partner
of the firm of Arnold & Lyons, druggists
of that city, was born in Morristown, Belmont
Co., Ohio, Jan. 10, 1830. His parents, James

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206

HENRY COUNTY.

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H. and Sarah (Ewing) Arnold, were natives of
Fayette Count}', Pa., who moTed to Ohio in
earlj' life. The subject of this sketch learned the
tinner's trade in his j'outh, and in 1853 removed to
Henry Count}', low.i, locating at Salem, where he
engaged in a stove, tinware and drug business, in
which line lie continued until 1863, when he was
elected Treasurer of Henry County and removed
to Mt. Pleasant. He entered upon the duties of
his office Jan. 1, 1864, and serving the people
faithfully, he was twice re-elected and continued
in office until 1870. Returning to Salem he en-
gaged in general merchandising, and continued in
that business until 1873, when he accepted the
position as cashier of the First National Bank, of
Mt. Pleasant, and served as such until the fall of
1874, when he resigned and again engaged in the
drug business at Salem. On the 1st day of Janu-
ary, 1876, he removed the drug-store to Mt. Pleas-
ant and entered into parlnershi]) with Dr. Lyon.
At the same time he accepted the Deput}' Treasurer-
ship of the county under Addison Roads, and
served in that capacity with Mr. Roads and
his successors, Samuel I. Shaner and George S.
Gass, until Jan. 1, 1888, making the period in the
County Treasurer's office eighteen years in all. In
October, 1879, he was appointed Treasurer for the
State Hospital for the Insane at Mt. Pleasant, and
has served in that ])Ositi()n foi' more than eight
years.

On the 23d day of November, 1854, Mr. Arnold
was united in marriage with Miss Amanda D.
Richey, whose parents were among the early settlers
of Henry County. She was born in Pike County,
111., Dec. 31, 1835. Five children were born to
them, one son and four daughters: Marcellus O.,
born in Salem, Iowa, Sept. 7, 1855, is living in
Talladega, Ala. ; Nellie, born in Salem, June 16,
1860, is the wife of T. J. Pittinger, of the same
place; Effie L., born in Salem, Sept. 8, 1863, is the
wife of Alfred H. Williams, of Arcadia, Fla. ;
Mabel, born Jan. 12, 18GG, and Sarah Agnes, born
Sept. 15, 1868, reside at home. One son, James
B., born April 3, 1858, died at the age of eleven
years. Mrs. Arnold died Feb. 11, 1874.

Jlr. Arnold was again married, at Mt. Pleasant,
May 12, 1875, toJIiss Addie E. Howard, daughter

of Horton J. Howard, and a granddaughter of
Elijah Bates, the eminent Quaker divine of Ohio.
She was born at Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson Co., Ohio,
March 25, 1844. Two children were born of the
latter marriage : Mary Eliza, born in Salem, Iowa,
Feb. 29, 1876, and Harold, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
May 12, 1877. Mrs. Arnold is an active member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Arnold
is a stalwart Republican, and an acknowledged
potent factor in local politics. He is a Knight
Templar Mason, a member of Jerusalem COmmand-
ery No. 8, of Mt. Pleasant; of Henry Chapter No.
8, R. A. M. ; of Salem Lodge No. 17, A. F. & A. M.,
and of Salem Lodge No. 48, I. O. O. F. Of the
latter body he was the first actual Noble Grand
thirt3'-four j'ears ago.

Mr. Arnold has been a resident of Henry County
for thirty-four years, more than twenty of which
have been spent in public ijositions of trust and
responsibility. During this time he has formed a
more extensive acquaintance throughout the country
than probably any other man. His methodical
habits and fine executive ability, supported by a
reputation for the strictest integrity, and close
attention to details, have made him a most popular
officer. A conscientious discharge of the duties
devolving upon him, even to the smallest detail of
business, has become a habit of his life. His long
continuance in the responsible position he holds
speaks in no uncertain tone of the high esteem in
which he is held in the community where he has
spent more than half his life.

A fine portrait of Mr. Arnold is herewith pre-
sented to the readers of the Ai.wm, which will be
appreciated as the years go by.

'->-^t^>^'Q_^-'^i<£-^'<~

ellARLES B. PANGBORN. a farmer, and
Township Trustee, residing on si'Ction 14,
Jefferson Township, Henry Co., Iowa, was
born in Cazcnovia, Madison Co.. N. Y., Dec. 31,
1840, and is the son of Cyrus and Annie (.Mulkins)
Pangborn. C^'rus was bi>rii in WmiuouI, and his
wife in the town mentioned, in which village she

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HENRY COUNTY.

207

was married to Mr. Pangborn.and all theif children
were born in Cazenovia. The marriage was cele-
brated April 10, 18.S9. The parents lived upon a
farm until the removal to tliis county in September,
1856, locating on a farm in Tippecanoe Township, j
Cj'rus died while in the United States service, be-
ing a member of the celebrated " Graybeard " regi-
ment, which mainly did guard dutj' and was com-
posed of Iowa men fiftj' j'ears of age and over. From
illness contracted during his service, the death of i
Mr. Pangborn occurred in 1864, while coming up
the Mississippi from Memphis, and his remains were
interred at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., belovv St. i
Louis. He was the father of three children :
Charles B. ; Nellie M., wife of James Rouse, of
Mt. Pleasant; and James, who died in infancy.

The first husband of Miss Annie Mulkins was
Marara Lewis, of French ancestry. He was the i
father of three children by this marriage: John S.,
husband of Adeline Bates, is a resident of Oswego
Count^^ N. Y. ; Edward A. became the husband of
Kate Driver, and is a resident farmer of Jefferson
County, Iowa; and Adeline, deceased, who married
Daniel Hopkins, a resident of Alamakee County,
Iowa. All the sons of Mrs. Pangborn were soldiers
during the war, as well as her devoted husband.
Coming from patriotic blood on both sides, the
father a Whig, and later a Republican, he advo-
cated the sentiments which have made this a grand
country, and his sons were taught thus from in-
fancy. John S. Lewis was a member of a New
I'ork regiment, serving the last two years of the
war; Edward of the 12th Iowa, and our subject, a
member of the 4th Iowa Cavalry, of whicli he was
Sergeant of Company M. He enlisted in 1861, and
in 1862 was discharged on account of disability.
While his regiment was in camp at Camp Harlan,
near Mt. Pleasant, Charles Pangborn was married
to Miss Cassandra L. Richardson, of this county,
born in Clarke County, Ohio, and a daughter of
Elijah and Delia A. (Bishop) Richardson, who came
to this county in 1856. The parents are both dead,
and three children only are living: Edward, a resi-
dent of Fair Play, El Dorado Co., Cal. ; Emeline, wife
of John Brown, a resident of Mt. Pleasant; and
Cassandra, wife of our subject. Her father was a
large manufacturer of boots and shoes in Spring-
•^ _

field, Ohio, but lived a retired life in this county,
dying in his sixty-ninth year.

After his return from the service Mr. Pangborn
began farming near Rome, and excepting one year,
has been a resident of this county from 1856 up to
the present time. His jiresent farm was purchased
in 1 883, although being a resident farmer of this
neighborhood for several j'ears. Three children
have graced their union : John H., husband of Mary
P]. Stone; Freddie H., deceased; and Annie C,
now in her eleventh year. Our subject, Charles
Pangborn, has filled for a long term of years
various offices in this township, a member of the
School Board, Supervisor, and in 1886 was elected
one of her Trustees, and is the present incumbent.
In all the business enterprises of his county Mr.
Pangborn is an important factor. His mother, now
in her seventieth year, finds with her son and
kindly daughter a home, known far and wide as
one of the most hospitable and cheerj' in the neigh-
borhood.' As a representative family, we welcome
the Pangborns, and are pleased to present their
sketch to the good people of Henry Count}-.

^ €-*-^-

ENRY' COOK, a farmer of Henry County,
residing in Baltimore Township, was boi'n
near Bealfeldt, Prussia, in 1836. His par-
ents, Casper and Elizabeth Cook, were both
born, reared and married in that country, and there
they reared a family of five children, and the
widows of two of the sons yet reside there. Casper
Cook was a shoemaker, and worked at the trade
during his lifetime. His children were Fred, Henry,
Annie, William and Casper.

Our subject left Prussia when a lad of sixteen
years, in company with his LTncle Bremger, who
settled in Burlington, Iowa, and lived and died
there. Only a few dollars were in the pockets of
our subject when he landed in Burlington, but he
at once secured work on a farm at %i per month.
For seven years he worked in that county, and
when his marriage was celebrated in 1860 he was

worth all told $125. His wife was Mary A. Hand,
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208

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HENRY COUNTY.

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I

a lady possessing an equal amount of energy as Mr.
Cook, so they concluded to rent a farm near the
city, and from the day they were married prosperity
has been with them and has come to staj*. Who
can say that it was not due to the good counsels
and associations with a good wife, for from the
time they began their united efforts they have
reared a fine family of industrious children, and
have become owners of a splendid farm; all this,
too, in a few years. After a residence in Des
Moines County of fourteen years Mr. (Jook became
a resident of Henry County, and purchased eighty
acres of land, on which he now resides, that had
once been cleared, but had gone back to brush.
He built a small frame house and commenced work,
and from four in the morning until ten at night he
could be found digging and clearing. A few years
later, having brought his first purchase to paying
good returns on the investment, he bought other
lands, cleared them in the same way, and now has
230 broad acres all in fine order, over 100 in culti-
vation. All his money has been invested in im-
provements and land, and his fine house and barn
are the best between New London and Lowell.
The nice orchard was planted and the well planned
arrangements of house and barn were jierfected by
him. Surely, Mr. Cook and his good wife are en-
titled to much credit for such enterprise, and as
their children have grown to man and womanhood,
they have been taught the same convictions of
right and honesty of purpose possessed by their
parents.

The names of the children arc: Olive L., wife of
Charles Ilanes; Edward II., Ilomce C, Lyman,
Martha E. and Florence. The unmarried five chil-
dren live in a magnificent home with tlieir beloved
parents, who are regarded by their neighbors as a
model coui)le. Both are members of the C'iiristian
Church, and as a family we learn of none who are
more worthy and entitled to greater honor for
having, during a quarter of a century, achieved
a competence. Their home is supplied with all
that makes life enjoyable. Flowers fill the room
with fragrance, and the neatest of housewives makes
welcome her guests in that cordial manner for
which the family are noted. Mr. C'ook is largely
engaged in raising of stock, and year by year his
■<•

income becomes gi-eater. With his iudomitable
energy, ten years more of active labor will rank him
among the wealthiest men of his township, and his
reward is and will be a fitting recompense for that
labor.

-«A/v -'xaajza/®^^-?

*^^aai>*>~'w~-

<i\ I^ILLIAM KEAN, section 7, Center Town-
\/iJ// ^li'P' 'S ^ native of Berkele_v Countj', Va.,
Wi born Nov. 25, 181o. His father, William
Kean, was born in Cumberland County, Pa., in
1774. He married Miss Barbara Spaugler, a na-
tive of Lancaster County, Pa., born in Septem-
ber, 1783 or 1784. There were four children
born to them in that State. In 1812 they re-
moved to Berkeley County, Xa.., where six more
children were born : Margaret is the wife of John
Lee, of Trenton Township; John came to Henr}'
County in 1836, and died some years ago; Eliza-
beth is the wife of Chauncej- Cole, residing near
Salem, Ore.; Percival died in Henry County in
1840; Mary married Thomas Downing; both died
in Trenton Township ; William and Thomas reside
in this county. Sarah A. died while en route to Cali-
fornia; Isabel, wife of Charles Dark, resides in
Oregon; James died in this county. In 1 83:5 the
family left Virginia, and went by team direct to
Clarke County, Ohio, and from there to Henry
County, Iowa, where the father bought a claim to a
section and a half of land in Center Township.
With the help of his son, he broke and fenced a large
share. William Kean, Sr., *v.as an old-line Whig,
and a great admirer of Henry Clay and Daniel
Webster. He was a man of mure than ordinary
ability, a great reader and one of very retentive
memory. While never aspiring for ollk'e he was
often sought to run for various local ollices, and
at any time could have received the uoniination
for the Legislature in his native State. In early
life he was a member of the Lutheran Cluucli, of
which body his wife was also a member, but
after going to Ohio, in 1833, they united with
the Reformed Milhodirits. and after coming to
Henry County, Iowa, united with the .Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, with which they allili.ated

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HENRY COUNTY.

209

^

until their death. Mr. Ke:ui died in 1S49, and Mrs.
Kean in 1852. The\' were peoi)Ie who stood high
in the comnuinitj' in which thej- lived, and were
known and respected as honest, upright citizens.
The maternal grandfather of the subject of this
sketch, Mr. Percival, was a native of Ireland, where
he married, and from whence he emigrated to
America, settling in Penns3'lvania. In their family
were three sons and one daughter — John, Thomas,
William T. and Barbara.

The subject of this sketch came to Henry County
in 1838, making the trip from Ohio on horseback.
Soon after arriving here he entered a tract of land
and began the improving of his farm. In March,
1842, he was united in marriage with Miss Matilda
McMillen, a daughter of Thomas McMillen, who
was also one of the pioneers of Henry Count}'. By
this union there have been four children: Mary is
now the wife of Robert Lynn, of this county;
Charles resides at home; Laura is the wife of Cary
Cox, of Marion Township; Willis died March 3,
1851.

For a period of fiftj- years Mr. Kean has been a
citizen of Henry County, and in common with the
early settlers experienced the toil and privation in-
cident to pioneer life. He has sold wheat for twen-
ty-five cents per bushel, and hogs for>*1.25 per
hundred, and for years lived alone upon what
the country could produce. In looking back over
the past, and reflecting upon what he has passed
through, he has little sympathy with those to-day
who plead hard times, when surrounded by all the
comforts which wealth can procure.

Few men are better known in this section of the
county than William Kean, and none are more uni-
versally respected. In early life he was a Whig,
and on its formation affiliated with the Republican
party, voting with that party until 1872, since which
time he has been liberal in his views, voting for the
best man nominated. Like his father before him,
he never sought office, but has filled several posi-
tions of trust in his township, among which is that
of Township Trustee, an office which he filled for
several years. He has always been a friend to edu-
cation, and has given much of his time to that
cause. Religiously he is connected with the Chris-
tian Church, and foi' man}' years he haslieen a mem-

ber and an Elder of the congregation in Mt. Pleas-
ant. AVell posted in the Scriptures, he can express
himself ttueutlj' and intelligently upon all subjects
connected therewith.

^I^J#^L*i«

E\^AN DA VIES, farmer, residing on section 4,
Jefferson Township, Henry Co., Iowa, is a
prominent member of the familj* whose
earlier history is noticed under the name of an elder
brother, David Davies, elsewhere in this volume.
Evan Davies was born in South AVales, Aug. 3,
1842, and came here w'hen his father emigrated in
18.t3. His education was received here, and his
father's house, near where he now lives, was his
home until after his marriage. After getting such
education as was afforded by the district schools he
attended Howe's Academy in Mt. Pleasant for
two years, and afterward gi-aduated from the Great
Western Business College, at Mt. Pleasant, re-
ceiving a diploma as "Bachelor of Accounts." His
subsequent life has been passed in agricultural pur-
suits, and the farm on which is his home was in-
herited from his father a few years after his marriage.
He is noted as one of the intelligent and successful
men of Jeiferson Township, and has held nearly all
the township offices. He is now Township Clerk
and Treasurer of Independent School District No.
5, and has l)een Justice of the Peace and Trustee.
He is a member of Wayland Methodist Episcopal
Church, of which he is Parsonage Trustee. His
wife is likewise a member of the same church, and
the family are held in high esteem. He was mar-
ried, Nov. 29, 1870, to Miss Elizabeth Williams, the
history of whose parents will follow. Upon their
present homestead a happy and prosperous married
life was begun, and to this day no nicer home or
happier family graces Jefferson Township. Their
new mansion was completed in 1874, and in 1884
the great barn was erected. Thousands of dollars
have been spent by Evan Davies in improvements,
and his farm, consisting of 172 acres, adjoins the
northwest corner of the village plat of Wayland.
Six cliiNben were born to this couple, three now

T

t

f 210

HENRY COUNTY.

*r

i will
It '■■"'

deceased — Eva, Ira and Isa, twins. Those living
are Addie B., Annie R. and Gracie E.

As will be seen in referring to other pages in this
volume, Wales furnishes some of the most distin-
guished families of this part of the countj', and
among her sons and daughters are those whose life's
history no stain or blot has ever marred. Hopkin
Williams was born in Wales, and in that country
he was married to Wennie Jones, and had a family
of four children before they emigrated to America.
Hopkin Williams was a farmer in his native country.
There is no obtainable history of either the Williams
or Jones families back of Hopkin and his wife, but
we propose to give their children data that to them
will be valuable. In 183'2 the family' sailed for
America, and located tirst in Tuscarawas County,
Ohio, remaining there about two and a half 3'ears,
where they purchased a farm. The Germans rapidly
settled about liim and later purchased his farm.
Having a desire to live further West, Hopkin
packed his goods upon a steamer and with his fam-
ily started down the Ohio. Before reaching the
iVIississippi he decided to laud hi.-s goods and buy a
team, which he did, and overland in a covered
wagon the family- made their wa}' to Iowa, crossing
the Mississippi at Burlington in the summer of 1835.
After prospecting a few days, Mr. Williams pushed
farther westward and found a tract with water,
timber and prairie, which suited his ideas of what a
farm should be. He selected a large claim, butaftei'
it was surveyed by the Government found that
others had taken part of it, consequently he entered
different tracts in this ;ind Washingt(.)n County.

John 11. Wallbank owns the farm u|)i)n which
Hopkin Williams built his first cabin, which was
later destroyed b^' lire, and at the same time
the famil3' records and othei' valuable property was
burned. While in tJhio, a daughter, Rachel, were
bt)rn; she is now the widow of Amos Montgomerv.
Ann, the wife of Evan Kvaiis, was born in \Vales.
also her brother \Villi;im anil two other children
who died unmariied. In this county were born
Sarah, who wedded i^avid Davies. of whom mention
is made elsewhei'e; .J;ine, who wcddi'd Solomon
Cavenee, a resident of llem-y County; Benj.-imin,
who wedded Jennie Benhani, and is a farmer of
I'age Coiuit}', Iowa, :uid lilizabelli, llie lumoreil

wife of Evan Davies. A long lifetime was spent
in happiness by Hopkin Williams and his good wife.
He was an industrious man, and his wife was one of
the most amial>le of ladies. She was a member of
the first Methodist Episcopal class organized in this
township, and was during her lifetime a firm
believer in the faith. .Some of her children fol-
lowed her example, and all were numbered among
the best residents of the eommunitj'.

"Williams Creek" was named in honor of Hop-
kin Williams; it passed through his claim, and his
being the only white family in this part of the
county nearer than Trenton, the name naturally
followed. The Indians made sugar during the early
spring months of each year in the maple groves
skirting Mr. Williams' farm, and their dusky faces
were more common by far than white ones. Hop-
kin Williams died at the age of sevent3--three, and
his wife survived him several years, making her
home with her children.

>««-<«iBl>-)!WI

^^ ONROE SWIFT, miller, of New London,
I l\\ ''■''* "Pt'i'ated the New London Mills almost
I IK continuousl3' since April, 1802. He was
* born in ]\lilan, Ripley Co., lud., Feb. 12,

i>^.t-j, jind is the son of Mason and Mary (Han-
nan) Swift. His father was boin in Connecticut,
and his mother on the eastern shore of Marjdand ;
both families were long time residents of this
county. The sul)ject of this sketch spent his boy-
hood on his father's farm, and when sixteen years of
age began life for himself as a miller's ajiprentiee.
He worked at all sorts of milling business, both in
sawmills and gristmills, and was married, April 7,
IK.'cJ, in his native State to .Miss Sarah .lane Courl-
ne\. (laughter of Johnand Mir.anda Courtney. Mrs.
Swill was born in .lerse^ville. 111. Five children
were born of their union, three sons and two daugh-
ters, two of whom died in infancy : Sadoras, aged
thirly-seven, isa niachiiiisi. .•uid a residentof Argen-
tine. Mo.; Estus resides .at .Ml. Pleasant, and is
ciii|)loyed ilka mill; Mary Klleii is the wife of E.
M. Aller, of I'aylor Counly, Iowa; Frank is in Ml.

•►■-4

i

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i

HENRY COUNTY.

211

Pleasant; Anna Belle, the youngest, keeps house for
her father.

Mr. Swift emigrated from Indiana tu Henrj'
County, Iowa, in October, 1854, and for the next
eight j'ears was employed in the sawmill business.
He engaged as a miller in the New^London Mills in
April, 1862, and has had charge of them ever since.
Mrs. Swift, an estimable Christian lady, "died Sept.
26, 1885. Mr. Swift is a Knight Templar Mason, a
member of New Loudon Lodge No. 28, A. F. <fe
A. M. ; of Henry Chapter No. 8, R. A. M., and of
Jerusalem Commandery No. 7, K. T., the two last
named of Mt. Pleasant. He is an out-and-out Re-
l)ublican, and a member of the Baptist Church, and
has held several offices in the township since he has
resided here. He is well known and highly re-
spected in the community.

•-%A,-t2C£/©-^*

>»-^~a«z'w»v.-./w

4

OHN BLACK, a son of William Black, was
born in Knox County, 111., March 14, 1838.
When but two years old he was taken by his
/ parents to Henry County, where the}' resided
in a log cabin. Here he received his primary edu-
cation in a pioneer school. In October, 1861, he
enlisted in the 4th Iowa Cavalry, and was mustered
in at Camp Harlan, and was afterward sent to Keo-
kuk hospital. He was in the battle of Guntowu,
but being in very poor health, was taken to the hos-
pital where he remained a year. He was mustered
out at Memphis, Teun., at the expiration of his
term of service. From the war he returned to his
home, where he was married, in March, 1865, to
Harriet Jameson, a daughter of James and Cordelia
(Scoville) Jameson, who were the parents of two
children, Harlan and Hariet. Mr. Jameson died
in Ohio. Mrs. Jameson came to Henry County,
Iowa, in 1858, and in 1866 removed to Crawford
County, Kan. She was afterward married to
Thomas Havens. By this union there was one
child, Carlton I.

Mr. and Mrs. Black are the parents of four chil-
dren— Charles, Delia, Birdie and Maggie. In
politics, he is a Uepublican and an active winktr in

<■

the party. Mr. Black has been identified with the
county all his life, and has witnessed its growth
from infancy. As he is one of the oldest, he is
also one of the most respected citizens of the county.

OUSTEN CULBERTSON, proprietor of the
Hawkeye House, Winfleld, Iowa, was born in
Richland County, Oliio, near Mansfield,
April 5, 1835. His father, John Housten
Culbertson, was a native of Fenton, County Tyrone,
Ireland, in about the year 1798. We can not give
the early history of this family, as the records were
lost during the voyage to America. Mr. Culbert-
son, bidding good-bye to his friends and the Green
Isle of Erin, crossed the ocean and landed in
America at Boston, Mass., on the country's birth-
day, July 4, 1811. He soon after went to Phila-
delphia via New York, and later, he and his brother
started a manufactory in Delaware. The w.ar with
Great Britain causing them to lose their property,
they went to Baltimore, where thej' accumulated
means to take them to the then far West. Going
to Wheeling, W. Va., they continued their mechan-
ical pursuits, and subsequently removed to Ohio,
following the same occupation. Mr. Culbertson
was a millwright by trade, and built many of the
largest woolen and cotton mills in the East. In
1822 he wedded Miss Mary Culbertson, who, al-
though of the same name, was no relation. Mr. and
Mrs. Culbertson both united with the Presbyterian
Church at Crab Apple, Ohio, where he became a
Ruling Elder. About 1830 he purchased a farm
some six miles from St. Clairsville, abandoning to
a great extent his mechanical pursuits.

In 1833 Mr. Culbertson removed with his family
to the homestead near Mansfield, Ohio, where he
spent the remainder of his life. He was the father
of twelve children, five yet living: James C, a resi-
dent of Central Tennessee ; Jane, the wife of J. W.
Pollack; Agnes, wife of Dr. J. R. McCullougti, a
prominent physician and surgeon of Chicago;
Housten, of Winfleld, Iowa, and Martha, wife of
David Dean, of Huron County, Ohio. Three died

Ol I

in tj

f

■<*■

212

HENRY COUNTY.

infancy; Mary Ann, wife of Dr. J. .J. Loughridge,
deceased; William W". died in C'alifornia, Feb. 18,
1851; ,T<ihn married Maria Campbell, and was
killed at the battle of Shiloii : Chalmers P. married
Miss Curtis, and was killed by an engine at Crest-
line, Ohio. Mr. Culbertson was a man of great en-
ergy and decision of character, and in no relation
of life was his influence more felt than in matters
pertaining to tiie church. lie accumulated con-
siderable property, but gave it to tlie church with
a geneious hand. He planned and helped t(j build
many ciuirch edifices. Before the (la3's of excite-
ment in regard to temperance, he practiced ab-
stinence from intoxicating liquors in the face of
fashion, and though it cost him extra wages he
would not give his harvest hands spirituous liquors
as a beverage. Tiie lesson learned when l)ut eight
years old, from seeing a dreadful drunken tiglit, he
never forgot. Perhaps no Ruling Elder in the West
was more fully intVirmed as to church matters and
more zealous for true doctrine than Mr. Culbertson.
During the last three or four years of his life he
was unable to join in the pulilic worship of God, but
the interval was spent in the most careful study of
the Bible. Apparently- conscious to the last, he
str.iightened himself in lied, closed his eyes, and
calmly fell asleep on the 12th of September, 1871.

Servant of God. well done!
Rest from thy loved employ:
The b.attle fought, the victory W(jn,
Enter thy Master's joj'.

Mrs. Culbertson died Dec. 21, 1868. She was a
native of Pennsylvania, born in Washington County,
March 5, 1M02. She was a child of the Covenant.
and jiossessing a strong judgment, she bowed in
devotion to higii Christian principles. In all rela-
tions of mother, wife and friend, her memory will be
most affectionately chcrislied, for "tiic memory of
the just is blessed."

The subject of this sketcli was reared upon a
farm in Richland County, Ohio, where he received
a liberal education. He was married, May ;5, 18.59,
to Miss Sarah McKee, who w.as born in Richland
County, where she had the advantages of careful
Christian culture, and in her twentieth year pub-
licly confessed Christ, connecting herself with the
Unite<l Presbyterian Churcli. Mr. Culberl>oii and

his young wife removed to Crawfordsville, Iowa, at
which place they both united with the Presbyterian
Church. They returned to Mansfield in 1.SG2, but
in 1809 again removed to Iowa, settling in Wash-
ington in the month of April. Mrs. Culbertson was
sick for several year>, but bore her sufferings with
great patience. She was a consistent Christian ; her
conduct during her sickness vvas an example of her
whole Christian life. She died Sept. 2, 1871, in
Washington, at the age of thirty-seven, leaving three
children, two now living: .Tames W., a te.acher: and
William \V.: Ida J. is deceased. In May, 1875,
Mr. Culbertson came to Winfield, where he clerked
in a dry-goods store for a short time. He was again
married, Nov. 13, 1875, to Miss Fannie A. Hough,
a native of Pennsylvania. He soon after erected
the llawkeye House, where ever since he has been
mine host. Mr. and Mrs. Culbertson have two chil-
dren— -Leila Estella and Le Roy G. He is one of
the stanch Democrats of the county, having aflili-
ated with the party all his life. Mr. Culbertson is
a social, genial companion, alw.ays looking on the
bright side of everything. He has the respect and
confidence of all who knovv him.

Ci-*-

jF^OWARl) CARTER, residing on section 12,
'jT]^ Marion Township, is one of the early set-
1^^ tiers of Henry County. Iowa. He was born
(^) in'Muskingum County. ( >hio, April 7, 1825,
and is a son of Isaac G. and Harriet (Josselyn)
Carter, both natives of Wald() County, Jfe. They
both removed to Muskingum County. Oiiio, when
quite young, and Dec. ICi, 1819, were married in
Perry County, Ohio. He was the son of Isaac P.
and .Joanna (Gay) Carter, and was born Sept. (!,
1797. His wife was boin .June 9, 1 S02, and was
the daughter of .loshua and S;u:ih (Chapman) Jos-
selyn. Mr. and Mrs. Carter had a family- of ten
sons, the first dying in infancy' : Ira J., j'et living on
the old homestead in Grant County. Ind.: Howard,
our subject, being third in order of birth: .loseph,
a I'airner of Cass County, Iowa; Elijah, a black-
<\\u\\\ of .Tonesboro, Grant Co., Ind.; John H.,

i

^^^►HB-*

HENRY COUNTY.

213

a merchant of New Cumberland, Grant Co., Intl.;
Albert died at the age of two, in Grant County,
Ind. ; Lewis, a farmer iu Grant County, Ind. ; Oliver
died at the age of twenty-four, in Grant County,
Ind. : Alfred died lu infancy. The seven oldest of
these children were born in Musliingum County,
Ohio, and the three youngest in Grant County, Ind.
Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. (barter
moved to Muskingum Count}-, Ohio, where for a
few years he engaged in brick-making. In the year
18-35, with his wife and children he moved to Grant
County, Ind., where he bought 160 .acres of wild
land, ti'ansforming it into a fiue farm. He was
called to his final home Jan. 29, 1869, at the age of
seventy-two, his wife having preceded him six
years, dying April 1, 1863, at the age of sixty-one.
Mr. and Mrs. Carter were devoted members of the
Metliodist Episcopal Church, of which he was
Steward for a number of years.

Our subject received his education in the district
schools of his native State. He remained with his
parents until twenty-five years of age. He led to
the marriage altar Miss Eleanor Lyon, on the 18th
of Februarj', 1851. She was a native of Ohio,
having been bora in Guernsey' County, Jan. 22,
1831. Her parents were James and Nancy (Slater)
Lyon, the father being a native of Virginia, and
the mother of Ohio. Shortly after his marriage Mr.
Carter with Ids young bride moved upon a farm
that he had purchased of eighty acres. He added to
this until he had 160 acres well cultivated. In
1864 he sold his farm and came to Henry County,
.and iu June, 1865, moved upon the wild land of
section 12, where he immediately began to break
the sod and fence the wild prairies. Now his land
is iu excellent condition, and his buildings are
models of convenience. He came to tliis county
with his wife and eight children in the full hope
and happiness of a bright future, but Nov. 24,
1870, his wife was taken from his happy home.
She was an active worker in the Metliodist Episco-
pal Churcli. In her death the husband lost a lov-
ing wife, the children a kind and indulgent mother.
Mr. and Mrs. Carter were the parents of nine chil-
dren : Nancy M., who was born in Grant County,
Ind., .Ian. 24, 1852, is the wife of "William H. Snell,
a farmer in Wayne Township, Henry Co., Iowa;

Sarah J., born July 1, 1853, is the wife of .John
Seberg, a farmer in Kearney County, Neb. ; Harriet
J., born March 3, 1855, died Nov. 27, 1870; Leroy
P., born Feb. 4, 1857, is a telegi'aph operator and
Station Agent on the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad,
at Sandstone Junction, Minn. ; RhodaC, born Nov.
6, 1858, is the wife of Frank Tallman, a farmer in
Osborne County, Kan.; M. Alice, born Oct. 12,
1860, at home; William E., born Oct. 12, 1862,
died May 1,1887; George H., born April 8, 1865;
Eva I., born July 25, 1867, in Henry County,
Iowa, was married to Alfred H. Anderson, Jan. 4,
1888.

Mr. Carter is now one of the prominent and
well-to-do farmers of Henry County, but all that
he has was made by his own frugality and industry.
He has one of the most excellent farms in the
county, and upon it may be found a good grade of
horses, cattle and hogs. Mr. Carter has held various
township oflices of trust with credit to himself and
his constituents. Politically he is a Republican.
He contributes liberally to all charitable and public
enterprises, and as a neighbor and citizen none
stands higher than does Mr. Carter.

"^

ETER SMITH, a stock-raiser and farmer
residing on section 28, Marion Township,
was born July 12, 1830, in Switzerland
County, Ind., and is a son of Abraham and
Eleanor (VanDorin) Smith, the former a native of
North Carolina, born May 19, 1794, and the latter
Aug. 10, 18<i0, in Pennsj'lvania. They have had
a family of twelve children: John, who died in
1836; William and Sarah died in infancv; Jabez, a
plasterer and brick-layer of Mllisca, Iowa; Mary A.,
widow of Abram Osborne, now a resident of Omaha,
Neb.; Cheney, a farmer in Crawford County, Kan.;
Peter, the subject of this sketch, is the seventh
child; Marcus K., a farmer in Jefferson County,
Iowa; James ('., a resident of Omaha, Neb.; Nancy
L., deceased wife of Walter F. Crew, a resident of
Maukato, Jewell Co., Kan. : Hiram, a fanner in
Jefferson County, Iiiwa; l^lucbe C, wife of Rufus
-^

214

HENRY COUNTY.

Yan Tassal, a farmer in Jewell County, Kan. Mrs.
Smith went to Switzerland Count}', Ind., in 1804,
and Mr. Smith in 1811. Here they became ac-
quainted and friendship ripened into love, and the
marriage was celebrated in 181.5. They remained
in Switzerland Countj', Ind., until 1833, and here
their seven oldest children were born. In that year
they emigrated to Hancock County, Ind., at which
place the five youngest children were born. Mr.
and Mrs. Smith made Hancock County their home
until 1849, when they came to Henry County, Iowa,
locating near Rome. Here he bought 120 acres of
raw land and developed a fine farm, residing here
until his death in .Iulj% 1871. Mrs. Smith died
Aug. 3, 1875. They were both members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church at the time of their
death, but had foi'nierly belonged to the Baptist
Church before coming to Iowa. They were devoted
members of the society, and no couple in tiie county
were more higlil}- esteemed than they were.

The earlier years of our suljject were spent in
attending the common schools in the State of In-
diana and doing his part of the farm work. Born
upon a farm, the greater part of his life has been
spent in the peaceful avocation of a farmer. He
remained with his parents until 1853, when he
made the overland trip to California, where he re-
mained but a short time, then went to Oregon, and
for two years was there engaged in farming. Re-
turning to California, for about fourteen months
he engaged in mining, and then went to freighting
in Californi;!, Oregon, Idaho and Washington Ter-
ritory, but l.-itcr engaged in stock-raising in Oregon,
and for a time in merchandising. He was very
successful in the far West, remaining there until
18C8, when he returned to Henry County and pur-
chased eighty acres of land, a portion of the farm
on wliicli lie now resides. In 1883 he bought
ninety acres more, making 170 aci'es, which is now
under a fine state of cultivation. Mr. Smith is
a successful stock-raiser, his stock consisting prin-
cipally of fine I'oland China hogs and Durham cattle.

Every tiling that he has was made by his own in-
dustry. <»ii the -.'Oth <>( April, 1869, Mr. Smith
was uniteil in marriage with Miss Lucy B. Crew,
daughter of Walter and Sarah (Rice) Crew. She
wa> biini Aug. IH, 1^*11. iie:ir Hiclniionil, Va. !''i\i'

children have been bora to them: Annie L. was
born Jan. -27, 1870; Nellie M., born Feb. 25, 1871,
died May 28 of the same year; Charles S., born
Aug. 16, 1873; Mary J., born Jan. 30, 1875; John,
born Jan. 28, 1877, died Jan. 18, 1879. ]Mrs. Smith
is a member of the Society of Friends. In politics
he is a Democrat. As a citizen he stands high in
the estimation of all. He is ahvaj's ready to ad-
vance any interest for the public good.

■^f/ AMES H. SCARFF, one of the leading far-
mers of Trenton Township, Henry Co., Iowa,
was born in Clarke County, Ohio, Aug. 4,
1840. His parents, John and Laura (Osier)
Scarff, were natives of Maryland, and came to this
county in 1844, settling in Trenton Township,
where on a farm the boyhood days of our subject
were spent. James enlisted in the war for the
Union, Aug. 27, 1862, in the 25th Iowa Volunteer
Infantry, serving until the close of the war — almost
three j'ears. He participated in the following bat-
tles: Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss.,
Resaca, Marietta, and was with Sherman on the
famous march to the sea. At Peachtree Creek he
was wounded in the heel. He was at AVashiugton,
D. C, on grand review, and was mustered out
June 25, 1865, at Davenport, Iowa. Returning
home he resumed fanning, which occupation he has
ever since followed. He was married. May 6, 1866,
to Mary A. Messer, a native of this county. Thir-
teen children have graced the union of this worth}-
couple : Charles Henry, born March 9, 1 867 ; John
A., born July 2, 1868; James W., born June 2,
1869; W. Edmund, born Sept. 29, 1870, died when
nine months old; Asbury, born Feb. 28, 1874, also
died when four months old; Martha Jane, born Feb.
16, 1872; Calvin, born May 20, 1875, died at three
years of age: Mary E., born Feb 11, 1877; Anna
died when two 3'ears of iige; lona, born Jan. 26,
1879; Ida Mariettii, born May 7, 188-3: Florence,
born Feb. 15, 1885, and Eva V., born Feb. 19, 1887.
.Mr. Scarff owns one of the finest farms in
Ti'ciilon Tinvnship. IT'.i acres in extent. He :iiii]

«»■-<•

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HENRY COUNTY.

215

his estimable wife are members of the Methodist
Protestant Church. Politically Mr. Scarff affiliates
with the Democratic party. He is a pioneer of
1844, and one of those to whom the county owes
her prosperity.

#"#--

--v

AROLD E. CLEMENT, M. D., of Trenton,
Iowa, is a native of Wisconsin, born at

h

jtv^ Racine in 1853, and is the son of the Hon.
11^ Charles Clement, a native of Newburyport,
Mass. His mother was Miranda (Ci'osby) Clement,
a native of New Hampshire. Charles Clement was
one of the first editors and publishers at Racine,
Wis., having established the Racine Journal, which
paper he edited until 1868. At that time his health
failed, and he moved South with the hope that a
change of climate would benefit him. He settled
in McMinnville, Tenu., where he died Jan. 11,
1885, when seventy years of age. He was a lead-
ing man in political affairs in Racine for a number
of years, was elected Superintendent of Public
Schools of Racine County in 1851, filling that office
for several years. He was afterward elected by the
Republican party to the State Legislature, serving
as Senator for several terms with credit to himself
and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He was
a well-read man, a college graduate and a thorough
scholar. Mr. and Mrs. Clement were the [jarents
of seven children, all of whom survive them. Tlie^'
are named respectively : Charles F., engaged in a
railroad office in Minneapolis, Minn. ; Florence M.,
residing in New York City; J. S., residing in Ra-
cine, Wis., is in the Manufacturers' National Bank
of that city ; George E., a locomotive engineer,
lives in Minnesota ; Mary S. is the wife of Frank
S. Strong, a merchant of Chicago; Harold E., the
subject of this sketch, and Lewis R., residing in
Racine, Wis., engaged in the Union National Bank,
in that city.

Harold E. Clement was educated at the public
schools of Racine, Wis., and at a private school in
Tennessee. He also attended for one year the Van-
derbilt University, at Nashville, Teun., taking a

course in the medical department of that institution.
Afterward he .attended the Medical College at
Keokuk, Iowa, graduating there in 1884. He lo-
cated first at Richland, Iowa, where he practiced
successfully for a year, and next located at Lowell,
Henry County, in 1881, and here also enjo3'ed a
good pr.ictice. In 1 884 he came to his present lo-
cation at Trenton, where he has since remained and
has an extensive practice, which many an older
doctor might well envy. Dr. Clement is a thorough
physician and a polished gentleman, and his worth
is appreciated bj' the people of Trenton and vicin-
ity, among whom he deservedly stands high.

Dr. Clement has been twice married, first in 1875,
to Miss Willie A. Hopkins, a native of McMinn-
ville, Tenn., and a daughter of Samuel A. and
Maltha (Scales) Hopkins. By this union two chil-
dren were born — Minnie M. and Louise E., the
mother dying in August, 1880, at the age of twen-
ty-two. On the nth of December, 1884, Dr.
Clement was .again married, his wife being Miss
Manche Miller, a native of Iowa.

ylLLIAM BLACK, one of the early settlers
of Henry County-, was born iu Greeubriar
County, Va., in 1805. He was married to
iVIiss Rebecca Benson about 1832. In an early day
he moved to Knox Count}', 111., and in 1840 re-
moved to this county, and settled near Trentnn, in
what is now Jefferson Township. Here he pur-
chased 160 acres of prairie .andforty acres of timber
land, and made many improvements on his farm.
He was compelled to haul his flour and lumber
from Burlington witli an ox-team. In early life
Mr. Black was an old-line Whig. Mr. and Mrs.
Black are parents of seven children : Joseph, now
of Kearney, Neb., enlisted iu the war of the Rebel-
lion, was elected Captain, and afterservingeighteen
months resigned; John, who now resides in Mt.
Pleasant; Samuel, of Kearney, Neb. ; VV'illiam, who
enlisted in the 25th Iowa Regiment, died in this
county in 1870; Asbnry, of Mt. Pleasant; Charles,

9^

4

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iT 216

HENRY COUNTY.

A

f

of Kearney, Neb. ; Emma, wife of G. C. Wilson, of
Wayne Township. Mr. anil Mrs. Black were mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They
were widely known, and no couple were more highly
respected.

JACOB ARTHAND, a farmer residing on sec-
tion 15, Wayne Township, Henry Co., Iowa,
was born in Upper Canada, near Hamburg,
Sept. 2, 184.3, and is a son of Emile and
Susannah (Ebersole) Arthand, l)0th natives of
France, he V)orn near the central part, she in Alsace.
The parents of Eniile Arthand both remained and
died in France. By trade, Emile was a cutler, but
after emigrating to Canada purchased a farm or
rather woodland which he made into a farm later.
While single he made a prospecting trip over part
of the United States, making the journey on foot
from the Dominion of Canada to the citj' of New-
Orleans, and thence back to his first location
in Canada, after which he sold his land. It was
in about 1827 that he came to America, and his
marriage was'celebrated at the age of thirty-three.
This union was productive of a family of fifteen
children, onlj' three of whom are deceased. The
eight eldest were born in Canada — Christian, John,
Jacob, Leo, Magdalena, Jonathan ; Samuel, deceased ;
and Enos. In 1850 the familj' left Canada and
located in Porter County, Ind., near Valparaiso,
where a farm was purchased, but fifteen months
later it was sold, and the family- moved direct to
Iowa, locating permanently in Washington County
in 1853, where the familj' resided until 18G8,
when the father purchased a farm in Henry
Countj', a part of which is owned by his son Ben-
jamin. The death of Emile Arthand occurred Jan.
26, 1887, having reached his eighty -first \^ear. In
Iowa, Daniel ; Martin, deceased ; Benjamin ; Barbara,
deceased ; Marj', Frank and Joseph, were born. The
mother resides In a cottage near our subject, with
her son Joseph and daughter Mary. Joscjjh and
Frank are teachers by profession, having received
their education at Howe's Aeademj'; Leo also
taught some in Muscatine County, but is now, .is

well as the others, engaged in farming; John is the
husband of Anazelle Odell, and resides in Taylor
County ; Leo wedded Diantha Moffett, of Musca-
tine Count}', and now resides in Dallas County;
Jonathan married Sarah AVelch, of Sherman County,
Neb., where thej- reside; Christian is also a farmer
in Sherman Count}', Neb. ; Lena is the wife of Egbert
"V^anscoy, a farmer of the same county ; Daniel
wedded Mary Henry, of Lee County, and resides
in Taylor County ; Benjamin became tiie husband
of Stella Beriman, and they reside on the old home-
stead.

Jacob Arthand, our subject, is the husband uf
Miss Christinia Conrad, daughter of Daniel and
Alary (Klopfenstein) Conrad. She was born in
this county, Dec. 29, 1852, and deserves special
recognition as one of the daughters born on Henry
County soil. On the .30th of October, 1870, the
nuptials were celebrated at the home of the bride's
brother Daniel in Washington County, and the
young couple began their domestic life, the first
year in Henry County, and the next six months in
Washington County, where Mr. Arthand had pur-
chased a farm. Later this was sold, and his present
farm In Wayne Township was purchased in the
autunni of 1872, when they removed to the same
and since that day have been identified with the
business and prosperity of Henry County. Here
their children — Clara Lillian, William W. and
Bertha — were born.

Possessing the characteristics of his race, Mr.
Arthand has led a life of enterprise, which has
brought large returns in a financial sense. With
his citizenship came the confidence of his townsman
in his capabilities as an oHiclal, and he has been
thrice elected Trustee of Wayne Township, and is
now his own successor in that capacity. Since
1874 he has been connected with the School Board,
several years of which time he was Treasurer. His
fine farm house was completed in 1882, one of tlic
nicest in the norlliern part of the county, and over-
looks the growing village of Olds, which furnishes
school and railroad facilities. Not only has this
been done, hut many of the most important im-
provements of the county have been completed
since the family first became residents of Henry
County. The Artliands are not only well Unfjwn,

i

I

HENRY COUNTY.

217

but are bj" virtue of a long and honorable citizen-
ship entitled to representation in the pages of her
history. The parents of Mrs. Artiiand are botli
deceased. They were parents of thirteen children,
nine living and all married ; Christinia, wife of our
subject; Marin wedded Anna Klopfenstein; Bar-
bara is the wife of Christian Bachler; Catherine
wedded John Rich; Daniel married Catherine
Zeigler, now deceased: Fannie is the wife of Mi-
cliael Klopfenstein ; Peter married Carrie Kapferer ;
John is the husband of ^larj* Ferdamwalt, and
Sarah wedded Peter Augspergur. Those deceased
are Hannah, wife of S. B. Wyse, a merchant of
Wayland ; Lydia, Mary and Anna.

^j<«j»^»

JOHN BECKER, a prominent and wealthy
farmer of New London Township, on sectii.>n
1 8, post-office Mt. Pleasant, has a well-im-
proved farm of 333 acres of prairie laud.
His farm is a beautiful place, formorlv known as
the homestead of the late Prof. Howe, situated on
the Mt. Pleasant and Burlington wagon road, four
miles east of the former city. Mr. Becker was
born in the town of Middleburg, Schoharie Co.,
N. Y., March 15, 1817, and is the son of Peter A.
L. and Helen (Van Wie) Becker. His father was
born in Albany County, N. Y., and was a descend-
ant from the early Holland emigrants of that region,
and his mother was born in the same locality-, and
■was also of Holland descent.

Our subject grew to manhood on a farm and was
married in his native county, July 5, 1840, to Miss
Christina Silvernail, a daught«r of Andrew and
Helen Silvernail. She was born in the same county
and town as her husband, on the 5th of September,
1820. Nine children were born of their union, six
sons and three daughters, all of whom are living at
this writing. John F., the eldest, was born in
Middleburg, N. Y., March 25, 1841, and married
Louisa Morrison, and is now residing in Southern
Florida; William was born in Geneva, N. Y., Nov.
19, 1842, and married Cath.arine Rhodes, and re-
sides in Smith Center, Smith Co., Kan.; George

was born in Geneva, N. Y., Oct. 23, 1844, and
married Lethe Graham, and resides in Sarp3-
County, Neb., and has six children ; Erskine was
also bom in Geneva, N. Y., Oct. 12, 184(i, married
Hester Morehead, has four children,- and lives on
the old homestead in New London Township,
Henry Count3": Marj- was born Oct. 21, 1851, and
is the wife of W. S. Wright, of New London
Township, and has four children; Jacob was born
Aug. 30, 1853, married Maria Hedge, has four
children, and resides on a fann in New London
Township; Elizabeth was born Sept. 14, 1856, is the
wife of Clifton Cl.arke, has one child, and resides
in Jefferson Township, Henry County; Wriley was
born July 22, 1859, and is living in AYestern Kan-
sas; Delia was born June 17, 1862, and resides with
her parents. The five younger children were born
in Huntington County, Ind.

Mr. Becker removed with his famih' to Geueva,-
N. Y., in 1842, and from there to Huntington
Count}', Ind., in 1851, where he engaged in farm-
ing until 1865. when he came to Iowa and located
in New London Township, where he still resides.
Two of Mr. Becker's sons served in the late war for
the Union. John F. was a member of the 34th
Indiana Volunteer Infantrj-, and enlisted in 1861
and served until the close of the war. George was
a member of the 47th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
He enlisted in 1861 and served until the close
of the war. Mr. Becker and all his sons are Re-
publican in politics. The family are descended from
a rugged, hardy race, noted for their longevity^
Mr. Becker is a courteous gentleman of superior
mental and phjsical force, and is held in high es-
teem by his neighbors and acquaintances.

i

•.o*o.®X®-«>*o..

<^ I^ILLIAM BATES, a representative and in-
fluential farmer, residing on section 23,
Trenton Township, Henrj^ Co., Iowa, is
a native of Saxonj-, Germ.any, born Aug. 18,
1838. His parents. Christian and Mai-garet (Panser)
Bates, also natives of Saxony, came to America
in the fall of 1854, locating in Henrj- County,

v

f

!

m^4^

218

HENRY COUNTY.

where the father bought a farm on section 23 of
Trenton Township, consisting of 320 acres of par-
tially improved Iniifl.anrl still lives on the old homo-
stead .

Our sul)ject, William Bates, was reared upon the
above-mentioned farm, and was married, Oct. 4,
1806, to Elizabeth Ginkel, a native of Hesse, Ger-
many. Her parents were Conrad and Catharine
(Kanft) (linkel. who came to America in 1871,
making Trenton Township their home. Mr. and
Mrs. Bates have been the parents of five children :
Louis, born July 11, 1867; Neil, born Sept. 27,
1868, and Minnie, born July 19, 1872, are still
inmates of the parental home; the other two
children are dead : Ida, born Sept. 3, 1874, died
when four years of age, and Amiel, born March 18,
1 870, died when about seventeen months old.

Mr. Bates is one of the well-to-do farmers of
Henry County^ and is a large land-owner, owning
260 acres of finely cultivated land in Trenton
Township, and 640 acres in Pratt County, Kan.,
and also some property in Pratt Center. Every-
thing about his farm denotes thrift and enterprise.
The out-buildings are models of convenience, the
barn alone being worth $1,000, and his stock is of
the best grades. The hospitable host and hostess
of a fine country residence, which was erected at a
cost of $2,500, they deserve a place in the history
of their county. Mr. Bates in his political views is
liberal, voting for the man whom he thinks will
best fill the office.

AMUEL CHANDLER, a soldier of the
War of 1812, was born Feb. 18, 1795. He
was married to Miss Eliza Kenyon, who
was born in 1805. The^' were the hapjjy
parents of si.x children, four of whom are now
living, viz : James K. is a resident of Los Gatos,
Cal. ; Thomas B., a Sergeant in the late Re-
bellion, was taken prisoner at the battle of Shiloh
and confined at Macon, Ga., and is now living in
Burlington, Iowa; Hon. Joseph H. was in the Mich-
igan Cavalry, and served through the war and
drilled a company of colored men, of which he was

•►■-^^

*

Captain: Mar}' M. is the wife of B. ('. Chandler
and lives in IMt. Pleasant. Two, Edwin and Martha,
are deceased. The mother finished her work on
earth Nov. 19, 1851. Mr. Chandler still resides in
Mt. Pleasant, and is a man worthy of the deepest
respect and love of all. Though ninety-throe years
of age, he is in full possession of all his faculties.

'^^^'■'<>^^'*^^l^'^^-'^i<^

VwjOHN GOTTLIEB SCHUBERT, a farmer re-
I siding in Baltimore Township, was born in
I Schlascan, Germany, in 1830, and is the son
^^ of John G. and Elizabeth (Douftle) Schubert.
Both parents were also born in or near Schlascan,
where thej' were married and reared a family of
three children : Christiana, deceased wife of Gott-
fried Schermell ; Mary, wife of Aug. Kudabe, a
wealth}' farmer of Jackson Township, and our sub-
ject. The parents came to America in 1853, locat-
ing in Green Bay, and the nest year purchasing-
land in Henry County. They remained in this
county until their death, the father departing this
life in 1875, and the mother in 1885, at the
advanced age of eighty-eight.

Our subject was married, in 1859, to Anna
Muschick, a lady born in Germany, whose parents
were Martin and Lizzie Muschick, residents of
Marshall County, Iowa. Thej- began their domestic
life upon a farm in Baltimore Township, upon
rented land, but two years later Gottlieb purchased
the farm of his father and removed with his young
wife to their present location. Their children, five
in number, were all born in this township, namely :
Martin, born May 13, 1861, died Aug. 14, 1863;
Charley, born April 20, 1863; Frank, born Nov. 22,
1865; Mary, born Jan. .'il, 1868, and Emma, born
Dec. 12, 1874. All are yet under the paternal
roof except Charles, who was married Jan. 19, 1888,
to Rose A. Lee. Mr. Schubert, aided by a good
wife, has become one of the wealth}' men of Balti-
more Town>hip, in a comparatively short lifetime,
farming upon his present farm. The broad acres
are highly cultivated, and the elegant country
homo is one of the most attractive to be seen in

■<•-

HENRY COUNTY.

219

the south part of the countj'. The large barns
give shelter to niaiij^ hear! of fine cattle, and cverj'-
thing betokens a prosperous life. All the children
are well educated in the English language, and
are such as give a high moral and intellectual tone
to the community in which they reside. There is
no family [living in this part of the county
more favorably known to her citizens than that of
Gottlieb and Anna Schubert, and as Germany has
contributed many valuable citizens to the grand
State of Iowa, we gladl}' give them a place in the
histor}' of Henry County.

I

'^inll^-'^'^' CAULK, deceased, was one of the
ILiK early settlers of Henry County. He was a
native of Guilford County, N. C, born in
1828. In 18.34 he went with his parents to
Georgetown, 111., and in 1836 came to Henry
County. His parents were Robert and Jane (Hem-
pill) Caulk. In this county Bent grew to manhood,
and received his education in the pioneer log school-
house. Bent was married on the 17th of Oc-
tober, 1852, to Miss Jane Moore, born in Sangamon
County, 111., Aug. 1, 1832, a daughter of Joseph
and Lydia (Cooper) Moore, the former being a
native of Indiana and the latter of Tennessee. Both
were among the early settlers of Sangamon County,
111., where they became acquainted and were united
in marriage. They were the parents of eight chil-
dren, seven of whom are now living. They were
as follows : Calvin, who died in Ringgold County,
Iowa: Rebecca, deceased; Jane, widow of Bent
Caulk; Amanda, wife of Daniel Biddlecom, of Cass
County, 111. ; Ephraim, a carpenter of Mt. Pleasant;
John, residing in Buffalo County, Neb.: E^dward,
also living in that countj% who was a soldier in the
war of the Rebellion ; and James, residing in Bates
County, Mo. In 1835 Mr. Moore came to Henry
County with his family, and located on section U,
Center Township. Mrs. Moore was a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church in her early life,
but afterward affiliated with the Christian Church.
She was a sincere Christian woman, highly respected

by all who knew her, and died in August, 1882,
mourned by a large circle uf friends. In the spring
of 18-49, Mr. Moore, in company with a party com-
posed of old settlers of Henry Conntj', went to
California, and there remained engaged in mining
until 1851, when he took passage on board a vessel
bound for New York. The ship was never after-
ward heard from, and all on board are supposed to
have been lost. His oldest daughter, Rebecca,
wife of Aldred Lotspeich. was also on board the
lost vessel.

Mr. and Mrs. Caulk grew to manhood and woman-
hood on adjoining farms; by their union two sons
were born, Charles and Frank, both of whom yet
reside in this county. Mr. Caulk died in February,
1883, leaving a widow and two sons, and many
relatives and friends to mourn his loss. He was a
kind husband and father, and was well and favora-
bly known throughout the county as an honest,
upright man, who had the confidence and respect of
the entire comnuinit}'. Politically he was a Demo-
crat. At the time of his death he was owner of
249 acres of land, 200 of which was under cultiva-
tion, and which was valued at $75 per acre. Mrs.
Caulk still resides upon the home farm, where she
has lived a period of thirty-four years. At the
time of their settlement upon this farm, they were
the farthest north of any family in the county, and
Indians were frequent visitors at their cabin. To-
day all this is changed, and the farm is one of the
best improved in Henry County.

-*-)p-

,ARTON C. CHANDLER, of Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa, is the son of Edward and Jane E.
(Marsh) Chandler, who were natives of
Vermont, but who removed to Spafford, N.
Y., where, on the 19th of May, 1829, Barton was
born. In 1832, while Barton was yet a child, thej'
moved to Huron County, Ohio, and subsequently
to Knox County in the same State, and then to
Ripley Count}', Ind. In 1851 they came to Henry
County. Of their family of seven children four
are now living: Nancy, wife of Milo Chandler, of

u

■«►

220

HENRY COUNTY.

r

Smith County, Kan.; Lydia is inarried to John
Banghani, a resident of Wilmington, Ohio; William
H., who enlisted in the 4th Iowa Cavaliy and served
four years, now resides in Dallas County, Iowa,
and Barton C, the subject of this sketch. Edward
Chandler was a shoemaker by trade, and was a
member of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which
body his wife was also a member. They are both
now reaping the reward of a righteous life. He
was born in Mulberry, Vt., Oct. 23, 17119, and died
at Smith Center, Kan., Oct. 10, 1878. His wife
was born at Niles, N. Y., Oct. 28, 1810, and died
in New London Township, this county, Nov. 28,
1853; their marriage was celebrated Jan. 10, 1828,
in Scott, N. Y.

The subject of this sketch, not unlike thousands
of others at that time, received but limited educa-
tional advantages. In 1849 he came to Henry
County, settling in Mt. Pleasant, where he was
employed as a carpenter and stonemason. In
1858 lie was united in marriage with Miss Mary M.
Chandler (see above), born June 19, 1839. By
this union there are three children: Vincent K.,
educated at the Burlington Commercial College, is
now a book-keeper at Perry, Iowa; Eliza J. was
educated at Howe's Seminary, Mt. Pleasant, and at
the Business College of Burlington, Iowa; Carrie
May was educated at the University of Mt. Pleas-
ant. Religiously, Mr. Chandler is a Seventh-Day
Adventist, and he takes an .active interest in all
educational matters. He has lived in Henry County
since early times, and has witnessed the changes
which transformed its natural wilderness to beauti-
ful farms and elegant homes. In his life Mr.
Chandler endeavors to live in faithful obedience to
all the commands found in the Word of God, and
in so doing feels that comfort and satisfaction not
enjoyed by those who do not believe.

^^ RAFTON KIRBY, of section ;!, Center Town-
'/[ (^ shi|), was born in Morgan County, Ohio,
'^^L May 20, 1843, and is a son of Thomas and
Rebecca Ann ((irafton) Kirby. Their marriage
was celebrated in Morgan County, Ohio, and to

them was born a family of six children, four sons
and two daughters: Mary J., wife of Isaac Thomas,
a resident of Wilmington, Ohio; Isaac, a resident
of New Mexico: ^MarthaE. married Stephen Livzy,
of Keokuk, Iowa; Grafton, the subject of this
sketch; Milton S., of Des Moines County, Iowa;
Melvin C, deceased. In 18CC Thomas Kirby re-
moved to Henr3^ County and jjurchased the land
on which Mr. Backus now lives. In politics he
was a Democrat, and a great admirer of Stephen
A. Douglas. He and his estimable wife were mem-
bers of the Congregationalist Church of Mt. Pleas-
ant. Ml'. Kirby took great interest in all matters
pertaining to education, and was always well in-
formed on the affairs of the county and nation.

Grafton Kirby, the subject of this sketch, was
reared in Morgan Count}-, Ohio, until eighteen
years of age, receiving a common-school education
in his native State. He came to Henry Count}' in
1836, and in 1869 was united in marriage with
Miss Elizabeth J. Barclay, a daughter of Henry
and Elizabeth Barclay, natives of Greene County,
Pa. Henry Barclay was born in Greene County,
Pa., in 1799, and in the year 1828 formed a matri-
monial alliance with Elizabeth Armstrong, who was
born in 1809. In 1858 Mr. Barclay came to Henry
County and purchased the place where Mr. Kirb}-
now resides. They were the parents of nine chil-
dren : Helen, wife of James Davidson, of Chariton,
Iowa; Mary, wife of John Biddle, deceased, now
resides in Shenandoah, luwa; lleniy A., of Bird
City, Kan. ; Elizabeth, wife of Grafton Kirby, of
Heni'}' Count}-, Iowa; Laura, widow of Melvin C.
Kirby, resides at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Mr. and
Mrs. Barclay were members of the Presbyterian
Church, and always ready to advance the cause of
their Master. Mr. Barclay was called to his final
home in 1862, preceding his wife twenty years, she
dying in February, 1882. In early life he held the
political views of the Whigs until the organization
of the Republican party, when he cast his vote with
that body.

Mr. and Mrs. Kirby are the happy parents of two
daughters: Lena, a graduate of the High School
of Mt. Pleasant, is now in Chicago studying short-
hand and type-writing; Laura, the other daughter,
is at home. In 1882 Mr. Kirby suffered quite a

HENRY COUNTY.

221

I

loss by the cyclone of June 17, his loss being
valued at $1,000. His business is that of a fanner
and general stock-raiser. He owns eighty acres of
land, situated twt) and a half miles from Mt. Pleas-
ant, valued at from $.50 to $75 per acre, all of
which is under a high state of cultivation. Mr.
and Mrs. Kirby are earnest Christian people, and
are members of the Presb3-terian Church of Mt.
Pleasant. In politics Mr. Kirby is a Democrat.

ON. SAMUEL L. STEELE, manager of the
Mt. Pleasant Manufacturing Company, and
present Representative in the Iowa Legisla-
(^) ture from the Twentieth District, resides on
section 36, Marion Township, Henry Co., Iowa, and
does business in Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Steele has been
a resident of Henry County since 1847, and was
born in Clarke County, Ohio, April 8, 1836. His
parents, James and Marj' H. (White) Steele, were
natives of Virginia, and were born in Berkeley
County, now West Virginia. They were of the old
orthodox Quaker faith. On the father's side the
family was of Irish origin, but residents of America
from Colonial daj's. Gen. Steele, of Revolutionary
fame, was a distant relative of our subject. Mr.
Steele's parents moved from Virginia to Clarke
County, Ohio, in 1826, and from there to Henry
County, Iowa, in 1847, arriving in Jefferson Town-
ship, where they located Oct. 25, 1847.

Samuel L. was reared on a farm, and in August,
1862, enlisted for the late war. He was elected
Second Lieutenant of Company B, 25th Iowa Vol-
unteer Infantry, and was promoted to a First Lieu-
tenancy in August, 1863, and served in that capacity
until the close of the wai-. He was mustered out
at Davenport, Iowa, June 6, 1865. His regiment
was assigned to the 15th (Gen. John A. Logan's)
Army Corps, and participated in the battles of
Chickasaw Bayou, Miss. ; Arkansas Post, Ark. ; siege
of Vicksburg, Miss.; Lookout Mountain, Missionary
Ridge, Ringgold, the Atlanta campaign, the battle
of Goldsboro, N. C, and Sherman's historic march
to the sea. The official history of the regiment

shows that it participated in thirty-seven dis-
tinct engagements. In almost all of these Lieut.
Steele was a participant, and showed himself a brave
and gallant soldier. On his return from the war
Mr. Steele engaged in the mercantile and lumber
business at Sedalia, Mo., which business occupied his
time for four j'ears, at the end of which he returned
to Hemy County, Iowa, and engaged in farming on
section 6, Marion Township. In 1873 he purchased
a farm of 280 acres on section 36 of the same town-
ship, where he still resides. He has lately sold 120
acres, leaving his present farm 160 acres in extent.
Mr. Steele was married in Jefferson Township,
Henry County, May 27, 1866, to Miss Sarah Mar-
garet, daughter of Lawrence M. and Margaret L.
Everts. Mrs. Steele was born in the State of New
York, and came to Iowa in childhood. One child,
a daughter, Mary E., was born to them, who is now
the wife of Guy Norton, of St. Paul, Nel>. Mrs.
Steele died Oct. 26, 1868. He was again married
Dec. 24, 1872, in Henry County, to Miss Martha
D. Oaks, a daughter of John S. Oaks, who was born
in Lycoming County, Pa. Five children, four sons
and a daughter, were born of their union : John
Oaks, now aged eleven; James Arthur, aged nine;
Edna, aged seven; Charles C, aged three, and
Fred', an infant.

Mr. Steele is an out-and-out Republican, and has
voted with that party since its organization. He
has been chosen to various offices of public honor
and trust, and was elected as a member of the
County Board of Supervisors in 1 808, and w.is sub-
sequently re-elected and served six years. Prior
to that he had served as a member of the Town-
ship Board of Trustees, and for fourteen years has
been a member of the District School Board. He
was elected Nov. 8, 1887, on the Republican ticket,
as Representative to the State Legislature from the
Twentieth District, by a majority of 596 over his
competitor. In every position to which he has been
chosen he has borne the reputation of a competent
and upright official, and has earned the esteem of
his fellow-citizens.

Mr. Steele is a memlier of the McFarland Post
No. 20, G. A. R., and is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, of which church his first wife
was also a member, while his present wife is a

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222

HENRY COUNTY.

f

Presbyterian. lu August, 1887, he was instru-
mental in organizing and incorporating the Mt.
Pleasant Manufacturing Company, of which he is
general manager. (See notice of business elsewhere
in this work.) Mr. Steele is an energetic, sagacious,
business man, a most indomitable worker, possess-
ing superior executive ability and great force of
character. The enterprise upon which he has so
lately entered promises to develop into an impor-
tant industry, and already orders are flowing in
faster than the company, with their present facili-
ties, can fill them. Mr. Steele is a man of un-
questioned integrity, and justly ranks among the
leading business men of Henry County.

, EN JAM IN W. SPRY, now deceased, was a
native of Ohio, and was born in Zanesville,
f|!)))II' ^^^- '^^' 181'''- He remained in that city
until after his marriage, which occurred in
March, 1844, to Miss Ivy Johnson, who was also a
native of Ohio. He was engaged in the mercantile
business until the time of liis death, which occurred
July 6, 1827. His life throughout was an entirely
upright one, and he was held in iiigh esteem by all
who knew him. His devoted wife preceded him to
the better world, her death occurring June 25,
1875. After the death of his wife Mr. Spry made
his home with his son-in-law, G. W. Burton, of Mt.
Pleasant. Mr. and Mrs. Spry were the parents of
seven children: Hattie J., born in 1845, is now the
wife of E. D. Anderson, wliose sketch appears else-
where in this work; Annie E., born in 1846, is the
wife of J. W. Burton, of Mt. Pleasant; Charles W.,
born in 1847, is a farmer in Marion Township; he
married Mi.ss Flora B. IMoford. J. W. died in in-
fancy; Mary E., who makes her home with her
sister, Mrs. J. VV. Burton; Emma C, who died in
1873, at the age of twenty : Homer J., born in 1857,
is a farmer in Marion Township; his wife was Miss
E. L. Anderson.

Mrs. Harriet Boyce, now deceased, was a native
of Washington (bounty, Md., and a grandmother of
Mrs. Anderson. Her maiden name was Thompson.
She was born Dec. 7, 171)2. Her first husband was
Jacob Johnson, .and to them were born thirteen

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children, of whom twelve grew to man and woman-
hood. At the time of her death she had seven
children, forty-eight grandchildren, and twenty-
seven great-grandchildren. Her second husband
was Mr. Boyce. She was a member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church.

^OHN HANNAH, farmer, in Jackson Town-
ship section 15, was born in the year 1831, in
Brown County, Ohio, and is a son of James
and Elizabeth (Fulton) Hannah. The Han-
nah ancestors were of Irish origin, and the Ful-
tons were probabl}^ of Scotch descent. Both James
Hannah and his wife were born in Pennsylvania,
and were married in Washington County of that
State. James was by trade a shoemaker, but after
his marriage engaged solely in agriculture, remov-
ing at a very earlj' date to Brown County', Ohio,
where he entered lands, built a house, and had a
family of eight children before he removed to
Clermont Countj' in the same State. The children
were .as follows: Thomas, who died unmairied, had
gone to New Orleans with a flatboat loaded with
sundries, and on arriving there contracted yellow
fever, and as he was returning home on a steamer
died, and was buried at Cairo, III., more than
fifty j'ears ago. Margaret wedded John McCartj',
who during his lifetime was a farmer of Jackson
County, Ind., and after his death married
George Hampton, of Illinois, and is now his widow ;
Fulton married first, Almeda Bryant, and after her
death wedded Mrs. Lewis, and is a farmer in Brown
County, Ohio; James wedded first, Margaret West,
and after her death married a Miss Thompson, and
.also resides upon a farm in Brown County; Ann,
deceased, became the wife of Matthias Freedman, a
farmer of Jackson Ci)unty, Ind.: David is wedded
to Nancy J. Richards, of Clermont County, Oiiio,
and resides in Edgar County, HI., on a farm; Jo-
seph wedded for his first wife Eliza Ketcham, and
after her death married again, and resides also in
Brown County, Ohio.

John Hannah, our subject, was married in Cler-
mont Countj-, Ohio, in 1851, to Miss Catherine
Seton, daughter of Ebenezer and Barbara (Bush-

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HENRY COUNTY.

223

man) Setoii. The Setoii familj' were of Irish ex-
traction, while the liushuuin family were of Ger-
man and English origin, although born in Virginia.
Both families were early settlers of Ohio, and were
among the first to take up claims in that part of the
eountr}-. A great-uncle of Mrs. Hannah, Thomas
Seton, was a Captain in the army during the War
of 1812. Great-grandfather Seton was a weaver in
Ireland, but verj" little history can be obtained, as
all the elder members of the family who could have
furnished it are now dead. Grandfather Bushman
purchased 1,300 acres of land, which was left to his
children, and his descendants yet own it. He died
at Point Pleasant, Ohio, which his land adjoined.
Mrs. Hannah was one of a family of twelve :
Elizabeth, Mary, Rebecca, Martha, William, John,
Benjamin, Sarah, David, Catherine, Sippy A. and
Ebenezer. The latter was born after his father's
death. One son, John, was suffocated by damp in
a well in Shelby Count}-, Ohio, and of the entire
famil}' only Mrs. Hannah, Ebenezer and Benjamin
are now living. Ebenezer is a farmer of Washing-
ton County, Iowa, and Benjamin, wedded to Nancy
A. Donnellj', is a farmer near Blue Rapids, Kan.
After the marriage of our subject and his 3'oung
wife, they remained two years in Ohio, and then
removed to Jaclison County, Ind., near Seymour.
They only remained there one year, and in Novem-
ber, 1854, emigrated farther west and located in
this township, on lands now owned by Alexander
Kudobe. Benjamin Seton was a partner in the
purchase of the 1 20 acres, and later Mr. Hannah
sold his interest to Mr. Seton and purchased the
farm upon which he now resides, on section 15,
Jackson Township. One who looks at his fine im-
provements to-day would scarcely think that in
thirty years such a farm could be made. In March,
1858, Mr. and Mi'S. Hannah moved into a little
cabin which stood upon this tract, of which only
three-fourths of an acre was then broken. Mr.
Hannah was not a holder of United States bonds at
that time, but he possessed a wealth of muscle and
industry, and his good wife was ready to share in
every undertaking. While her husband was at
work getting out rails and grubbing tirush, she was
doing her share to aid in the work, and as children
came to bless their home, the labor of love was

lightened. Their first-born was Martha E., now
deceased, who was the wife of Van Jackman; she
was born in Ohio, and all the others in this town-
ship. Benjamin F. wedded Angelina Bunker;
George died in infancy; Mary is deceased; Jane is
the wife of Harlan Pickard ; Owen W., John W.,
and Margaret A., deceased, and Robert F., complete
the familj'. The three unmarried sons reside with
their parents in a handsome cottage on the hill
overlooking a wide expanse of country, and the
site furnishes a view unsurpassed from any point in
the township. Mr. Hannah came to this count}' a
poor man, but by economy and hard labor he has
realized a nice fortune, and his meager purchase of
1854 has grown to 2.35 acres, purchased as he was
able. The good wife still superintends her house-
hold, and Mr. Hannah can take his ease if he de-
sires, as they have already a competence, and the
boys are skilled in farm work. Mr. Hannah has
served in numerous official positions, his first elec-
tion as Trustee occurring in 1 860, since which time
he has been frequentlj' re-elected to the same office,
and has also served upon the School Board for sev-
eral years. B. Frank, the eldest son, served two
years as Township Clerk, and is the only son of
age. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hannah are members of
Donaldson Methodist Episcopal Church, in which
he has often served in an official capacity. We add
this sketch with pleasure to the number of repre-
sentative families in this county, and none are en-
titled to or will receive a more cordial greeting.
Ebenezer Seton, father of Mrs. Hannah, removed
from Clermont County, Ohio, to Shelby County,
Ohio, and while digging a well there, and leaving it
for dinner, heard a noise below. Supposing water
had broken in he sent his young son, John, down
in the bucket to bring up the tools. The cause of
the noise was damp, and the boy fell out of the
bucket suffocated. The father, not knowing the
cause, went down to rescue his child, and he also
fell a victim, both being dead before the}' were
got out by the neighbors. The mother, with
her remaining children, returned to Clermont
County, where she lived a widow until her death,
dying in 1877, nearly seventy-nine years of age.
She spun, wove, and worked in every way to keep
her family together, and bring them up properly, as

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224

HENRY COUNTY.

she did, and her chiklren have cause to revere her
memory.

Another of the famil}', William, also met an
accidental death. He was a resident of Jackson
Township, having become a citizen of Henry
Countj-. Nov. 9, 1874, while digging a cistern for
Stephen Booth it caved in upon him. When the
attempt was made to rescue him he was barely
able to speak, but was dead before he was extricated.

-J-^^^^-

f OHN Z. NUGEN, a farmer residing at New

London Village, has 120 acres of land. He

J was born in New London Township, Ai)ril
■25, 1845, and is the son of Jarrett and
Meliuda (Butler) Nugen, of whom a history is
given elsewhere. He was reared on the farm, and
received a common-school education, and when
nineteen j-ears of age enlisted, Ma3' 1, 18G4, as a
private in Company G, 45th Iowa Volunteer In-
fantry, and served four months in the Army of the
Tennessee. On his return from the war he engaofed
in farming in New London Township. He was
married in Des Jloines County, Iowa, Sept. 25,
1870, to Miss Zora Belle Newell, daughter of Albert
and Martha Newell. Mi-s. Newell was born in
Pleasant Grove Township, Des Moines Co., Iowa.
Six children have gathered round the hearthstone of
this worthy couple, live of whom are now living:
Aria, born Nov. 1, 1871 ; Jarrett, deceased; Eliza-
beth, William II., Ethel, and an infant daughter,
unnamed. Mr. Nugen moved to the village of
New London in 1887. Mrs. Nugen is a member
of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and Mr. Nugen
is a member of Charity Lodge No. 56, I. O. O. F.,
and of J. W. Hardin Post No. 384, G. A. R., and
in politics is a Democrat.

EDWARD L. PENN, a leading merchant and
old settler of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and one of
the most prosperous business men of that
thrift}' city, was born in the good old cit^' of Broth-
erly Love (Philadelphia), which was founded by

t^m^^-

his namesake, William Penu. His father, Abraham
Penn, was a Quaker, born in Chatham, England,
and descended from an old Quaker family of
that locality". His mother, whose maiden name was
Elizabeth Livingston, was born at Philadelphia, and
was a daughter of Capt. John Livingston, wlio was
killed at the battle of Brando-wine. She was also a
niece of Robert R. Livingston, t)ne of thesignersof
the Declaration of Independence.

The subject of this sketch while a youth removed
with his parents to a point near C'hillicothe, Ohio.
He was trained to mercantile pursuits earlj- in life,
and was engaged in merchandising in various places
South and West. He spent twelve j-ears in that
I line at Lafayette, Ind., and came to Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa, in October, 1850. Oncoming to this city,
he engaged in the drv-goods and boot and shoe
business, having a double store. Mr. Penn devoted
his whole attention to his business, which he con-
ducted so successful!}- that he acquired a comfort-
able fortune. For the past twelve years Mr. Penn
has retired from active participation in the details of
the business, though still retaining his interest there-
in. In 1878 he formed the existing partnership
with Mr. C. A. Holwick, under the firm name of
Penn & Holwick. This house carries an extensive
stock of staple dry-goods, carpets, boots and shoes.

Mr. Penn was united in marriage at Lafayette,
Ind., Aug. 12, 1851, wiili ^Miss Amelia A. Weaver,
daughter of Dr. Jacob Weaver. Mrs. Penn's father
was a Trustee of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa.,
and Professor of the art of elocution. He lectm-ed
and wrote extensively on the subject, and w.as the
author of text books on elocution which are the
standard authority among students and elocution-
ists. He was a man of superior ability, and enjo^'ed
a wide and flattering repuUition. Mr. and Mrs.
Penn were blessed with three children, daughters:
Ella A. and Lulu B. were born in Lafaoette, Ind. ;
Katie Alma, the youngest, was born in Mt. Pleas-
ant, Iowa. Mr. Penn, his wife and daughters, are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He
is a Republican in politics, but in no sense a politi-
cian in the way of seeking for office, which he
would not accept. He has never coveted political
preferment, desiring the more quiet and unpretend-
ing life of a m:in of business. He has taken an act-

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HENRY COUNTY.

225

ive interest iu educational matters, and for twenty
years has served as a member of tlie Board of Trus-
tees of tlie Iowa Wesleyan ITniversity, and for the
past fifteen years has been President of the Execu-
tive Board of that institution. He was one of the
incorporators of the First National Bank of Mt.
Pleasant, of which he is a large stockholder, and has
served as member of the Board of Directors since
the establishment of the bank.

Mr. Penn has been a resident of Mt. Pleasant for
the past thirty-one ,years, during which time he has
been prominently identified with the mercantile in-
terests of the city, and has always been recognized
as one of its leading merchants, and most highly
respected citizens. He is now living in the quiet
enjoyment of well-earned influence. His residence
on North Jefferson street, surrounded by extensive
and tastil}' arranged grounds, is one of the finest
and most attractive in the city.

^ ^^ ^

j^^ C ADAM BROTHERS, James and William
A., photographers, have been established in
business atMt. Pleasant since 1875. James,
the senior partner, and active member of
the firm, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, Oct.
20, 1846, and is a son of George and Ann (Moore)
McAdam, both of whom were also natives of Harri-
son County, Ohio. Our subject went to Wenona,
Marshall Co., 111., in the spring of 1857, and in
that place learned the art of photograpiiy. In the
winter of 1809-70 he commenced business for him-
self at LaSaUe, 111., but gave it up after six months,
and engaged in ranching in Colorado for another
six months, when he returned to Illinois and again
began business, this time at Wenona, where he re-
mained in business until 1875. In that year, in
compan}- with his brother George, he started his
present gallery at Mt. Pleasant, and has been con-
tinuously engaged in business here ever since, and
has made many friends, both in business and socially.
In his business he is materially assisted by his wife,
who is a lady of talent and business capacity. His
brother and partner takes no active part in the busi-
T ness, which is successful, and constantly increasing,

owing to the fine class of work done, and reason-
able prices charged.

June 27, 1877, James McAdam w-as married to
Miss Agnes S. Phillips, daughter of Lieut. William
Phillips, who was killed in the famous "battle of the
AVilderness." Mrs. McAdam was born at Pitts-
burgh, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. McAdam have been the
parents of three children, two of whom died in in-
fancy. The survivor is a daughter, Mary A., now
nine years of age. Mr. and Mrs. McAdam are
members of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics
he is a supporter of the Republican party. Both
are respected members of society, who are held in
esteem by all who know them.

AREY D. SHELLEDY, a farmer and stock-
raiser, residing on section 29, Baltimore
Township, was burn in Jennings County,
Ind., in 1 822, and is the son of George and Isabella
(Graham) Shelledy. Edward, the paternal grand-
father of our subject, was born in Virginia, and the
ancestors are supposed to be of Irish origin. He
married Miss Bovell, and later moved to Ohio,
from thence to Jennings County, Ind., and lastly
to Edgar Count}', 111., where both himself and wife
died. They had seven children: Margaret, de-
ceased, who wedded William Moore, of Lowell,
Iowa, and died in that village ; George, father of
(jur subject, who married Isabella Graham in Indi-
ana, where his death accidentally occurred while
clearing up his farm; Stephen married Elizabeth
Vance, and both are deail; Alfred, Gillen and Alex,
who died unmarried, and John, married to Mary
A. Milton, completed the number of children.

The family of George and Isabella SheUedy con-
sisted of three sons — Edward, George and Carey
D. The widow afterward married John Compton,
and bore him six children — Samuel, Virginia, Loui-
siana, Stephen, William and Isabella. The death
of the mother occurred in Marion Count)', Iowa,
in 1822. After the death of his father and mar-
riage of his mother Carey D. Shelledy, then sixteen
years of age, left home and vvent to Charleston, 111.,
where he learned the saddlery and harness trade.
When eighteen years old he came to this county,

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226

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HENRY COUNTY.

i

and in the winter of 1840 opened a shop, the first
mechanic of this art in the now thriving county
seat. He madu the first saddle and breeching har-
ness ever nianufactui'ed in Henry County. His
shop stood upon the site of Presley Saunders' bank,
but there was not enough call for his services to
pay the young man, and he went to Lowell and
took charge of a carding-mill for Thomas Angell,
which he operated for two years. The next year
he went to what is now known as the second pur-
chase of Indian lauds, upon which Ottuuiwa and
Oskaloosa are situated. He aided in building all
the first cabins of Oskaloosa, as when he reached
the place only one log store stood upon its site.
This was a general store that retailed groceries and
whisky, owned at the time by Leeper .Smith. Mr.
Shelledy was present at the Os.agc Agency when the
treaty was made, and selected three claims, built a
log cabin on each, later sold two claims, and secured
enough monej' to enter eighty acres at the first
land sale at Fairfield. His marriage had been cele-
brated prior to this lime, Miss Amanda Shelledy
becoming his wife. They began life on limited
capital, and in Mahaska County theirs was one of
the first marriages. The father of Judge Seavers
performed the ceremony, and the young bride was
installed mistress of a log cabin, with hewed pun-
cheon floor erected by her husband. That was the
beginning of his good fortune. Children came
to their cabin home. The first was Elizabeth, now
the wife of Charles Simpson; her birth was followed
by that of a son, George E., who died in infancy;
then Jane, who died in childhood, and who was
born in Jasper County, to which her parents had
removed, and where other children were born, viz. :
Ella, now wife of George Collins; Margaret, wife
of Hugh Bowen, and Stephen, the husband of De-
borah Collins. In 1869 Mr. Shelledy returned to
Henry County, and ])urchased the farm upon which
William Archibald now resides. His wife died in
Jasper County, and in l)es Moines County Mr.
Shelled}' married his second wife, Mrs. Jane (^Lin-
der) Hale, who had three children by her first hus-
band, named George W., Sylvester and Sarah J.
After her marriage to Mr. Shelledy she bore Lean-
der and Andrew, twins ; Fremont, Nathaniel,
Emma, Charles, Amy, Ella, John, Frank and Fred.

All are living except Ella, and are widely scattered.
Leander married Mary Kyle, and Andrew married
her sister Rena; Fremont wedded Ella Cook, in
Nebraska; Emma is Richard Foster's wife, while
the others are unmarried. Margaret was a teacher
in Marion and Cass Counties prior to her marriage,
but all the sons are farmers, and the daughters have
wedded farmers.

From the lad in 1 840, with thirty-seven and a half
cents in his pocket, our subject grew to manhood,
reared a large family, and is now, in his mature years
one of the large land-owners and wealthy men of
Baltimore Township. For many years Mr. Shelledy
served as a member of the School Board, but dis-
liking to attend to an\' business except his own,
has declined any connection with other olHcial po-
sitions. His education in his youth was very lim-
ited, all his learning being self-acquired, but his
children have all been given a liberal education.
In 187G he purchased the Hussey farm, and is now
the owner of 200 broad acres, and is in emy cir-
cumstances. He is the grandsire of eighteen chil-
dren, and the father of seventeen. Genial and
social, Mr. and Mrs. Shelled^' have alwa3's been
noted for their hospitality, and this sketch will be
read with interest by scores of old pioneers, among
whom they are numbered. His step-father was a
cruel man to the children, and was very fond of
chastising them upon the least provocation. The
last seen of him bj' our subject, he was standing in
the door with a birch switch in his hand, waiting
for Carey to put in an appearance, but he had
climbed out of a back window, and was making
tracks for Illinois, without bidding any of the fam-
ily adieu. When he next saw his mother he had
grown to manhood, and she failed to recognize
him. He went to Indiana after her, intending to
give her a home, her second husband being also
dead at the time. That good lad}- accompanied
him to Iowa, and found a comfortable home under
his roof during the remainder of her life. Mr.
Shelledy was in early d.ays an avowed Abolitionist,
and was largely interested in the underground rail-
ro.Mcl, of which mention will he made elsewhere, and
in that connection acted both ;is .SUition Agent and
as conductor, and was instrumental in securing the
froecloni of many a poor colored man before the

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HENRY COUNTY.

227

Emancipation Proclamation gave tliem all their lib-
ertj-. For his manly character, his uprightness and
straightforward manner, he is greatly esteemed by
those who know him.

ARRETT NLTGEN,a former residing on sec-
tion 36, New London Township, is a pioneer
of 1840. He has several well-improved
farms, aggregating 59.5 acres, and liis post-
oflice is New London. Mr. Nugen is a native of
Virginia, and was born in Kanawha County, now
in West Virginia, in February, 1813. His parents
were also natives of Virginia. His father, John
Nugen, Sr., was born near Richmond, Va., in 177.5,
of Irish parents, and was a soldier of the War of
1812. He was married in Kanawha County, Va.,
to Miss INIary C. Lee. They were the parents of
sixteen children, thirteen of whom grew to man
and womanhood ; and four sons — David, Jarrett,
Charles and Silas — came to Iowa, and settled in New
London Township, Henry County; Charles came
in 1838, Jarrett and David in 1840, and Silas in
1855. Of these David and Jan-ett are still residents
of this county, are wealthy, and large land-owners.
Silas resides in Dakota Territory, and Charles is
now deceased. The family are remarkable for their
longevity, there being now living eleven of the
twelve children who reached maturity. The oldest
was born in 1804, and is now eighty-three years of
age; the youngest is fifty-seven years old.

John Nugen, Sr., emigrated from Virginia to
Kentucky, and a few years later to Wayne County,
Ind., in 1818. He continued to reside in that
county, engaged in farming, until his deatli, wliich
occurred in 1859. His wife was of an old Virginia
family of Colonial times. Her father served through
the Revolutionary War as a soldier of the Conti-
nental army, and was a warm patriot.

Jarrett Nugen, our subject, was reared on his
father's farm, and was united in marriage in Wayne
County, Ind., March 8, 1838, to Miss Melinda
Butler, daughter of Samuel Butler. Mrs. Nugen
was born in Wayne County, Ind., and her fatlier
was a native of Georgia, emigrating to the former
State at an early day. Seven children were born

■"^ ' — ^—

of their union, five sons and two daughters, and
five are now living : William H. was boi'n in Des
Moines County, Iowa, Jan. G, 1841, and served in
the late war as a member of Company K, 25th
Iowa Volunteer Infantry ; he was engaged in the
mercantile business at New London for twelve
j'ears, four in company with Capt. Richard, and
eight by himself, but is now engaged in farming.
Mary, born April 6, 1843, is the wife of Gad
Lyman, of New London; John Z., born April 25,
1845, married Miss Zora Belle Newell, and resides
at New London (see his sketch) ; Lizzie was born
May 28, 1847, and resides with her father; Josephus,
born April 27, 1850, died at the age of four; Ell-
wood died in childhood ; the other being an un-
named infant. Mr. Nugen first came to Iowa Oct.
18, 1839, purchasing a claim in Des Moines County,
and after a brief stay returned to Indiana. The
following year he returned with his family, arriving
at their home in Pleasant Grove Township Oct. 8^
1840. On the 2d of M.arch, 1841, he moved to
Henry County, and on the 16th of November of
that year he established his permanent home, where
he has since resided. Mr. Nugen was a Whig in
early life, and since the dissolution of that party
has been a Democrat. He is a Master Mason, a
member of New London Lodge No. 28, A. F. & A.
M. He has been an active business man, and by
industry and good management has accumulated a
large property, and his character as a man and
citizen is above reproach.

f

W. SATTERTHWAIT, druggist, Mt. Pleas-
ant, Iowa, was born in Guernsey County,
Ohio, March 29, 1835, and is the son of
Enoch and Nancy (Dilley) Satterthwait. His
parents were natives of England, but came to
America in early life. They settled in New Jersey,
and subsequently moved to Guernsey County,
Ohio, when that county was in a primitive condi-
tion, where his father owned a large tract of land,
on which he carried on farming and stock-raising.
J. W. lost his mother when he was but two years
old, and his father died six years later, leaving the
gon an orphan at the tender age of seven j'ears. His

1.1S

228

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HENEY COUNTY.

people were members of the Society of Friends, and
he was reared among Quakers and educated at a
Quaker school. He served several years as a
druggist's clerk, and in the autumn of 1856 came
to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. The succeeding four years
were spent in various undertakings, and in 18G0 he
purchased an interest in the drug business, but did
not engage personally in it at that time. He en-
listed in the war of tlie Rebellion in response to
the first call of the President for troops in April,
1861, and entered the service as a member of Com-
pany F, 1st Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry
(three-months men), and served through the term
of his enlistment and a few days longer. He par-
ticipated in the campaign under Gen. Lyon ; the
regiment remaining in the service a short time after
the expiration of their term of enlistment before
being mustered out, in order to take part in the
battle of Wilson's Creek, then ponding, and in
which they were activel3- engaged.

On his return from the war, in August, 1861, he
engaged actively in the drug business at Mt. Pleas-
ant, in which he has continued ever since. In 1869
he was elected by the Republican party to repre-
sent Henry County in the Iowa Legislature, and
served one term ; he has also served as a member
of the Common Council of Mt. Pleasant. He was
one of the proprietors and organizers of the Henry
County Agricultural Society, and has ever since
been a member, and has held the positions of Secre-
tary and Treasurer. Mr. Satteithwait has always
taken a warm interest in educational matters, and
has served about twenty years as a member of the
Board of Education, which jiosition he holds at this
writing, and most of the time lieing President of
the Board. He is :ilso a member of the Board of
Directors of the State Normal Sciiool, and has filled
that position four years, and lias always wielded a
large influence in educational matters, and has given
eminent satisfaction tf) the people in every position
to which he has been called.

IMr. Sattcrthwait was married al i\lt. I'leasant,
in Aijril, 1802, to Miss Emma Randolph, a daughter
of John H. Randol|>li. Mrs. Sattertli wail was born
in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Her father was a native of
Virginia, and a member of tlie well-known family
<pf thai name. Her mother was born in Kentucky.

The family were among the early settlers of Henry
County, Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Satteithwait have four children,
all girls — Myra, Lulu, Stella and Gladys; all born
at Mt. Pleasant. Myra is the wife of W. W. Bene-
dict, now of Passadena, Cal. The rest are unmar-
ried. Mr. Sattcrthwait is a 32d degree Mason, and
prominent!}' identified with the fraternit\- in Iowa.
He has held oflicial positions in all the local Masonic
bodies of Mt. Pleasant, and in the grand bodies of
Iowa. He was one of the charter members of Jeru-
salem Commander}' No. 7, Mt. Pleasant, and is the
present Eminent Commander of that body. He is
also Worthy Patron of Bethlehem Chapter No. 38,
of the order of the Eastern Star. As his Masonic
record shows, Mr. Sattcrthwait possesses superior
executive ability and the essential qualities of a
leader among men.

Mr. Sattcrthwait, although not a communicant,
is a friend and supporter of St. Michael's Episcopal
Church, of which two of his daughters are mem-
bers. He is also the leader of the church choir.
His wife and daughter Lulu belong to the Presby-
terian Church. Physically, he is tall, well-formed,
and of commanding presence. As a business
man, and socially, he is held in high esteem among
those who know him best, and is jnstlj' regarded as
one of Mt. Pleasant's foremost citizens.

ELIJAH RICHARD, deceased, was for many
years a prominent merchant in New Loudon,
) where he located on his first arrival in Iowa

from Virginia, in which State he was born, near
Pembroke, Fi'cdcrick County, Nov. 14, 1798. The
anccstr}' of Mr. Richard on both sides were of Ger-
man extraction, his mother being a native of
Germany, who came to tlii?. country with her par-
ents, landing on her eighth birthday. His boyhood
days weresiieut in \\'inchester, in liis native county,
in which place he was engaged in mercantile busi-
ness for Samuel Rrowu, a member of the Society of
Friends. When a young man he removed to Wood-
stock, Shenandoah Co., \:\., where he liegan busi-
ness for hiuiself, and where a few years later he was
married to. Miss l-lliza II. Tliompsou, ;i native of

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HENRY COUNTY.

231

Chester County, Pa., who came to Woodstock with
her pai'ents when a child. Their marriage wast'ele-
brated in April, 1818. After some years spent in
business in Woodstock. Mr. Richard went onto a
farm given him by his father, situated in the same
county, and on that place he remained until his re-
moval to Iowa. In that county all of Mr. and Mrs.
Richard's children were born. The eldest was an
infant who lived hut a few hours; the next was
Catherine A. G., now the sole survivor of the
family, and the occupant of the old family home in
New London. The others were: William Thomp-
son Henry, who died when but a little over four
j'ears of age; John Thompson, who came to Iowa
with his parents and died in New London in Sep-
tember, 1845, having been tw-enty-oue years old
the preceding month; Mary Elizabeth, who was
twice married in Henrj' County, her first husband
being John Green, of Mt. Pleasant, where he died ;
her second husband was El isha. Saunders, also of Mt.
Pleasant, but who subsequently removed to New
London, where both died. The youngest of the
family w-as Ignatius Perry McCandless, who also
accomi)anied his parents to Henry County, and died
in August, 1844, having been sixteen years old the
preceding April.

The new Territory of Iowa at that time attract-
ing much attention, in 1841 Mr. Richard deter-
mined to remove thither, and selling his Virginia
farm he made the journey overland, crossing the
Mississippi at P't. Madison in the beginning of Oc-
tober of that year. A few days later he bought a
place at New London, to which he at once removed
his family, arriving there Oct. 27, 1841. For two
years he cultivated the small farm with the aid of a
man he had brought from Virginia, but this did
not satisf}' his active temperament, and in the spring
of 1844 he engaged in mercantile business in New
London, which he carried on until the increasing
infirmities of age caused him to retire a few years
before his death. During eight years of that time
he was Postmaster of New London, but on the
inauguration of President Lincoln in 18G1, resigned
the position, he being a strong and uncompromising
Democrat. During the later years of his life he
lived retired, in the enjoyment of ample means in
the home which was selected as their future resi-

dence by his daughter Catharine, on the ver3- day
on which they arrived in New London, and on
which he subsequently built the commodious resi-
dence which she yet occupies.

For more than forty years Mr. Richard was a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
had many times offered a site for a church edifice
in New London, but the matter had not been set-
tled when he passed away, and his daughter, faith-
ful to her father's memory, kei)t his pledge, and in
1887 donated to the society over an acre of ground
In the center of the village, on which the neat frame
church now stands and in which services are regu-
larly held.

In April, 1848, Mrs. Eliza II. Richard passed
from this life, mourned by her husband and sur-
viving children, and with the love and esteem of
all who knew hei- as she was, a loving wife and de-
voted mother. Mr. Richard followed her June 22,
1881, passing away suddenl}', unexpectedly and
painlessly, living but a few minutes after he was
attacked by illness. He left behind him the repute
of an honorable man, a good citizen and faithful
friend, who was never known to do wrong. His
loving daughter still occupies the family home,
calmly waiting for the summons which will reunite
her to those who have gone before. The excellent
portrait on an adjoining page of this Album is a
tribute of her affection for the niemorj' of the par-
ent whom she so dearl3' loved and so greatlj'
respected.

RANK P. PECK, M. D., Second Assistant
Physician and Pathologist of the Iowa State
Hospital, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, since April 1,
1883, was born in Will Ct>unty, 111., near Joliet,
Oct. 1, 1858, and is the son of Armenius D. and
Hannah H. (Hopping) Peck. He received his lit-
erary education at the Lockport ( 111.) High School,
and taught school for five years before entering the
Chicago Medical College in 1879, where, after a
regular course, he graduated in the class of 1883,
having spent eighteen months of that time in
Cook County Hospital. He then came directly to
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, to accept the position he now
holds, as stated above. In politics he is a Repub-

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232

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HENRY COUNTY.

lican; religiously a member of the Baptist Chnreh,
and fraternally a Master Mason, a member of Mt.
Pleasant Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A. M.

Dr. Peck is a young physician of fine ability, a
thorough student of .advanced ideas, and has spared
no pains to familiarize himself with all that pertains
to a thorough knowledge of his profession as rap-
idly as possible, and has already won a high place
in the estimation of those best qualified to judge of
his merits. His father, Armeiiius D. Peck, was a
farmer bj^ occupation, and a worthy man of good re-
pute. He was born in Jefferson County, N. Y.,
Oct. 20, 1820. In his youth he went to Chautau-
qua County, .and then in 1835, to Danville, 111.,
with his parents. The following year the family
removed near Joliet, Will Count}', where the father
engaged in farming. He married Miss Hannah Hop-
ping. Five children were born to^them, three sons
and two daughters, Frank P. being the third child.
Mr. Peck is connected with the Baptist Church,
and in politics is a Republican. Mrs. Peck was born
in Onondaga County, N. Y., Nov. 23, 1821. She
was an estimable lady, a devoted wife and mother,
an earnest Christian and member of the Baptist
Church. Her death occurred Oct. 23, 1879.

.-Siv^

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«^*r^'

l/OHN C. COLLINS is a farmer of Baltimore
Township. The Collins family came from
Indiana to this county in 18.50. Henry B.
Collins, the father of -our subject, was born
in New York, and his wife, Catherine Sh.annon, in
Pennsylvani.a. They were married in Ohio Count}',
Ind., where our subject, the eldest son, w;is born;
iiis birth was followed by that of Adeli.a, wife of
Robert Wood; William, who wedded Rachel Bun-
ker; George, husband of Ella Shelled}-; Mary, wife
of R. T. Wood; .Julia, deceased wife of Jonathan
Hunker; Deborah .1., wife of Slcphen Sliellcdy;
Olive B., wife of .bilui Grubb; Margaret, wife of
George Hannah, wliich completed the family.

When Henry 15. Collins came to this county he
pureliased 20G acres on section 30, Baltimore Town-
ship, upon which his son George resides. With the
exception of a small cabin and some cultivated

land, Henry Collins improved the tract during his
lifetime, and with the exception of the farm house
built since his death by his widow, all the improve-
ments stand as monuments of his industry. His
widow survived him ten years, dying at the age of
seventy-two. The children of this family have all
been possessed of the same enterprise which char-
acterized the parents, and all who are living, with
the exception of Mary, who resides in Webster
County, are still residents of Henry County. Henry
B. Collins died July 30, 1877, aged sixty-eight, and
his widow April 26, 1886.

Our subject was born Jan. 5, 1838, and was mar-
ried, in 1 859, to Miss Phabe E. Kent, of Lee County,
who was born Nov. 22, 1842, and is a daughter of
H. Tapley and Cynthia A. (Crossley) Kent, who
came from Montgomery County, Ohio, about 185G,
to Lee County. Her mother is still living in Caw-
ker City, Kan., and of their children, three sons and
one daughter, William wedded Emma Glover;
Theodore became the husband of Lizzie Cra-michael ;
Ross is unmarried, and resides in the West; and
Ph<ebe is the wife of John C. Collins. Since his
marriage Mr. Collins has been a farmer four years
in Lee County, one winter in Kansas, one in Mills
County, Iowa, and the remainder of his married
life has been passed in Henry County. Eight chil-
dren have graced their union: Lucy M., wife of
Adam Myers; William, Annie, Bertha, Tapley,
Belle, Thurman and Frank. AVilliam is now a
teacher in Kansas, and with Annie and Bertha, com-
pleted a classical course at the Denmark Academy,
and Annie is now engaged in teaching in Cawker
City, Kan. We ai'e pleased to present the sketch of
this family, who have for years been accorded a
noble place in the social and business world, .and as
the Collinses ever will remain on record as among
those who have aided largely in the development
of Henry County, they are given a deserved place
in her history.

In comi)any with his lirotiier, George Collins, a
dairy w.as established on tin- II. B. Collins farm in
June, 1887; the cai)acity of the cheese factory is
150 pounds a day, and they in partnership are using
fifty cows in the dairy, which nuiulier they intend
to increase. Mr. Collins superintends the outfit,
and is .a practical operator with large experience.

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HENRY COUNTY.

233

Not a pound is shipped, the products not being suffi-
cient to supply home demand. In this enterprise
over $1,500 is invested, and thoy exi)ect to largely
increase the stock the coming months.

i\ ATHIAS S. BOWERS, a farmer and stock-
raiser, of Marion Township, residing on sec-
tion 25, was born in Muskingum County,
Ohio, Feb. 24, 183y, and is the son of John
and Rebecca (Vernon) Bowers. His father was born
in Greene County, Pa., June 24, 1792, and his mother
in Muskingum County, Oct. 10, 1805. John and
Rebecca Bowers were the parents of twelve chil-
dren ; of that number eleven are still living: Amos
married Miss Elizabeth Spry, of Custer County,
Oliio; Henry wedded Miss Sarah Violet, and re-
sides in Wasliington, Washington Co., Iowa; Lu-
cinda, widow of Patterson Calhoun, resides in
Zanesvillc, Ohio; Cornelius married Catherine Cal-
houn, and resides in La Harpe, Hancock Co., 111. ;
Charles S. married Emeline Moore, who died in
1866, leaving two children, and he was again mar-
ried, to Eliza Erving, and now resides at Elmwood,
Peoria Co., 111. ; Charles was a member of the 4th
Iowa Cavalry and served three years; Mathias, our
subject, is the sixth child in order of birth ; Dorothy,
wife of Allen Vernon, of Council Bluffs, Iowa;
Lizzie, widow of Jacob Twigs, a resident of
Beatrice, Neb.; Harrison was a member of tlie 4th
Iowa Cavalry, and died at Memphis, Tenn., in
1864; Harriet, wife of a Mr. Humphrey, a con-
ductor on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail-
road, resides at Lincoln, Neb.; Eliza, wife of Allen
Courtney, a farmer of Marion Township ; and Chris-
tiana, wife of Logan Myers, residing near Marshall,
Iowa. Their children were all born in Muskingum
County, Ohio, their father having settled in that
county at a ver}' early day and was married at
that place. He found the country in a state of
natur.ll wildness. With but few exceptions the
virgin soil vvas yet unvexed by the plow. The
nimble deer, thoughtless of danger, lightly bounded
over the plain, contentedly grazing upon the succu-
lent gi-asses. He cleared 100 acres of land and made
for himself a home, and continued to live there

until 1832, when the desire to again become a pio-
neer took possession of him, and he accordingly
loaded his famil}^ and household effects into wagons
and started on the long, tedious journey to Iowa,
leaving Lucinda and Cornelius at the old home-
stead, where they remained for several years, and
later moved to Hancock County, 111. Leaving his
well-improved farm of 160 acres and all the com-
forts of liome, he landed in Henry County, which
was an unbroken wilderness, and bought 605 acres
of wild land in Marion and Canaan Townships, in
one body. At that time there were no laid out
roads or landmarks. The first road marked out
was fiom the place where Hill's building now
stands in Mt. Pleasant to Wapello. This was laid
out with an ox-team. He was a man who lived for
his familj',and was quiet and reserved iu his way,
but had man}' friends and was highly respected.
He and his good wife were both members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and she was taken
from him in the year 1872. Mr. Bowers was
called to his heavenly home in 1881, at the age of
eighty-nine years and eleven months. He had no
pain, and day by day saw him grow weaker, yet on
the day of his death he ate a hearty dinner. His
last words were: " I am not sick," but befell back
dead in his son's arms.

Our subject was reared on a farm, and in the oc-
cupation of tilling the soil has continued to labor
all his life. His earl}- education was received at the
common school. Mr. Bowers has witnessed the
rapid changes in this county since 1852, for since
that time he has made his home in Marion Town-
ship, where he has a well regulated farm of ninety-
five acres. He was united in marriage to Miss
Kmma Spry, born in Muskingum County. Ohio,
Oct. 30, 1837. She is the daughter of William and
Mary (Vernon) Sprj', who had a family of twelve
children: Elizabeth; Lucinda, deceased; M. B. ;
Martha, wife of Thomas Moore, residing in Florida;
Milton J., a farmer in Kearney County, Neb.;
Joseph W., a member uf the 25th Iowa Volunteer
Infantry, died at Vicksburg; Sanuiel N., a farmer
and stock-raiser in Nodaway County, Mo. ; AVilliam
K., a farmer of this county; May, wife of William
Steadman, a farmer of Marion Township; John E.,
in Villiska, Iowa; Charley W., a farmer in Ne-

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234

f

HENRY COUNTY.

braska; Christin, wife of Charles Campbell, of
Ogle Alley, Neb. The father of these children
died ill 1881, and the mother is still living- in
Marion Township.

Mr. and Mrs. Bowers' family consists of four chil-
dren: William G., born Dec. 29, 1863: Leroy C.
born Sept 3, 1867, now attending school: Charles
H., born Oct. 10, 1870; Black O., born Sept. 26,
1878. Mr. and Mrs. Bowers have given their chil-
dren good edncational advantages. They are
members nf the Methodist Episcopal church, and
are greatly interested in all church work. Mr. Bow-
ers is pi>liticall3', a Republican, and is held in high
esteem throughout the county in which he has been
so long a resident, and no one more justly deserves
this esteem than does he. He has taken an active
interest in all public affairs, and is an intlueutial
citizen.

"\f]OHN SAMPLE, deceased, a pioneer of
Heniy County, of 183'.), and one of her
most highly respected citizens, fell a victim
i^^T/ to cholera June 5, 1851, his wife also dying-
two days later. Samuel D. Wood worth, a son-in-
law of John Sample, and his two sons, all died
within seven days of the appearance of the disease
among them. Mv. Sample was born in Washing-
ton County, Pa., with the birth of the Republic in
1776, March 23, a few years prior to the issuing
of the Declaration of Independence, and his child-
hood and youth were spent amid the stirring- scenes
of the great Revolution, from which has sprung
the greatest Republic known in the history' of the
world. His father was an English emigrant, his
mother a native of (iermany, both worthy people.
John .Sample was apprenticed to a millwright,
and served his time at that useful trade. In
pursuit of employment he afterward wended his
way to Butler County, Ohio, about the close of
the last century, where he was married, Jan. 20,
1803, to Miss Ann Taylor, daughter of Henry
Taylor. Mrs. Sanii)lo was born in Cincinnati
A]iril 10, 1783. Her father was a [lioneer of Cin-
cinnati, and a brother of hers was the first white
male child burn in that city. Mr. Sample removed
to Randolpii County, Ind., in l.sl8, wiierc he en-

gaged in building mills. In the spring of 1839 he
set out witii his family for the then "far west" of
Iowa. Their mode of convej'ance was liy f>ne-
horse team and two ox-teains, with the usual covered
emigrant wagons. He located land in Tippecanoe
Township, the same Land now forming a part of the
farm of his son-in-law, William Davis. Mr. and
Mrs. Sample were blessed with a nuiuci-oas family,
consisting of eleven children, seven of whom grew
to maturity. Mar}' was born Jan. I, 1804, and
was the wife of S. D. Wood worth; she died in Jan-
uary, 1845. Jane H. was born May 14, 1812: she
married Arthur Bull, Nov. 12, 1829, and died
Sept. 26, 1831. William was born June 14, 1814;
he married Amanda T. (loddard, and died of
cholera June 9, 1851. Robert was born Oct. 13,
1816, and died Aug. 12, 1839; John was born Sept.
26, 1818, and died in September, 1842; Eliza A.
was born Feb. 25, 1821.

Mr. Sample was a consistent member of the
Presbyterian Church, and his wife was an earnest
Methodist. He was a Whig in politics and his
sons walked politicallj' in his footsteps. While liv-
ing in Randolph County, Ind., he was chosen one
of the three judges who constituted the courts of
that county, and served with honor and abilitj- in
that capacity. He was a man of jiositive views
and of great force of character, upright and honor-
able in all his intercourse with his fellowmen, and
he enjoyed in a marked degree the respect and
esteem of all who knew him. He was a master me-
ch.anic and delighted in the exercise of his skill.
His course westward was marked bj- mills of his
erecting, and up to the time of his sudden death he
was desirous of building another mill. His daugh-
ter, Eliza A., the wife of Mr. AVilliam Davis, is the
only surviving member of that once large family.

eLARA J. SWAN, M. 1)., homeopathic i)liy-
sician. Ml. Pleasant, Iowa, was born in St.
Paul, Minn. Her parents, Andrew and Mar-
garet Swan, were natives of Sweden, who emi-
grated to America in their j'outh. They were hon-
est and industrious, and died leaving Clara an
orphan when she was but eight j'cars old. She came

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HENRY COUNTY.

23-)

I

to Iowa in 1873, and lived near Oakland Mills,
Henry Count}', where she received her primary
education in the public schools. In 18.S2 she came
to Mt. Pleasant and entered Prof. Howe's Academy
and Training Sclionl, where she took a two-years
course of general stud\\ She began reading medi-
cine with Dr. J. H. Drake in 1883, and in October,
1884, entered the Iowa State University as a medi-
cal student, taking a general course of study in
medicine and surgerj-, and graduating in the class
of 1887. Immediately after receiving her diploma,
she opened an office at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where
at present she is the only lady physician in actual
practice.

Dr. Swan is a young lady of superior ability,
and is a thorough medical student and cool rea-
soner. Her misfortune in childhood of being left
an orphan has taught her that self-reliance and pa-
tience necessarj' to win an honorable place in tlie
profession of her choice. She realizes that she has
much to contend with from the competition of the
many able ph3-sicians in the city, and from the
common prejudice .against emplo3'ing female physi-
cians, especially one so young. But time remedies
many things and rights many wrongs. The most
eminent in the profession have been guilty of the
heinous crime of once having been young, and the
world is fast learning that men must not, nor can-
not, monopolize the learned professions. That she
may win that high rank among practitioners that is
the result of steadfast determination and earnest
effort, is certainly the desire of all who know her,
and who admire the courage that triumphs over
every obstacle.

5^^ ANDERS BROS. The firm of Sanders Bros.
(Eddy E. and John E.) is well known in
Waj'land and vicinity, they having for four
years done business in the village, and
their trade is becoming yearly more prosperous.
The brothers are both heads of families and entitled
to consideration aside from their business relation-
ship. Both were born in Erie County, N. Y., sons
of Emmons H. and L. J. (Eddy) Sanders. The
father was a native of New York, and was a man

full of promise when his death occurred. His
youngest son was then unborn, and after his birth
the mother, accompanied bj' her children, came to
this State in 18.57, and until her second marriage
their home was made with her parents, her father,
Ezekiel Eddy, being an early and well-known
citizen in this part of the country. The Eddy
family located in Iowa in 1853 on a farm. Their
cliildren are ten in ntunbcr — Wilbur, Alvin, Israel,
Lutheria J. (mother of our subjects,) .Jenette, Diana,
Zilplia, Mary, Martha and Ruby. The i)arents
remained in this neighborhood until 1807, then
removed to Oregon, where the wife died. Ezekiel
Eddy yet resides in Benton, tliat State, and has
reached his eighty-fifth year. While living near
Brighton, Mrs. Lutheria Sanders wedded Christian
Schafer, a gentleman of large acquaintance and
wealth. He was born in Germany, near Witteni-
berg, and for more than a quarter of a century
was a resident of this part of Iowa, altliough not of
this county. He was three times married, the first
wife having three children — Mar}', Caroline and
Elizabeth. His second wife was Mrs. Kinser, who
bore to her first husband one son, .lohn Kinser.
After the marriage to Mrs. Sanders the union was
graced by the births of Eva M., George C. and
Fredericka, the latter the wife of Dr. A. E. Moore,
a resident physician of Wayland. With Mrs.
Schafer the Doctor and his wife make their home
since the death of Mr. Schafer and the marriage of
his daughter to the Doctor.

Our subjects were reared upon a farm, received
a practical business education during tlieir boy-
hood, and in 1883 both came to Wayland, and
purchased the stock of goods formerly owned by
B. F. Morris. The senior member of the firm
wedded Miss Samantha McClintick, of this county.
They are the parents of one daughter, Anewa, now
in her third year. Elizabeth Pfeiffer became the
wife of John E. Sanders. They have been the
parents of eight children — Emmons, Pidward ; John,
deceased; Fred, deceased; Gussie, Julia, Myra and
Grover C, the latter also deceased. John E. San-
ders is route agent for transportation of the United
States mail between Wayland and Mt. Pleasant,
making tri-weekly trips.

Sanders Bros, carry a $4,000 stock of general

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236

HENRY COUNTY.

merchandise, and do an annual retail trade of
$7,(100 or over. We are pleased to give the young-
men credit for their enterprise, and a place in this
history of the best of families of Henry County.

J JOSEPH L. STEADMAN, a fanner and stoek-
I raiser of section 24, Marion Township, was
' born in Bainbridge, Ross Co., Ohio, Dec.
' 25, 1846, and is a son of G. AV. and Eliza-
beth (Long) Steadman. (See O. W. Sto.adni.in's
sketch on another page of this work.) He attended
school in his native town until 1861, when he en-
tered the army, enlisting in Company G, 60th Ojiio
Volunteer Infantry. Tlie regiment was captured at
Harper's Ferry. Va., but Joseph was taken sick
with typhoid fever at Wincliester, and subsequently
captured and held prisoner for about two months.
His mother having gone to the bedside of her sick
boy, remained with him until he was exchanged and
sent home. As soon as sutliciently recovered, he
was sent to Chicago, where he was paid off and dis-
charged in November, 1 862. Returning home, he
remained there until January, 1863, wiien he re-en-
listed, in the 4th Independent Battalion of Ohio
Volunteer Cavalr3' for six months, but remained
nine in that command. The battalion was assigned
to tiie Army of the Tennessee, and participated in
a number of minor engagements, but was generallj-
engaged in scouting and foraging. After he was
disciiarged from this regiment, he again enlisted, in
the 13tii Oliio Cavalry, and was in the seven-days
liattle of the Wilderness, also at Ilatciies Run, Wel-
don Railroad and Five Points. On the .list of
March, 1 86"), Mr. Steadman was wounded in tlie
rigiit arm above the elbow, and was again taken
prisoner. Having a good knowledge of Anderson-
ville, he determined to risk his chances at escape,
and did get awa}', but was shot at twice and missed.
Not having had his wound dressed for some hours,
the pain was so intense that it almost crazed him,
l)ut he was limilly cared for, nndscut to City Point,
Va., au'i from there (o Washington,!). C. He was
in Ford's Tiieater the memorable night when our
beloved President Lincoln was assassinated. This
caused such an excitement and jam, that in trying

to escape from the building he was hurt and had to
be sent home on the general order of furloughs for
all disabled soldiers. He remained at home until
July, 1865, when he went to Cincinnati, and there
received his discharge.

In the spring of 1866 Mr. Steadman went to
Tennessee, Arkansas, and the Indian Territory, but
returned home and was united in marriage, March
20, 1867, with Miss Caroline M. Mathews. She was
born in Lipidelmutt, Prussia, Aug. 25, 1848, and is
a daughter of Henry and Caroline L. M.athews,
both deceased. Jlr. and Mrs. Steadman are the par-
ents of nine children, four of whom died in infancj';
the living are Launi L., George H., Joseph A., Ed-
ward W. and Lillie Lena. After their marriage
they moved to Henry County, Iowa, where thej-
lived for six ye,ars on a farm. In 1872 they emi-
grated to Elbert Countj', Col., where Mr. Steadman
took up a soldier's claim of 160 acres, and lived on
it for three years. In 1875 he sold his farm and
engaged in the hotel business in South Park for
about one year. Taking his family by team, he
went to Walla Walla, Wash. Ter., being on the way
sixty d.ays. From there he went to Spokane Falls,
w^hcre he bought a piece of land, but also ran a
hotel in that place about two years. He was also
eng.aged in the transportation business with a drove
of thirty animals. His route was from the evolu-
tion on South Fork of Canir d'Alene River, to
Eagle City, on the North Fork of the Cu'iir d'Alene
River, in Id.aho, then in 1885-86 feighted from
Granite to Aspen, Col. He ran a freight team across
the Continental Divide for two years. In June,
1887, Mr. Steadman returned to Henry County,
after an absence of nearl}' fifteen j-ears, and took
charge of his father's farm of 160 acres, where he is
at present employed. Folitically, he is a Repub-
lican, and takes great interest in public affairs.

ARTIN F. BURKET has been a dealer in
stoves, tinware and kindrod articles in Mt.
Pleasant for twenty-one years. He was
born in Huntingdon County, Pa., Doc. 9,
18211, and is a son of John and Lydia (Funck)
Burket, both natives of Pennsylvania, and on botli

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HENRY COUNTY.

237

sides of German extraction. Our sul)ject, when
eight years of age, was taken by his parents to Blair
County, Pa., and seven years later, when he was
fifteen, to Center County, same State. In these
places his boyhood days were passed, living in the
latter county until he was twenty-one. He learned
the tinsmith's trade, and when about twenty-two
3'ears of age embarked in business on his own
account at Warrior's Mark, Huntingdon Countj',
where lie remained for over two j-ears, then selling
out to come west.

In the spring of ISoa Mr. Burket came to Iowa,
locating at West Point, Lee County, in which place
he successfully carried on the trade until 1866,
when he came to Mt. Pleasant, and here he again
engaged in the business of a stove and tinware
dealer, beside doing all kinds of jobbing in his line.
For four years, from 1876 to 1880, he had as a
partner Oliver Griffith, but in the latter year the
firm sold out, and Mr. Burket worked as a journey-
man until 1887, in the spring of which 3'ear he
recommenced business, and now carries a full stock,
besides being well prepared to do all kinds of work
in his line. He is a good mechanic, and Las always
borne the reputation of an upright business man.

Mr. Burket was married in Center County, Pa.,
Nov. 11, 18.52, to Miss Nanc}' Glenn, daughter of
.John Glenn. She was born in Center County.
Three children were born to them, of whom one, a
daughter, Ina S., died when nineteen years old.
Wilbur F. is married and lives at Lyons, Kan., and
John G. is single and a resident of Page County,
Kan.

Mr. and Mrs. Burket are members of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church. In polities he is a supporter
of the Republican party, and socially is a member
of Mystic Lodge No. 55, I. O. O. F., and is per-
sonally held in esteem by his neighbors and fellow-
citizens.

\f) AMES F. MILLER, farmer and stock-raiser,
resides upon section 11, Jackson Township,
and as one of the typical farmers of the
township, we are pleased to present a sketch
of his familj' history. In his township, and iu the

county as well, he bears an enviable reputation as
a gentleman .and citizen. He was born in Scott
County, 111., March 21, 1833, and is the son of
Alfred and Nancy (New) Miller. Alfred Miller
was born iu North Carolina and his wife in Tennes-
see. They were married in Illinois and all their
children were born in that State. Alfred died in
1853, and his widow afterward married John B.
Abbey, who was a resident of this county, and one
of the first settlers in Baltimore Township. Upon
the land that he entered in 1840 his widow now re-
sides. He took the claim, made some improve-
ments, and entered the lands at the first land sale
held in Burlington. By her second marriage Mrs.
Miller had no heirs, but to her first husband she
bore Lucinda, now deceased, who was the wife of
James Six ; Francis M., who became the husband
of Marj- Steelman ; James F., who married ]\Iatilda
Kirkpatriek in 1853; Lorenzo J., husband of Mi-
nerva Blaney ; Adam, married to Margaret, a sister
of Matilda, wife of our subject; Nancy, deceased,
became the wife of Addison McGavick; William
wedded Caroline Welsh, while Alfred remains a
bachelor.

In 1852 our subject came to Iowa and first
located in Lee County. While there the acquaint-
ance was first formed with Miss Matilda Kirkpat-
riek, and her parents removing to this county in
1853, the wedding was celebrated in Henry Count}',
where they have since resided. Her paients, Will-
iam and Mary (Pratt) Kirkpatriek, were among the
very first settlers of Clark's Point, Lee Co., Iowa,
locating there in 1 834, and entering over a half
section of land. They came from Sangamon
Count}-, 111., where they were married. Miss Kirk
patriek w.as a native of Ohio, horn July 2, 1835,
leaving that State when a girl ten years of age.
William Kirkpatriek was a soldier during the Black
Hawk War, after which he was married, and during
his residence iu Illinois engaged in farming. They
were the parents of ten children, all born in Iowa,
except the two eldest, Jane and Charles. Jane, who
lives in Missouri, was twice wedded, first to John
Thompson, then to Grnndville Arnold, both now
deceased; Charles married Sarah Stephenson, and
resides near Lowell, in this county. In Iowa were
born Matilda, wife of our subject; Lucinda, wife of

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HENRY COUNTY.

William Tull; Martha, who became the wife
of Thomas Diits; Margaret, the wife of A.
Miller, a brother of our subject; Emma, weddeci to
Marion Daggs; Sarah, who became the wife of
Josepli Masters; William, who is the husband of
Libbie Rank; and Joseph, wedded to Ella Marsh.
All are now living.

The first land owned by Mi'. Miller was his
present farm. lie began domestic and agricult-
ural life in this county on a rented farm in Balti-
more Township, and succeeded so well that in a few
years he had a farm of his own. All the nice
improvements of this farm have been made since
18G6,and they are of that substantial character
which betokens thrift and energy. He has always
enjoyed the confidence of his fellowmen, and
although a Democrat from his first vote, has been
repeatedly elected to positions of trust in his town-
ship, serving as Trustee sever.al times. Assessor
three years, and having another year yet to serve.
At the last election he was made a candidate with-
out his knowledge, and was elected without oppo-
sition. This of itself stamps him as a correct official
and public-spirited man.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller have seven children. Those
living are: Charles F., who is wedded to Mary
.Stacker, living in Jackson Township; AVilliam, hus-
band of Emma Brazill, now living in Nebraska;
Flora, wife of A. D. Brazill, also living in Nebraska;
Clara and Linnie, living with their p.arents, and
their birthplace in the roomy old mansion has been
to them a hai)py home. Those deceased .are:
Josephine, who was the wife of Robert Francey,
and left a daughter, Stella; and Clement, who died
in infancy. All the children were born in this
county, and are in every sense identified witii its
interests. We are pleased to thus mention this
family and assign them a place .among those who
with them have grown gray and wealthy, since the
improvement of Henry County was begun in the
days of " .auld lang sine." Both Mr. and Mrs. Miller
are members of the Protestant Methodist Church,
anil at different dates he has been Superintendent
of the Sabbath-scliool and an officer of the church.
Both were members of the first church organization
of that society in this section of the country, about
18G8, in the Greenwood school-house. Rev. .loini

Mason being the pastor. Among the first members
were also William Myers, William Walters and
wife, Adam Miller and wife, John Francey and
wife, and others. Of these AVilliam Myers was the
first Class-Leader, and our subject the first Steward.
The society is still in a prosperous condition and
regular services are held. By such families as
those mentioned are the schools, churches, morals
and wealth of a community built up, and to none
is the good repute of Henrj' County more due
than to Mr. Miller and family.

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^?^EORGEW. TRIMBLE, Superintendent of
ill (=n the Mt. Pleasant Water Companj', and a
^^^ resident of Mt. Plea.sant since 1855, was
born in Westmoreland County, Pa., April 7, 1821,
and is a son of John and Mary (Carnahan) Trim-
ble. His father was a native of Ireland, .and came
to America with his parents in infancy. His
mother was born in Pennsylvania, of Scotch par-
ents. The early life of George was spent on a farm,
and in his youth he learned the carpenter's trade,
at which he worked for some years. On the 3d of
December, 1853, in Westmoreland County, Pa.,
he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Fre^',
a daughter of Hon. Jacob Frey. Her parents were
Germans, and her father w.as a prominent man of
that region. Five children were born unto Mr.
and Mrs. Trimble, one in the East, and the re-
mainder in Mt. Pleasant: John W. is a druggist's
clerk in Chicago; IMary died at the age of thirteen
years; Charles is in British Columbia; Emma J. is
the wife of l'hilli|)s Fluke, a dairyman of Mt.
Pleasant; Estella M. lives with her father at Mt.
Pleasant. Mrs. Ti'imble died at Mt. Pleasant, in
August, 1883.

In 1855 Mr. Trimble decided on coming West,
and in June of that year landed at Burlington, Iowa,
where he remained a short time, and in August fol-
lowing came to Mt. Pleasant, where he h.as since
continued to reside, eng.aged principall}' in wurking
at his ti'ade of contracting and building. On the
1st day of Januarj-, 1.S8G, he became coniiecled
with the water company, George B. Inman it Bro.,
of New York, and has since been Superintendent.

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241

For inauy years he was politically a Kcpiiblican,
but since the Greeley campaign of 1«72 he has
afliliated with the Democratic partj^ Fraternally
he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, his membership being with Mystic L<.idge
No. 55, at Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Trimble has not been
an office-seeker, but for some years was a menilx-r
of the City Council. In the third of a century that
he has been a resident of Mt. Pleasant, he has made
many warm friends, and enjoys the respect and con-
fidence of the entire community. Many of the best
buildings in the city were constructed under his
supervision.

■^llAMES HARVEY DAY, residing on section
I 35, Marion Township, was born in New
1 London, Iowa, Jan. 19, 1855. His father,
^^ Ransom Day, is a native of Logan County,
Ohio, and his mother, Rachel (Cox) Day, is a native
of Canada. They emigrated to Henry County
about 1848, settling in New London, where he was
engaged in carpenter vvork, which trade he had
learned when a young man and still follows. When
James was but an infant his parents removed to the
city of Des Moines, where thej- resided for two
years, then going to Augusta, Des Moines County,
they made that place their home until 18C9, w'hen
they removed to Marshall.

When a lad of fourteen years James Day went
to Mt. Pleasant, where he was employed in a brick-
yard as one of the burners, working in that yard
until 1874, and at last had charge of a kiln. Going
to Fairfield, he worked in that city during the sum-
mer of 1874 as foreman of a brickyard. Return-
ing to Mt. Pleasant, he was again engaged in the
old brickyard, working until 1878, when he wont
to Wilber, Neb., where he worked at his trade for
a short time, but soon returned to Bit. I'leasant.
In 1879 Mr. Day decided to go to Topeka, Kan.,
and in that city worked one winter at the carpenter
trade, and the next spring began track work on the
Santa Fe Railroad. He was then employed by the
railroad company as bridge carpenter, continuing
in their employ for nearly two years, and then
returned again to Mt. Pleasant. He engaged to work
<■ ^-,

with the St. Louis, Keokuk & Northern Railroad,
but only remained with them for two months.
Going to Ketcham's, a place four miles west of Mt.
Pleasant, he w.as engaged as Superintendent of the
brickyard, being in this eraploj' for a year, during
which time he went to Missouri and made a kiln of
brick. Returning to Mt. Pleasant, he again took
charge of the old brickyard, manufacturing brick
for the asylum. He made two and a half millions
of brick in three years. In the sprijig of 1887
Mr. Da}' purchased seventeen acres of laud and a
neat cottage on section 35 of Marion Township,
and also the brickyard formerly operated by Daniel
Stephens. Upon this farm he moved, and con-
tinues to carry on brick-making. This first year
he has manufactured four hundred thousand bricks.
He intends making stock brick for fronts and fine
walls, and will also take contracts for supplying
customers with all kinds of brick. Mr. Day is a
thorough workman, and understands his profession
perfectly, and of the young, enterprising business
men none rank higher than our subject.

Mr. D.ay was united in marriage, in 1873, with
Miss Elizabeth Edw.ards, who is a native of Henry
County, and a daughter of Hiram Edwards. Nine
children have graced the union of this worthy
couple: Morris R, ; Eddie, deceased; William, Mat-
tie ; Belle, who died in infancy; Leander, Bessie,
Bertha and Richard. Mr. Day holds the political
views of the Republican party, while socially he is
a member of the I. O. O. F.

Within the pages of this volume will be found a
fine engraving of the brickyard spoken of .above
and belonging to Mr. Day.

0-"^ APT. WILLIAM DRAPER was born in
, Rupert County, \t., and was married, Oct.
_' 10, 1806, to Miss Mary Richmond. Mr.
Draper was one of the brave men who fought so
gallantlj' to free the Colonies from the British yoke
of oppression, and served during the Revolution-
ary War, first as Second Lieutenant, then as First
Lieutenant, and later as Captain, beloved and
esteemed b}' the men under him and admired and
respected by his superior oflicers. Mr. and Mrs.

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HENRY COUNTY.

Draper were the parents of seven children, five
sons and two daughters: Charles L., AUanson B.,
Leonard L., Prudence, Susanna, John L. and
Samuel W., all of whom are now dead with the
exception of Mrs. Campbell. Mr. and Mrs. Draper
emigrated to Dearborn County, Ind., in the year
1819, and the following year removed to Ripley
County, the same State. Mr. Draper was called
from earth to his heavenly home Sept. 5, 1827,
and his beloved wife survived him many years,
dying Feb. 25, 1878, at the advanced age of eighty-
seven. Mr. and Mrs. Draper were members of the
Baptist Church. They were highlj' esteemed by
all who knew them, always ready to help those in
need, and were truly Christian workers in the
church and elsewhere, and when the final summons
came they were ready to enter into the joys pre-
pared for the just by their Heavenly Father.

eHARI.ES B. RUKGABER, Clerk of the Dis-
trict Court of Henry County, was born in
Wurtemlierg, Germany, May 14, 183 1, and is
a son of Joseph and Mary (Baur) Rukgaber. He
was reared and educated in his native country-, and
in 1857 emigrated from Germany to America in
company with his mcitlier and sister, his father
having died July C, 1845. The latter was in his
youth a door and sash and caliinet-maker, but after
his marriage liecaine a faiiner. He was a Town
Councilor of Felldorf, in Wurtemberg, a position
of trust and responsiliility. Ho was a man of in-
tegrity, a good husband and father. He was born
in 1800, and was therefore forty- five years old
at the time of his death, which was caused by
the fall of a tree he was felling, by which he re-
ceived injuries from which he never recovered,
dying in less than a year afterward. His wife was
al>o a native of Wurtemlierg, liorn in 1798. Since
her emigration to America she has made her home
mainly with her son Charles B., with wliom she
is now living, in exceptiunally good health, al-
though in her ninetieth year. One brother, John,
had preceded tiie others to this country. He lived
first in Richmond, \:i., and in 1857 removed to
Washington, D. C, and the following year came

^B-^-

to Mt. Pleasant, where he has since resided.
Another brother, David, of whom see sketch, came
to America in 1858; Christian emigrated in 1869,
and is also a resident of Mt. Pleasant. The sis-
ter was named Rosa. In 1859 she l)ecame the wife
of Charles Williams, and died in that citj- in 1876,
leaving a sou Charles, now living in Kansas. Mr.
Williams also died in Mt. Pleasant.

On coming to America Charles B. made his home
first in Washington, D. C, where he resided one
year, and in 1858 remos^ed to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
in company with his brother David, arriving in
this city August 16. Here he engaged in the boot
and shoe business until the breaking out of the war
of the Reliellion, when on the 18th of August,
1861, he enlisted as a private in Companj' C, 4th
Iowa Cavahy, He was promoted Orderly Ser-
geant, and re-eulistcd as a veteran Dec. 12, 1863,
and served four years, or to the close of the war,
being mustered out with his regiment at Atlanta,
Ga., Aug. 10, 1865. His regiment was attached to
Grant's army during the siege of Vicksburg, and
during his term of service did some hard work.
The following is a list of the prinei[ial battles and
engagements in which Mr. Rulvgalier participated:
White River, Helena, Brown's Ford, and Red
River, in Arkansas; at Fourteen-Mile Creek,
Raymond, Mechanicsburg, first and second Missis-
sippi Springs, first and second battles of Jackson,
siege of Vicksburg, at Canton, Brandon, Browns-
ville, Meridian and Cohhvater, all in Mississipjii; ;it
Memphis, Tenn.; at Guntown, Ripley and Tupelo
(Old Town Creek), Miss. He w.as mustered out
in August, 1865, after four years of hard cani-
pnigning, in which he won the reputation of a
brave and gallant soldier.

On his return from the army Mr. Rukgaber
engaged as clerk for J. B. Shaw, iiardn-are merchant
of Mt. Pleasant, continuing in that capacity from
1866 to 1872, when he bought an interest in the
business, the lirni being Shaw & Rukgaber. This
connection continued till the death of Jlr. Shaw in
1875, when Horace Clark bought the interest of
the Shaw heirs, and the new firm became Rukgaber
& Clark. Four years later Mr. Clark went out, and
J. S. IMcGregor and Edward Baines bought in,
forming the firm of Rukgaber, McGregor & Baines,

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243 a

which conuection continued till Mr. Rukg.aber's
election in the fall of 1886 to the oflice he now
hokls, when he sold out to give his entire time to
his official duties, which he performs in the most
thorough and satisfactory manner.

ISIr. Rukgaber was united in marriage at Mt.
Pleasant, April 11, 1861, to Miss Joanna Mueller,
daughter of Victor and Amelia (Fehrcnbach)
Mueller. Mrs. Rukgaber was born in Baden, Ger-
many, in 1*843, and came to America with her par-
ents in 1845, and to Henry County, Iowa, in 18.')5.
Her parents landed in New Orleans, where they
lived for nine years, and in 1854 entered some
land in rutn.am County, Mo., on which they lived
for a ye.ar, when they came to Mt. Pleasant. In
1859 Mr. Mueller and a brother, like thousands of
others, crossed the plains to Pike's Peak in search
of gold. Disliking the country, he went to Cali-
fornia, where he was joined by his wife the follow-
ing year. In 1867 he returned to Mt. Pleasant,
and soon after went to their Missouri farm, where
both died, the husband in 1878, and the wife in
1876. Mr. Mueller served his time in the army in
Germany, and was by trade a carpenter. He was an
industrious man, and in his labors in the mines con-
tracted rheumatism, from which effects he died.
An upright, honorable man, he was held in esteem
by his neighbors.

Mr. and Mrs. Rukgaber are the parents of five
children, four of whom are living, all born in Mt.
Pleasant. Louisa, born Oct. 25, 1866; Emily,
born March 27, 1868, died Sept. 13, 1887; Mina,
born Nov. 23, 1869; Carrie, born June 16,
1871; and Victor, born March 11, 1873. The
daughter Emily, who died, was a beautiful and
highly accomplished j'oung lady, possessing rare
musical talents, and had been the organist of St.
Michael's Elpiscopal Church for a long time. She
was a great favorite in society, and her untimely
death was a sad blow to her family and numerous
friends. The members of the church of which she
was an ornament, and in which she was universally
beloved, decided to erect a testimonial to her mem-
ory, which has t.aken the form of a beautiful
stained glass window.

Mr. Rukgaber has borne an active part in local
public affairs. He has served one year as Secretary

of the Henry County Agricultural Society, and
six years as a member of the Mt. Pleasant Board
of Education. He is a member of Mt. Pleasant
Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A. M. ; Henry Lodge No.
10, I. O. O. F., and of McFarland Post No. 20, G.
A. R., of which he is one of the charter members,
and has been Junior Vice Commander. In politics
he is a Republican, and has been active in all party
affairs. Religiously he is a member of the Episco-
pal Church, his wife and children being also mem-
bers of the same society. He is an honorable gen-
tleman, courteous in his intercourse with the public,
and capable and attentive in the discharge of the
duties of his office, and is justly held in high esteem
for his upright and manly character.

-€^^ «

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dren.

AVID RUKGABER, of Mt. Pleasant, a
son of Joseph and Mary (Baur) Rukgaber,
was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Dec.
30, 1830, and is one of a family of five chil-
The family history is given under the name
of Charles B. Rukgaber. Joseph Rukgaber de-
parted this life in 1845, in Germany, and in 1857
Mrs. Rukgaber emigrated to America, locating in
Mt. Pleasant, at which place she still resides. The
family are members of the Catholic Church.

David Rukgaber is a well-educated man, having
received a liberal education while in Germany. At
the age of twenty he enlisted in the German army,
serving for six years. After being discharged he
immediately came to America in 1858, and located
at Mt. Pleasant, and in 1859 he led to the mar-
riage altar Miss Magdalene Rupreeht, who was also
a native of Germany, born in Ilohenzollern in
1830. He farmed until 1861, when at the break-
ing out of the Rebellion, Mr. Rukgaber enlisted in
the 4th Iowa Cavalry, and was mustered into serv-
ice at Mt. Pleasant. The regiment then went to
St. Louis, where they were armed and equipped,
remaining there three weeks. It then proceeded
to Springfield, Mo., was in the raid after Price, and
was in several skirmishes and fought in the engage-
ments at Guntown, Tupelo, Holly Springs, and other
places. The regiment was afterward made a part
of Grant's army, and was at the siege of Vicksburg.

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HENRY COUNTY.

Mr. Rukgaber served four years, but was mustered
out at Memphis, before the remainder of his regi-
ment, on account of losing his sight. He was a
brave soldier, always at his post, never shirliing his
duty though danger threatened on every side.
The Government has awarded him a pension of $30
per month for the injuries he sustained. He is a
member of the McFarland Post No. 20, G. A. R.,
taking an active interest in all work pertaining to
the order.

Mr. and Mrs. Rukgaber have the respect and
good-will of all. The}' have a family of five chil-
dren: Mary, now the wife of Lewis Scheunenian, a
resident of Mt. Pleasant; Amelia, Bertha, Otto A.
and Willie. The parents are members of the Cath-
olic Church. In politics he is a Republican.

i

"if/OHN T. NORTH, residing on sections 26
and 27, Scott Township, Henry Co., Iowa,
is descended from good old Revolutionary
stock. He was born in Holmes County,
Ohio, and is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth
(Stallings) North, both of whom were natives of
Maryland, though the father was of German parent-
age. They emigrated to Ohio in about 1831 and
there developed a farm in the timber. In 1841
they emigrated to Henry County, and settled near
New London. There were six children in the
family, the two eldest, Christian, now the wife of
Peter Oni, a carpenter of New London, and Susan,
wife of AVilliam Wilson, residing in Harrison
County, Mo., were born in Maryland. While
residing in Ohio three other children were born :
Matilda .1., wife of J. D. Bj'ers, of New London
Township, died in 1872; John T., our subject, and
Martha, wife of Charles B. Weller, residing near
Kent, Adams Co., Iowa. Etnma B., the j'oungest
child, was born in Henry Count}', married John
Wriglit, and <lied at Powhattan, Ohio, in 1 875. The
father resided on his farm in this county until the
time of his death, which occurred July 27, 1847,
when fort^'-seveu years of age. He was an earnest,
sincere Cl)ristian, a member of the Mctlu)dist
Episcopal Church. He owned at the time of his
death 140 acres of laud, which was a part of the

original claim. The mother was born in 1804, and
now resides with her daughter near Kent, Adams
Co., Iowa. She is an active worker in the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, and took great interest in
the pioneer organizations of the county, and was a
member of the first church organized in New Lon-
don Township. Her father was a soldier in the
war of the Revolution.

Our subject was reared on a farm in New Lon-
don Township, receiving his education at the
district schools. Being the only son, lie was
obliged to help his father ujjon the farm, and after
his death had the whole control of it. He formed
the sole support of his mother and two single
sisters, but when tlie war broke out he left home
and enlisted in Company E of the 1st Iowa Cavalry,
June 22, 1861, as a private. He was mustered out
March 16, 1865, as (Quartermaster Sergeant. He
participated in the following battles : Meradozine,
Mo. ; Lone Jack, Fayetteville, Mo. ; Jenkins Ferry,
Prairie Grove, Bj'merta and Little Rock, Ark.
He was on the scout for fort}' da^s, during which
time he participated in numerous engagements. In
the Camden campaign, under Steele, the_y fought a
hard battle at Saline River, and were under fire for
ten days in a running fight with Gen. Price.

After returning homo Mr. North resumed his
occupation of farming on the old homestead, iiaviug
bought the shares of the other heirs in the same,
continuing this until March, 1882. He was united
in marriage, April 11, 1867, with Maria L. Smith,
a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of ^ohu
and Ruth (Whitlatch) Smith, the former a native
of Maryland, of Englisii parentage, and the latter
a native of Pennsylvania, though of Scotch descent.
The father departed this life in I'ennsj'lvania in
1860, at the age of seventy -eight years. He was a
blacksmith by trade, and served as Colonel in the
State Militia of Pennsj'lvania. He was a member
of the Presb3terian Church, and a prominent man
in the neighborhood where he resided. His wife
died in June, 1881. She was also a luembor of the
Presbyterian Church.

Mr. and Mrs. North arc the iiarents of four
children — Charles S., James H., Frank K. and
Mabel, all still inmates of the paternal home.

In November, 1882, Mr. North sold his farm in

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HENRY COUNTY.

245

New London Township, purchasing 160 acres of
land on sections 26 and 27 of Scott Township,
where he still resides. This farm is one of the best
in the county, and a glance is sufficient to show
that thrift and enterprise are characteristics of its
owner. An elegant residence has Ijeen erected, at
a cost of ^4,000, and the bam is valued at $600.
Mr. North is a practical fanner, and one of Henry
County's best citizens. He is numbered among the
pioneers of the count)', and is respected alike by
old and young, rich and poor. He is a stalwart
llepublican, and has held various township offices.

'i.r^i

,s?STTr?:?rr

v^i^rt-rs.

4^°

li-^ ON- I-EROY GRH-'FIN PALMER, a proni-
'r^^yi inent attorney of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was
i^\Jy born in Christian County, Ky., Nov. 3,
l(^ 1821. His parents were Lewis G. and Ann
H. (Tutt) Palmer. His father was born in Spott-
sylvania County, Ya., in .June, 1781, and was the
son of Isaac Palmer, who was a prominent Fed-
eralist and a soldier of the Revolution. Judge
Palmer's mother was born in Culpeper, Va., and emi-
grated to Kentucky with her father in 1805, or
about the same time that the Palmers settled in
that State.

Our subject accompanied his father to Madison
County, 111., in the spring of 1831. He received a
common-school education, and not having collegi-
ate advantages he entered upon a course of self-
instruction and qualified himself for the vocation
of a teacher and taught several terms of school.
While thus emph)j'ed at Carlinville, 111., he en-
gaged in the study of law, under the direction of
his brother, John M., then an eminent attorney of
Macoupin Countj", and since Governor of Illinois.
He was admitted to the bar at Hillsboro, Mont-
gomery C!o., 111., in 1846, and formed a law
partnership with his brother, John M., under the
firm name of J. M. & L. G. Palmer. That connec-
tion continued but a short time, on account of our
subject's enlistment in the volunteer service for the
Mexican War, wliich occurred May 26, 1846, at
Springfield, 111., where he became a member of
Company B, 4th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He
was assigned to the Quartermaster's depart nient.

and served in Mexico until April 27, 1847, when
he was discharged at Ft. Polk, Point Isabel, for
physical disability. His condition was such at the
time of his removal from the fort to the transport
tliat he was not conscious of being carried on ship-
board. He returned to Illinois in May following,
where he recruited his health, and in November,
1 847, came to Iowa and opened a law office at Mt.
Pleasant. He has pursued the practice of his pro-
fession at that place continuously since, and has
been called to fill various public positions of honor
and trust. He has served two terms in the City
Council of Mt. Pleasant, and was a member of the
State Senate from 1861 to 1864, and served one
term, from 1862 to 1864, as County Judge of
Henry County.

Judge Palmer was married at Mt. Pleasant, Aug.
7, 1850, to Miss Orphia Bowen, a daughter of Isaac
Bowen, a worthy pioneei- of Henry County. Mrs.
Palmer was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, and
came to Henry County, Iowa, with her parents in
childhood. Five children were born of their union,
four sons and a daughter: Lero)' A. was born at
j\It. Pleasant in August, 1857, and was educated in
the common schools of the city and at Howe's
Academj' in same city, under the care of its founder,
the late Samuel Howe, and studied law with his
father, and in an office at Keokuk, Iowa, and was
admitted to the bar at Mt. Pleasant in 1878. He
married Miss Lucy McCarty, and is now in Govern-
ment employ in the Patent Office at Wasliington,
D. C. Charles F. was born at Mt. Pleasant in
June, 1853, and is now engaged in mining with his
uncle. Senator Bowen, at Summitville, Col.; Horace
LaMont was born at Mt. Pleasant in April, 1857,
and is a musician of marked talent and sufjerior
culture; Jessie L. was born at Mt. Pleasant in May,
1864, and is the wife of Dr. D. D. Robinson, a
druggist of Burlington, Iowa; George L. is em-
ployed in the United States Mail Service, with head-
quarters at Burlington.

Judge Palmer is a Democrat, but opposed his
party and voted for Abraham Lincoln Ijoth in
1860 and 1864. As a Democrat, he is earnest and
pronounced in his views, especially in his hostility
to the States meddling with the rights of the indi-
vidual citizen, and has borne a more or less prom-

n

M^

246

HENRY COUNTY.

y ' rem

inent part in political affairs. The Democrac}' al-
ways in the minority in both county and State, his
personal popularity lias induced his party to place
him in nomination for various offices a greater
number of times than almost anj' other man in the
State. At every election in which he was a candi-
date he succeeded in polling a vote many times
over his party strength. In 1874 he was the Demo-
cratic nominee for Congress against Hon. George
W. McCray, and succeeded in cutting the Repub-
lican majority down from about 5,000 to 1,500.
He has been the most determined and persistent
opposer of the building of railroads by means of a
public tax, and of every scheme of the Government
engaging in business in any way.

Judge Palmer has alwaj's been of studious habits,
and is well versed in his profession, as well as in his-
tory and general practical information. He is gifted
as a conversationalist, and is a companionable man,
whose superior attainments command respect and
esteem.

— *> #"#- ^

OBIi;RT T. CANFIELD,a prominent farmer
of Jackson Township, was born in Randolph
County, Va., in 1826, and is the son of
[^ Titus and Phcebe Canfield, who died when
our subject was a mere lad. They were the parents
of seven children — Elizabeth, Johnson, Sarah, Mary,
Nancy, Robert T. and Ketuiah. All were left or-
phans while yet children, and as the parents were
poor they became scattered and their later history
is not fully known. Some went West, part liecame
residents of Kansas and some of Wisconsin.

Our subject when five years of age was taken by
his father to Ohio, and in that State the father died,
leaving his boy to the care of George Harmon, with
whom he remained until he was sixteen years of
age, when he began life's battle for himself. Leaving
Seneca Count}', Robert went to Clarke County and
later toJlianii County, Ohio, then in 1849 to Jef-
ferson County, Ind. in the year 1853 he was
united in marriage with Miss Mirey Swager. Mr.
Canfield was at that time in the employ of the Madi-
son & Indianapolis Railroad Company. Jn 1866
the death of his wife occurred and the next year he
removed to Iowa, locating in Henry Count}'. His

four children came with him, namelj' : Elma, now
the wife of Archie Ross; Clinton, also married;
James and Ida, the latter now deceased.

After a residence of two j'ears in this count}', Mr.
Canfield was again married, to IMrs. Margaret
(Maupin) Chancy, the widow of Andrew J. Cha-
ncy, a well-known resident of this county, who with
his good wife settled here in 1849, coming from
Jefferson County, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. Chaney
were the parents of eight children, all now dead ex-
cept Flora B., wife of Fred Huxley, and Edward,
yet unmarried. The deceased are: William, Sarah
E., Mary Jane, Ellis C, Leonard F. and Carrie.
Mr. Chaney resided upon a farm near Lowell,
and after his death his widow purchased the farm
upon which she and her present husband reside.
The father of l\Ir. Chaney owned a large plantation
in Tennessee, and also owned a number of slaves,
but prior to his death liberated them, thus show-
ing his sentiments regarding the rights of man.
After a few years, Mr. and Mrs. Chaney decided
to move to Texas, but after trying the country,
they removed back to Henry County, and for }ears
were identified with her business growth and
prosperity.

In 18G7 the death of her husband occurred, and
her man-iage to Mr. Canfield was celebrated in
March, 1869. In a cosy farmhouse the couple
live, beloved by their neighbors, and in the enjoj'-
ment of a ripe old age both Mr. and Mrs. Caufleld
find themselves blessed by such .associations as their
position in life entitles them to. Both are worthy
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mrs. Canfield was born in Blount County, Tenn.,
and reared in Jefferson County from her fifteenth
year. Her father, Morgan G. Maupin. w.as born
in France and married Elizabeth Collins in Ten-
nessee. He was a Revolutionary soldier and had a
family by another wife prior to that war, but no
definite history can be given of them. With the
blood of a patriot, and his grandsire a Revolution-
ary soldier, Edward m.ay well feel a pride that few
have reason to boast of. The father of Andrew J.
Chaney w.as a native of Ireland, who came to
America a poor man, but .accumulated a large prop-
ert}'. For a quarter of a century he owned and
conducted a large hotel near Morristown, Tenn.,

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i

4*

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HENRY COUNTY.

247

and owned a large plantation adjoining. He reared
a family of fourteen children, of whom Andrew J.
was the youugest.

eHARLES NILSON, a farmer residing on
section 2G, Wayne Township, Henry Co.,
Iowa, was born in Southeastern Sweden,
near the small village of Westerwik. He is a son
of Neils W. Swenson and Charlotte Sweuson, who
were both born, reared and married in Sweden, and
after a long lifetime were buried in that far-away
land. They were parents of four children — Charles,
Gustoph, Orfried and Anna. The second and
third sons are still residents of Sweden, married,
and are stonemasons in Westerwik. Anna fol-
lowed her brother Charles to America, coming
alone in 1882. Two years later she became the
wife of Fred Johnson, a farmer of Wayne Town-
ship, who was also born in Sweden, near the birth-
place of our sulijcct.

Charles Nilson came to this country in 1869, and
after a few months spent in Burlington went to
Prairie City, 111. His marriage was celebrated in
Sweden, in April, 1869, and the bridal tour was the
voyage made by the young coujile across the broad
Atlantic. They brought nothing with them but
strong arms and willing hearts. The first year
Charles found work on the C. B. & Q. R. R. In
the year 1870 he began farming rented land,
and for thirteen years tilled the same soil, and
when the couple came to Henry Count3', in 1884,
they brought money enough that had been earned
and saved to buy a nice little farm of eighty acres,
and they have a beautiful home one and a half
miles southeast of Swedesburg. On the farm in
Illinois their children were born — Axell and Gus-
tave.

Our subject became a naturalized citizen of the
United States in 1878, and became a member of
the Republican party of Illinois, and is now promi-
nently identified with the same in Henry County,
Iowa. At Prairie City, 111., Mr. Nilson was made
a member of the I. 0. O. F., No. 205, in 1875.
To this organization he still belongs, and is one of
the only three Swedes in Wayne Township who
belong to any secret organization. Both himself

and his wife love American institutions and the
laws and customs which prevail. They came to
stay, and as they grow in j-ears and prosperity
their sons take their rightful places in the busi-
ness world. For them they have lived, have toiled,
and to them they give a heritage of honor, truth
and enterprise.

Mrs. Nilson is a daughter of Jonas and Anna
(Peterson) Johnson. They have nine children —
John, Christina, Gustoph, Clara, Louisa, William,
Charles, Mary and Augusta. In America live
Clara, wife of our subject; William, who married
Nellie Johnson, and lives in Illinois ; Charles, who
married Lotta Johnson, and lives in Illinois. The
other children, of whom John and Christina are
living, remained in Sweden.

C-rs^^HOMAS G. ALLENDER, deceased, was
born near Baltimore, Md., Jan. 28, 1818,
and moved from there with his parents to
Ohio when but a small boy. In 1838 the family
moved to the Territory of Iowa, which had just
been organized, and located in Trenton Township,
Henry County. On the 31st day of March, 1842,
Mr. Allender was united in mari'iage with Miss
Jane M. Allred, a native of North Carolina. By
this marriage there were ten children: Elizabeth
Ann, born Jan. 11, 1843, married M. L. Rice, a
native of Pennsylvania, June 9, 1859, and died in
July, 1870; Martha I., born Oct. 26, 1844, married
J. C. McCoy, March 25,1866; Eliza Jane, born
July 26,1846, died Sept. 4, 1865; AVilliam H.,
born Aug. 23, 1848, married Mary E. Downing,
Nov. 7, 1869; she was born in Jefferson County,
Iowa, March 5, 1849, and died Jan. 20, 1882. He
again married, Sept. 20, 1883, Martha 0. Schloder,
a native of Henry County, Iowa, born Aug. 2,
1849. Benjamin R., born in November, 1850, died in
infancy; Thomas E., born March 23, 1852, married
Anna Coleman, Dec. 7, 1879, and now resides in
Nebraska; John A., born March 13, 1854, married
Martha E. Logsdon, Aug. 26, 1875, a native of Mt.
Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, born Dec. 10, 1855; Cor-
nelia F., born Jan. 18, 1856, married Charles W.
Downing, Sept. 6, 1872, and now resides in Fur-

1

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248

^^»M 4'

HENRY COUNTY.

4

nas County, Neb.; James F., born Sept. 22, 1860,
married Margaret A. Lawrence, Oct. 24, 1882; she
was bora Feb. 22, 1855, at Cleveland, Ohio. One
died in infancy.

After their marriage our subject and wife lived
three years in Trenton Township, where Mr. Allen-
der engaged in farming. He then moved to Tippe-
canoe Township, lived there two years, then moved
to Jefferson Township, where he remained five
years, returning then to Trenton Township, in
1852, where he resided thirty-two j'ears. Mrs. Al-
lender died March 25, 1882, and Mr. Alleuder two
years later moved to Mt. Pleasant, where he died
March 23, 1886. Thej' were both members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. For nearly forty
years he filled official positious in church and state.
As a School Director he was very eHicient, and
would employ only the best teachers procurable.
In him the cause of education alwaj's found a stead-
fast friend, and in his death the county lost a most
valuable citizen.

JAMES HAMMOND ARNOLD, retired. The
importance of the history of Henry County
depends largely' upon the accuracj' of the
personal sketches <-if the men who have for

a generation been interested in tlie development
of her soil, her society, her schools and her
churches. Among such men we are pleased to no-
tice James Hammond Arnold, the second oldest
man now living in the countj', and the oldest in
Salem Township. His famil}' are all widely known
and highly respected, and of each one we will
make mention in tlieir proper place. James H.
Arnold was born Dec. 7, 17'.)7, near Brownsville,
Fayette Co., Pa., and is a son of James and Com-
fort (Conwein Arnold. Tlirc^e brothers, Andrew,
Jonathan and Jesse Arnold, emigrated from Ches-
ter County, Pa., near Pliil:idelphia, to Ft. Red-
stone, on the cast side of tiie Monongahela River,
and settled within protecting distance of the fort, in
1705. Jonath.'Ui Arnold, grandfather of our sulgect,
wedded Rachel Scott, whose parents came from
Scotland, in which country she was probably born,
and he located on the cast bank of tiic river oppo-

site the mouth of Ten-Mile Creek, and the
others immediatel}- below. The claim of Jonathan
consisted of over 1,000 acres, which he im-
proved, and upon whicli he lived and died. Of
his ciiildren there were .Jonathan. Benjamin, Levi,
Hannah, Rachel, Sarah, William and James, tiie two
latter being twins. James, like the others of his
name, was a farmer. His father, and Jonathan, his
oldest brother, also owned and operated a powder
mill on the old homestead, and James owned a mill
in Jefferson Countj', Ohio. He removed with iiis
family to Jefferson (now Harrison) County, Ohio,
in 1803, the date of her admission as a State. He
was wedded in Pennsylvania to Comfort Connell,
who bore in that State, James H., our subject,
Hyatt and Narcissa L. The Arnolds were among
the first families settling in that part of Oliio, and
there a daughter, Matilda, was born the same year
they made their settlement. Her birth was fol-
lowed by those of Putnam and William C, the date
of the birth of the latter being 1808. From the
best knowledge of our subject, the family were of
Quaker stock, but his mother was a member of the
Presbj'teriau Church, and James Arnold donated a
church site for the latter denomination, and the same
site is still known as the "Beech Spring" meeting-
house, and is yet occupied as church property.
The death of James Arnold occurred in Harrison
County, Ohio, Jan. 24, 1811, and his widow after-
ward married George Keller, a farmer of the same
county. To him she bore no heirs. She died in
that neighborhood in her fifty-first year.

Our subject is the onlj' surviving menil>er of
the family. After the death of his father he re-
turned to Washington Count}-, Pa., and learned
the process of wool manufacturing. lie tiien took
a trip down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and
then to Culm, and back to Philadelphia. This
voj'age exhausted his cash resources, so on foot,
with his bundle on his back, he tramped over the
mountains 300 miles to Fayette County, Pa., where
he rented a woolen-mill, and again accumulated
some money. Wliile there he formed the acquaint-
ance of Sarah, daughter of .lohu :ind Martha (Sam-
ple) Ewan, to wiiom he \va.> married April 29,
1821, in F.a^'ette County, I'm. She was btirn Jan.
2 1, 17US, ill Wiii(lie,-.U'r, \:i. Thi'V remained in

i

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a.

HENRy COUNTY.

249

Pennsylvania till 1823, Mr. Arnold all the while
engaged in tlie manufacture of wooleus. In that
State the eldest daughter, Martha, was born, but
died in infancy. He removed in the fall of 1821
tt) Belmont County, Ohio, where ho rented anotlier
woi.ilcn-mill, at Belmont Station, operating it for
five years, then going to Morristown, where he
erected a large faetor}^ and for years carried on
the same. In 1842 he sold the factor}', and en-
gaged in merchandising, and being also appointed
Postmaster, he continued in business until their
removal to Iowa, in 1853. The mechanical inge-
nuity of our subject led to his invention of many
valualile devices in the manufacture of woolens,
and he has the honor of lieing the patentee of the
first threshing-machine ever patented, July 8, 1830,
the patent bearing the signature of President An-
drew Jackson, with Martin Van Buren, Secretary of
State. Mr. Arnold built a machine which was
later improved by other patents, and he then de-
cided to have nothing more to do with it. The
children liorn in Ohio are Louisa N., now the wife of
George Pitman, a farmer of Salem Township : Liber-
tatia, the widow of Hon. A. J. Withrow, who was a
former Representative of this count}' in the State
Legislature; Columbus V., ex-Treasurer of this
county (see sketch) ; he is now the husband of
Addie Howard, and resides in Mt. Pleasant. Boli-
var W. and Cleopatra died in childhood ; Pizzaro
C, the hardware merchant of Salem, wedded
Phosl)e Childs; Galileo died in childhood ; Xeno-
phon H., with whom our subject resides, wedded
first Mary Ilaskett, and after her death Miss Emma
V. Armstrong, of Fayette County, Pa. In April,
1853, James H. Arnold purchased the farm which
is jet his home, and without any experience as a
farmer decided to reside in the country. After
his sons became old enough to work it, they as-
sumed its management, and each child married and
removed to other localities, except X. H., familiarly
known as Zen, who became manager in full. The
death of the wife and mother occurred in 1 ^74, at the
age of seventy-six years. She was a loving wife
and tender mother, and the aged couple for many
years braved the vicissitudes and privations t)f
toil, lint in their ripe old age were blessed with
abuudanec, and their children have each made an

-<•

enviable record in both the financial and social
world. Our suliject is to-day hale and hearty.
He can still use his rifle, and often from the tree-
top falls the nimble squirrel at the crack of his gun.
Although living for so many years on the farm, he
has never plowed a furrow, but has plenty to spare,
and spends his declining years in ease and comfort.
For more than a quarter of a eentuiy he has kept a
weather diary, and the temperature is taken by
him at sunrise and at 2 P. M., also the direction of
the wind. It is noted in the jtlainest script, and
gives exact information regarding the above points
for every day covering the period mentioned. Not
only is he one of the oldest, but one of the most
respected, citizens of the township, and a host of
friends wish for him many more years of life and
health.

—>-i-4- — o^*^(f!)))).iss-o S»-5<s--

ESSE B. ALLEN is a farmer .and resides on
section 4, .Tefferson Township, Henry Co.,
Iowa. He was born in 1837, and was nine
j^ears of age when his parents came to Henry
County, which has been his home ever since, ex-
cepting two years spent in California with his
brother John. Reared and educated upon a farm
he chose that avocation, and in it has gained the
success which comes to those of industrious habits.
In 1867 Miss Rachel, daughter of Jonathan and
Julia (Gardiner) Anderson, of this county, became
his wife. Her family came to Henry County in
1865, from Licking County, Ohio, in which State
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were married. Julia Gardi-
ner was a native of Maryland, and Jonathan Ander-
son of Virginia. There were nine children born to
this worthy couple: Daniel, who wedded Eliza J.
Palmer, resides in Smith County, Kan. ; Catharine
wedded Edward Crosby, a farmer of Page County,
Iowa; Nancy married David Davies; Maria be-
came the wife of Sterling Davis, of Smith County,
Kan. ; Jennie married Calvin Oglesby, of Osborne
County, Kan. ; James, deceased ; Rachel, wife of
our subject; Ellen, widow of Sebastin Roush, of
Page County; Mr. Roush died in this township,
where he was well known. William became the
husband of Mariab Harlan; they reside in Page
County. The parents of these children removed to

^

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250

HENRY COUNTY.

that county in 1879, and three years later the wife
and mother died. Jonathan Anderson, now an
aged gentleman of eight3'-three 3'ears, finds a com-
fortable home with his children, all of whom are in
easy circumstances, the sons being farmers and the
daughters wives of farmere. Two children have
blessed the union of Jesse and Rachel Allen — the
first, Wade J., })orn March 29, 1869, and the second
died in infancy'.

In 1865 Mr. Allen purclinsed his jH-esent farm
near the village of Wayland, which furnishes excel-
lent school facilities, markets and church privileges.
The family are, like those of their name and kin-
dred, honored in society, esteemed b}' their neigh-
bors, and prominent factors in the township in
which they reside.

K. LEEDHAM,of Leedham A- Baugh, deal-
ers in lumber, lath, shingles, and manufact-
urers of sash, doors, blinds, moldings, etc.,
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, established the latter
business liere in 1872. The firm employ about four-
teen hands in tlie factory, situated at the terminus
of Lincoln, on Henry street. JSIr. Leedham was
born in Washington County', Ohio, Dec. 24, 1830,
and is the son of John and Sarah (Kensington)
Leedham. His parents were born in England and
came to America in 1818, settling at Marietta, Ohio,
and were among the earliest settlers in that region.
They came to Iowa in 1814, and settled in New
London Township, Henry Count}-, where John
Leedham w.as engaged in farming until his death,
wliicli occurred in JIarcli, 1865. His wife also died
in the same montli, but four years later. John
Leedham was an upright man of unbleuiished char-
acter, who was considered by those wlio knew him
to be one of the best men of the locality in which
he resided. In England both husband and wife
were members of the Established C Inirciu but after
coming to this country- adhered to Ihe liiiversalist
C'hurcii.

The sulijccl of this sketch, K. K. Leedham, was
reared on a farm, but learned the cariienter's tra<le,
at which he worked three years, lie was also em-
ployed at a s:uvmill aliout tiu'ec years, and after-

ward ag.ain went to farming. In 1872 he com-
menced the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds,
in company with Mr. L. G. Baugh (see sketch),
which connection has now continued for fifteen
years. Mr. Leedham was married, July 12, 1853,
to Elizabeth Clark, daughter of Jacob Clark, wlio
Wiis an old settler of Van Buren County, low.i.
Mrs. Leedham was born in Pennsylvania, and died
childless in April, 1861. Mr. Leedham was mar-
ried again, Feb. 16, 1862, inUes Moines County,
Iowa, to Mrs. P^mma Wrigiit, widow of John
Wright, and daughter of Aimer Lewis. This lady
w.as also born in Pennsylvania. Three children
were born of this union: Perr}' A., born Dec. 16,
1864, who has been reading medicine, and is now
studying in Iowa Cit}' with a view to ado|)ting the
profession of a physician; Ida M., born Feb. 3,
1869, died June 16, 1871, .and Earle M., born May
29, 1880, died Sept. 24, 1882.

Mr. Leedham is independent in politics, believ-
ing that good government is more likely to be ob-
tained through electing good men to ollice than bj'
a close adherence to party lines. He is a broad-
gauged, whole-souled style of a man, to whom, to
use a Western phrase, it " is safe to tie to." As a
business man and a citizen, he is justlv held in
esteem, and for his manly qualities and his integrity
of character, he enjoys the confidence of tlie entire
community.

<jl7 EWIS a. BAUGH, of the firm of Leedham
il (© '^' Baugh, manufacturers of and dealers in
j''—^. sash, doors, blinds, etc., Mt. Pleas.ant, Iowa,
was born in Loudoun County, Va., .Jan. 0, 1827,
and is a son of Lewis K. and Eliza A. (Boedle)
Baugh. His father w.as also a native of Loudoun
Count}', \'a., born Nov. 19, 1795. He w.as a mdl-
wright by trade, and came to Iowa in 1855, and
died in Lee County, Sept. 10, 1 862. His mother was
liorn in Alexandria, Va., Jan. 31, 1797, and died
in Clarke County, Ohio, March 5, 1885. Our sub-
ject learned the trade of millwright with his father,
who had learned it of his f.ather, the grandfatlier of
Lewis G., who <lied at the good old .age of ninety
3-ears. Ou the 21st daj- of June, 1853, Lewis G.

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HENRY COUNTY.

251 n!

Baugh was united in marriage, in Miami County,
Ohio, Willi Miss Jane Darst, a native of that county,
horn Soi)t. 13, 1.S30, and daughter of Ucv. .luiui
Darst, a Dunkavd preacher (if prominence in liis
State. Her people were among the early settlers of
Dayton, Ohio. She has a twin sister, the e.xact
counterpart of herself, living in Christian County,
III., the widow of .loseph Ilackenberg. Iler
parents had seven children in all, and her muLlier
died when she and her twin sister were but three
weeks old, and the infants were brought up by an
aunt, with whom they lived until they were aliout
six years old, when, their father having married
again, they returned to his home. At the age of
ten Mrs. Baugh was taken by another relative, with
whom she lived until she was about sixteen, when
an elder brother assumed the care of her and her
twin sister, and had them educated. With him she
lived until her marriage with Mr. Baugh. Besides
her sister, she has two brothers now living: Samuel,
a carpenter, living near Springfield, Ohio, and
Henry H., a practicing ph^'sician at Toledo, 'Ohio.
She has also two half brothers and two sisters living.
Mr. and Mrs. Baugh have had five children, only
one of whom is now living. Two of their daugh-
ters, who had grown to womanhood, together with
a son twelve years of age, were victims of diph-
theria, and all died within a period of tvventy-six
daj's. The only remaining daughter when just
entering upon womanhood was drowned. Flora
was born Aug. G, 1«54, and died July f>, 1874;
Julia was born Nov. 7, 1859, died Aug. 4, 1874;
John L., born Aug. 12, 1862, died July 9, 1874;
Edith S., born April 19, 1868, was drowned Nov.
7, 1884, in the distressing accident which happened
on Tracy's Pond, in Mt. Pleasant, when she lost her
life, as did Prof. Wolfe, of the High .School; Miss
Carpenter, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, a teacher, and a
classmate, ^Hss EllaTeter, by the sinking of a boat.
The only survivor of tlie family is Charles Henr}-,
who was born in Mt. Pleasant, July 21, 1871, and
is now attending school in Mt. Pleasant, and cm-
ploys his leisure time in his father's mill, having
given evidence of superior skill, which his father is
giving him every oi)p(jrtuiiity to develop. Some
of his handiwork would be creditable to older iiic-
ehanics, and indicates a decided genius in that line.

Mr. Baugh came to Iowa in November, 1857,
and to Mt. Pleasant in May, 1858. lie worked at
his trade till ls72,wlicu he formed the existing
partnership willi II. K. I.ceclham (see sketch) in the
manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. The firm
of l.ecdham ife Baugh have a large establishincnt
and are doing a fine business. Mr. Baugh is a man
of more than ordinary skill in his business, and
attends closely to the interior work of the mill, and
the marked excellence of the articles manufactured
by the firm is largely due to his careful oversight.
For thirty years he has been a resident of Mt.
Pleasant, and in that time has done his share in
building up the city (jf his adoption. He is a good
business man and an excellent citizen. Politically
he is a Republican, and sociallj' a member of the
I. O. O. F., holding membership with Henry Lodge
No. 10, of Mt. Pleasant, joining that body in Ohio
when he was tvventy-one years old.
o

When the partnership of Leedham & Baugh was
formed, May 9, 1X72, nearly sixteen years ago,
preparations were at once begun to erect the mill,
and that season the main building was finished. It
is three stories high and is 45x60 feet in dimensions.
The following year they added a building 20x28,
two stories in height, principally used for stor.age
of manufactured goods. These buildings being
not yet large enough to accommodate their rapidly
growing business, the next year they added another
22x44, and two stories high ; a drying-house, 1 8x50,
two stories, was the next, and a couple of years
later another building was put u|), size 30x50, like-
wise two stories high. These, with stables and
sheds, give them ample facilities for their large
trade, which still keeps growing. Power is fur-
nished l)y a sixty horse-power engine. When the
firm first began they employed six men, but now
have fourteen hands at work, who, with the greatly
improved machinery invented and put into the mill
of late years, turn out more than four times the
amount of work formerly done. In round figures,
their product the first year was worth ^8,000.
Last year it footed up |i40,000, showing a decidedly
healthy growth. The\- now handle between eighty
and 100 carloads of lumber each year, and have
a steady demand for all they can turn out. Their

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252

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HENRY COUNTY.

trade is mostly lucal, but they sliip goods to other
States, to Nebraska, Missouri, etc. They have also
a special trade on walnut house brackets, which
they send all over the country.

The steady growth of the business of this firm
is due to the reputation tliey have earned of always
turning out honest work, fully up to and generally
a little better than it is represented to l)e. The
trade fully appreciate this, and consequently the
firm is never at a loss for customers, as one once
made is secured for good. The result is that while
other factories of the kind susjiend a part of each
year, these works are never shut down except for
necessary repairs.

^^EORGE C. TRAXIjER, residing on section
III (-— , 20, Marion Township, is by birth a Pennsyl-
^^ijj vaniau, having been born in Cumberland
County of that State, Oct. 31, 1842. His parents,
Jacob and Elizabeth (Cramer) Traxler, were also
natives of Pennsylvania, though of German de-
scent. The father and mother of Jacob Traxler
came to America at a very early day and settled in
Pennsylvania, where Jacob was born. Jacob and
Elizabeth Traxler were the parents of nine children :
Catherine A., wife of Levi Flickinger, now resides
in Story County, Iowa; John, a farmer and brick-
maker of Seward County, Kan., wedded Rebecca
Yount; Jacob, whose first wife was Eliza J. Humes,
who died Aug. 5, 1867, leaving three children, was
ag.ain married, to Mrs. Elizabeth Gould, and is a
resident of Trenton Townsliij), llenrj- County ; Mary,
deceased wife of .John PJack, of Trenton Township;
Elizabeth, the deceased wife of Ellas Black: Frances
R., the deceased wife of J. W. Moore, of Marion
Township; George, tlie subject of this sketch, is
next in order of birth; Joscpli, a farmer of Appa-
noose County, Iowa, and (irazel, who died at the
age of nine. John Traxler emigrated to Iowa in
IS").*?, and his fatiiei' Jacob, with the rest of the
family, came in 1S,54. The father l)ought eighty-
four acres of land in Marion Township, on which he
lived until his death, wliich occurred April 24,
1871. He was born Oct. 28, 1807, ami iiad been
bliml for ;i iiunilicr of years l)efore his death, hav-

ing lost his sight while blasting. His wife died
Oct. 9, 1872. They were both members of the
Lutheran Church, and were regular and faithful
attendants of the same.

George Traxler obtained his education in liie
common schools of the township, but at an early
age he left to learn the trade of brick-making, which
business he followed until 1885. On the 15tli of
October, 1865, he was united in marriage with Miss
Emma L. Harper, of Franklin Count}', Ohio. Jlrs.
Traxler is a daughter of Elisha and Ana (Davis)
Harper, and was born Jan. 29, 1845. Mr. and Mrs.
Harper were natives of Pennsylvania, but of Ger-
man and Irish descent. To them were born six
children: David, a farmer of Marion Township;
Eliza A., wife of Samuel Jay, of Dallas, Col. ; Will-
iam J., a farmer of Page County, Iowa; Mrs. Trax-
ler; Margaret, wife of David Kenworthy, of Mt.
Pleasant, and Eli. a farmer of Trenton Township.
Mr. Harper died Nov. 18, 1855, and his wife was
again united in marriage, with Reuben Mannings,
now deceased. Mrs. Mannings is now residing in
Trenton Township.

Mr. and Mrs. Traxler are the happy parents of
two children: Levi A., born Dec. 20, 1866, and
Annetta, born Oct. 11, 18G8. In March, 1886,
Levi started a store of general merchandise on the
Washington road. Mr. Traxler and his good wife
are highly respected by all who know them. He
was reared a Democrat, luit cast his first vote with
the Independent part}'. He owns a nice farm of
fifty -six acres, on which he has good and substantial
farm buildings.

'^^m^^

UILLIAM R. CREW, farmer As stated in
the sketch of Hon. M. L. Crew, all the
W^ children of Walter :ind Sarah (Rice) Crew
were born in Hanover County, ^'a. William was
born in December, 1826. and was in company witli
his piuents and their entire family when the}' came
to tills Slate. I'rior to that event he was engaged
in the milling business, and soon after his marriage
began business for himself, and from 1854 to 1857
w;is in the mercantile business with his brother-in-
law, Alfred Sluylcr. In Sidem.

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HENRY COUNTY.

253 ' ■ I

I

The marriage of William R. Crew and Miss Caro-
line Richey was celebrated in February, 18G2.
Eight children blessed their union, viz: Cordelia
A., now wife of D. S. Swan, a merchant of
Cheyenne, AVyo. ; Leroy B., husband of Ella
Matthews, and a resident farmer of this township;
Eva E. is the wife of William B. Donaldson, formerly
a druggist of Salem, now doing business in the
West; Edwin G. became the husband of Lucy
Bales, and is farming in this township; Luella H.
married John H. Boj'ce, a farmer of Salem Town-
ship; Alfred S. is with his brother-in-law Swan in
Cheyenne, and Fannie F. is lier father's liouse-
keeper. One, Carrie, died in infanc_v. After a few
years spent in mercantile business, Mr. Crew re-
moved to the Crew homestead, and later purchas-
ing the farm now his property, removed ti> it in
1866. His wife died Aug. 3, 1867, and on March
24, 1870, the man-iage of Mr. Crew and Mary E.
Smith wascelebr.ated. Her parents were James and
Mary (Brown) Smith, who were residents of
Waynesville, Ohio. The death of her mother
occurred when Mary was five years of age, and after
her father died she came to Iowa in company with
several of her brothers and sisters, who intended mak-
ing a home in the West. The children were named
respectively: Orestes R., who wedded Elizabeth
Hartle, and died in Salem in 1883; Asher B., who
removed to Ohio, and Rachel, wife of Samuel
Siveter; the two latter were twins. Mary H,wife
of our subject, and Charles G., a resident of Dakota.
The wife of Mr. Crew was during a part of her
residence in Iowa, a teacher, having received a good
education at the Friends' School in Richmond, Ind.
She was thirty-five years of age when she be-
came the wife of Mr. Crew, and bore him two
children — Leonard F. and AVilliam R., twins. The
death of the latter occurred in infancy. Assuming
the cares of a mother to all the children born to
Mr. Crew's first wife, she enacted a noble part, and
no mother could have been more truly loved. Be-
tween her own son and his half brothers and sisters no
favoritism was shown, and to each and all she was a
true mother in every sense of the word. Each vied
with the other in promoting her pleasure, and wlieu
her spirit took its flight, each and all felt most
keenly the loss of one who in every deed and word

acted only fiir their welfare. The remains of Mrs.
Mary E. Crew were laid forest Dec. 7, 1883, in the
Salem Churchj-ard, the funeral services being con-
ducted by her pastor. Rev. L. T. Rowley, the min-
ister of the Congregation.ll Church in Salem, to
which Mr. and Mrs. Crew both belonged. Wher-
ever she went, as hei- husband expresses it, "sun-
shine followed," and much of his good fortune
came from her care and after she became the head
of his household. AD the children are married
and aw.ay from the parental home except Fannie
and Leonard. They are surrounded b}' every-
thing that can make home pleasant, and the farm
is a model one in this township.

To Mr. Crew have come sorrows hard to bear,
but he is yet in his prime, with large experience,
possessed of wealth, character and honor. P^ive
terms he has served upon the Board of Supervisors,
is a member of tiie School Board, and for fifteen
years was Superintendent of the Congregational
S.abbath-school, at Salem. He is a large breeder of
stock, and owns more than a half section of land in
one body. Both as a man .and citizen he commands
the respect of all who know him.

''wv. -^«iii2i2/©-^^<

»^,5!/Zrzrs»v. "w/*-

ENRY BROWN, one of the pioneer settlers
of Henry County, residing on section 3,
Center Townsliip, was born in F.ayette
ji County, Ohio, Nov. 3, 1819, and is a sou of
John and Mary (Tate) Brown. They were natives
of Frederick County, Va., emigrating to Fayette
County in an early day. Thej' were the parents of
five sons and six daughters, seven of whom .are still
living: Sydney, of Appanoose County, Iowa; Lu-
cinda, of this county; Manley, of Washington
County, Iowa; Jackson, now a resident of S.alem
County, Mo.; Ellen, wife of John Tendergrass, of
W.ashington County, Iowa; William, of Council
Bluffs, Iowa. In 1847 Mr. and Mrs. Brown came
to Iowa, remaining here until their death, the father
dying in Washington County, and the mother in Des
Moines. In politics he was a Jackson Democrat.
They were people highl}' respected in the commun
ity where they resided.

The subject of this sketch in his boyhood diiys

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254

HENRY COUNTY.

remainecl on a farm in Fayette County, Ohio, and
like so many other lioys of that time, attended the
log school-house with its punchon lloors, slab seats,
greased paper windows and immense fireplace. In
1841 Mr. Brown led to the marriage altar Miss
Barbara A. Helphrey, a native of Ohio, born in
Licking County in 1823. Mr. and Mrs. Brown
have had a faniilj* of six children, five of whom are
now living: Alice, wife of Cyrus Bush, of Washing-
ton County, Iowa; George, still an inmate of the
parental iiome; Rosa, also at home; Florence, wife
of David Durst, of Washington County, Iowa, and
Parrott, of Mt. Pleasant. In 1846 Mr. Brown
emigrated to Iowa, making the journey with teams,
settling near Burlington for about two years, but
subsequently removing to Henry County. He re-
mained in this county for twenty-two years, then
removed to AVashington County, Iowa, which place
he made his home for fourteen j-ears. In the
spring of 1882 he returned to Henrj' County, pur-
chasing a f.arm, as before stated, in Center Town-
shij), and here he still resides.

In early life our subject exerted his influence
for and voted witli the Democratic party until the
breaking out of the war, since which time he has
always voted with the Republican party. Mr.
I'rown came to this county a poor man, but with a
willing- heart and a strong arm, he patiently labored
until he is now one of the well-to-do farmers of
Henry County. His farm, consisting of 120 acres,
situated a mile and a half from Mt. Pleasant, is one
of the best cultivated in this part of the State.
The beloved wife was called from her happy home
on earth to the better one above, March 13, 1881.
Mr. Brown is one of the early settlers of the county,
is alvvays ready to aid in any public enterprises for
the public good, and is universally esteemed.

RANCLS DUAKK .SHELDON, farmer. Per-
haps no man in Salem Township is more
widely known, or is considered more of a
peculiar character, than tlie gentleman named above.
He was l)orii in Leeds County, Canada, Dec. 20,
1809, and is a son of Jeremiah and Experience
(Fuller) Sheldon. They were natives of Pittsford,

Conn., and emigrated to Canada several 3-ears be-
fore the birth of our subject. For many j-ears be-
fore his marriage, and as long as he remained in
Connecticut, Jeremiah Sheldon was a Lieutenant in
the regular army. The eldest son, Horace, was
born before the family removed to Canada, where
the father purchased a farm, upon which Rilej% Rus-
tin W., Amelia, Richard, Fr.ancis D., Jane, Alexan-
der and Experience, were born.

The parents both died on this farm, their children
being grown and well educated prior to that time.
Our subject fell from a tree when seventeen years
of age, and broke both his wrists, which practically
disabled him for farm work, but his father being in
somewhat straightened circumstances, the son de-
termined to shift for himself. He attended school
for three years, and paid both for board and tuition,
and when twenty-one years old began teaching,
which he continued for three years. Not liking
that profession, in 1823 he began clerking in astore,
and in 1826 was married to Sarah, a daughter of
Sheldon and Olive Stoddard, the former a member
of the firm of Hartwell & Stoddard, in whose em-
ploy he had been.

Francis Sheldon had economized and saved
money enough to purchase a farm at Rideau Lake,
near Beverly, and the domestic life of the 3'oung
couple was begun on this farm. The father of Mrs.
Sheldon was, in his day, a very wealthy man, who
owned extensive mills, and shipped large quantities
of lumber to Quebec; and was also engaged in the
mercantile trade. Later, they removed to Porter
County, Ind., where they both died. One daughter,
Olive, now deceased, graced the union of our sub-
ject and wife before they became residents of the
United States. Their removal was made to I'orter
County, Ind., about 1836, and the next year they
went to Cass County, Mich., where Mr. Sheldon
purchased a farm. In Porter County, Ind., a son,
Franklin, was born, who wedded Mary Vaughn, and
at the time of his death, Dec. 19,1883, was the
editor of the McPherson (Kan.) F)-ee Thinker.
Olivia, the second d.aughter, now deceased, was born
in Michigan. She became the wife of William M.
Carter, of Lee County, Iowa.

Mr. Sheldon had erected a new lionse on his farm
in Cass County, Mich., and after it was cleaned and

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HENRY COUNTY.

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255

i

ready to move into, the cabin caught fire and
burned to the ground with all its contents. This
was a severe loss to the 3'oung couple, as it swept
awaj' all their earnings; so they returned to Indiana,
where the death of Mrs. Sheldon occurred the next
year, Dec. 9, 1841. While a resident of Canada,
our subject embraced the doctrine of the Friends,
and for a term of years was a prominent member
of that societj'. After the division in that body re-
garding slaverj% ]\Ir. Sheldon still remained in the
church, though in sentiment he was an Abolitionist.
He labored faithfully in the society even after his
removal from Michigan, and after the death of his
wife, returned to Cass County, Mich., and taught a
monthly meeting school. The next year he re-
turned to Canada, and while there was married to
Miss Charlotte Booth. She was a daughter of Isaac
and Thursey (Wing) Booth, whom, as is well authen-
ticated, bore in their veins royal blood. Her father
was born iu Orange County, and her mother in
Dutchess County, N. Y., but their parents were
natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Booth settled
on a farm in Canada, and there their children grew
to maturity. Charles, the eldest son, was a well-
known surveyor, and also taught school, as did Mrs.
Sheldon before her marri.ige. Her mother bore fif-
teen children, nine reaching maturity — Anna, Eliza-
beth, Caroline, May, Rebecca, Charlotte, Charles,
James and Daniel. Mrs. Sheldon is the only one
living, and was born July 9, 1822.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon lived
for three j'ears in Cass County, Mich., and in 1845
came to Lee County, Iowa, where he purchased a
farm. For many years after his coming to Iowa,
Mr. Sheldon labored earnestly in the Society oi
Friends, but after careful consideration of the sub-
ject, aided by a liberal and intelligent studj' of
moral and Divine law, he and his w'ife (who was
born in that faith) asked for a discontinuance of
their membership. Having fully investigated the
subject, both have allied themselves with the great
body of materialists, and with all their former zeal
are now laboring for the welfare of their fellow-
men. In 1878 they became residents of Salem,
where they have a neat cottage on a nice little farm
inside of the corporation. Six daughters and three
sous have graced their union : Sarah, the wife of
-^«

Charles Brown, a farmer of Henry Count}'; Thursey
wedded to Hiram H. Root, a farmer in Colorado;
Ho.ag B. was a soldier during the late war, belong-
ing to an Iowa regiment, and was wounded at the
battle of Atlanta, but recovered, and is now a resi-
dent of Mesa County, Col., and is a bachelor; Re-
becca is the widow of James South, and resides in
Lee County, Iowa; Experience is the wife of Elihu
Bond, and resides in Dawson County, Neb.; Rachel
is the wife of Lemuel Kenley, a resident of the
same county ; Charles W. married Minnie Stamper,
and resides in this township; Olive is the wife of
William JI. Steward, a farmer of Henry County;
Franklin Sheldon, the other son, was also a soldier
in the late war, serving three years, apart of which
time he was connected with the hospital staff.

Mr. Sheldon and his wife, by reason of their long
residence in the State, and their unswerving up-
rightness of character here, are entitled to and have
the respect and esteem of the people who know
them.

ll^ EV. STEPHEN MILLER, a farmer residing
iUif on section 24, Jefferson Township, Henry
Co., Iowa, was born in Holmes County,
JJ^Ohio, in 1844, and is the son of Tobias
and Barbara (Yoder) Miller. The father of Tobias,
Daniel Miller, w.as a native of Somerset County,
Pa., and married Miss Troyer, and moved to Ohio
in 1817, thus becoming one of the first settlers of
Holmes County. They were the parents of Tobias,
born in 1801, Benjamin, Moses, Joseph, Susannab
and Aaron. Their father was for many years a
Deacon in the Mennonite Church, and died in his
eighty-tirst year. His sect>nd wife was Mrs. Mag-
dalena (Miller) Troyer. After the marriage of
Tobias Miller to Barbara Yoder, he began domestic
life on a farm, upon which he remained during his
lifetime. His wife died in 1849, and he married
Mrs. Annie (Hostettler) Yoder. To the first wife
was born: Moses, who married Lizzie Yoder;
Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Hostettler; Daniel died
unmarried; Christian wedded Elizabeth Mast;
Lydia died in childhood ; John wedded Catherine
Mast, and after her death Fannie Zook; Rebecca
became the w-ife of Daniel Stuzman: David mar-
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256

HENRY COUNTY.

ried and resides in Goshen, Ind., where he is en-
gaged in retail boot and shoe trade ; Jacob wedded
Lydia Wenuei-, and after her death a lady of La-
grange County, Ind. ; then onr sul)ject: and Fannie,
wife of Eli Wenger, of Wayne Count3', Ohio. The
second marriage was graced by the l)irth of one
son, Aaron, now the husband of Miss .Scholl, and a
physician of Tuscai-awas County, Ohio.

Our subject was married first in Ohio, Jan. 4,
1866, to Catherine Degler. She was the mother
of two children — Emma I., and Sarah A., deceased.
After her death, which occurred March 9, 1809,
Rev. Miller remained a widower until Dec. 1, 1871,
when Miss Leah Wenger became his wife, which
union was blessed by the births of: Frederick,
Nettie; David, deceased; Mary; John, deceased;
Elmer, deceased, and Samuel. In Ohio Rev. Miller
was elected Deacon of the Mennonite Church in
1877. The next year, with his family, he removed
to Henry County, purchasing his present farm in
Jefferson Township. He was elected by the Men-
nonite congregation, of which he became a mem-
ber, as minister, and was ordained in the spring of
1879, and to this date has faithful!}' performed the
trust reposed in him. He is accounted one of the
most worth}' citizens, and no family can claim a
higher degree of respect. During his ministry the
church has prospered greatly, and among those who
devote a large portion of their time to the holy
calling of sowing the good seed, we are pleased to
make mention of Rev. Stephen Miller.

^^ TEPHEN THATCHER, farmer, on section
^^^ 12, in Salem Township. For a (piailer of
lv<^13) ■' centni'v our sul)j('ct has been engaged in,
and identified with, the busine.-^s intei'ests
of Henry Coiuily. lie was liorn in Rochester,
Warren Co., Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and
Elizabeth (Linton) Tiiatcher. The Thatcher fam-
ily arc of English origin, and <in the Linton side
they emigrated with AVilliam I'enn to Anu'rica.
Elizabetii Linton was born in Bucks County, Pa.,
and her husband in Berkeley County, \'a.. The
parents on both sides became residents of Ohio,
the Thatchers settling in (irecne County in 1800.

►-■-^

i

Joseph Thatcher and Elizabeth Linton were married
in Clinton County, Ohio, and removed to Roch-
ester, Warren County, where they owned a farm
and also kept a tavern for a few years. All their
children were born in Ohio, as follows : Jesse and
Ruth, who died unmarried; Hannah was next, and
is married to Augustus Cox, of Page County ; Will-
iam married Sydney A. Thompson; David wedded
Charity Cook; Hannah was next, and is married to
Augustus Cox, of Page County; then Thomas, wh
was married to Melinda Scott, were all born in Clin-
ton Comity. In 'Warren County were born Stejjhen,
our subject; John, who wedded Anna Buffington,
and Ann, deceased. The entire family removed to
this State in 1840, and settled near Salem. One year
later Joseph Thatcher purchased a farm near 'West
Point, and five years later returned to Marion
County, Ind., near Indianapolis, remaining there,
however, only two years, when he again came to
Henry County and purchased a farni near Salem,
upon which he staid a few years, and then purchased
property in Salem, where both the parents lived
and died. Both reached a ripe old age, Joseph be-
ing ninety-one and his wife seventy-nine years
old at the time of their death.

Stephen Thatcher has always been a farmer. He
was nlarried, Oct. 20, 1853, to Miss Ann Hadley, of
Morgan County, Ind., where she died May 27,
1803. She was the mother of three children: Jared
is the husband of Emma Lamb, and is a fanner of
Thayer County, Neb. ; Marietta became the wife of
George Pruitt, a resident physician of Blanchard,
Page Co., Iowa, and Albert is deceased. The second
wife of our subject was Miss Achsah Pidgeou, a
daugliter of Isaac and I'hcebe Pidgcon, who have
an extensive history elsewhere. The wedding was
celebrated March 21, 1861, and their two first
years of married life were spent in Indiana. In
1863 Mr. Thatcher came to this county, purchased
his present farm, and has been a citizen of Henry
Count}- ever since. To their union were born six
children: Charles, a graduate of the Burlington
Commercial College, is a resident of Yama, Col. ;
Isaac E. is now a resident of Imperial, Chase Co.,
Neb.; Ruth I., Alice and Anna B. are yet at home,
and Daisy is deceased. Almost a quarter of a
century of hapj)}' married life came to our subject
•►

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HENRY COUNTY.

259

and his wife, when, beloved by all, in a home made
joj'ous b}' the bright smiles and happy voices of
her children, the spirit of the faithful wife and
loving- mother passed from this earth to life eternal,
Nov. 8, 1885. An elegant home was thus left
without a matron, and a husband who adored her
in life and now reveres her memory, still remains
true to his trust, and the children, guided b.y the
correct teaching and loving counsel of their mother,
have lightened his sorrow as best thej- could. The
neighborhood in which Mr. Thatcher resides is
composed of the best families in Salem Township,
and all unite in their praises of him as a father, a
gentleman, and a public-spirited citizen. Born in
the Quaker Church, to which his parents belonged,
he still holds his allegiance with it, and j^et retains
his membership in the first society of Friends
organized in Henry County, Salem Township.

♦^^s^— ^4!i^^'" "*'*^

J '~' AMES B. HART, a retired farmer, and a pio-
neer of Henry County, Iowa, was born near
Waynesburg, Greene Co., Pa., March 29,
' 1819. His parents were John and Jane
(Buchanan) Hart, natives of Maryland. His father
was a farmer by occupation, and died when James
was but three years of age. His mother was a dis-
tant relative of President Buchanan. Her death
occurred in 1881. The subject of this slcetcli was
reared on a farm and there acquired industrious and
economical habits, and when twentj'-two years of
age emigrated to Iowa, and located at Mt. Pleas-
ant, arriving in this place in April, 1841, where he
spent the first 3'ear in carpenter work. He was
mamed near Mt. Pleasant, June 11, 1843, to Miss
Jane Smith, a native of Washington County, Pa.,
and daughter of Thomas Smith. She came to
Henry County, Iowa, in companj' with her parents
in 1840. One child, a daughter, Elizabeth, was
born of their union. She married John Mehl, now
deceased, by whom she had three children: Will-
iam H., aged twenty-one years, was killed on the
railroad ; Ernest is now nineteen j'ears of age, and

Frederick, aged seventeen. Mrs. Mehl resides in
Mt. Pleasant with her parents.

In 1852 Mr. Hart engaged in the lumber business,
and continued in that line of trade for several
years. He was also in the grocery business about
five years. In 1862 he enlisted in the volunteer
service in the War for the Union, as a private in
the 37th Iowa ^'^olunteer Infantry, known as the
" Grayl)eards." This regiment was stationed at St.
Louis, l)ut was not called into active service. He
was promoted to Sergeant and served seven
months. During the first years of the war he"
acted as local sutler to a company of soldiers en-
camped at Mt. Pleasant.

Soon after coming to Mt. Pleasant, Mr. Hart
purchased a farm in Marion Township, and engaged
for a time in farming. He also erected several
buildings in this city, which he rented, some for
business purposes and some as dwellings. From
time to time Mr. Hart has purchased land until he
now is the owner of 1,400 acres, situated in Iowa
and adjoining States. Several of his best farms lie
in Henry County, Iowa, and are well improved.
In early life Mr. Hart was a Whig, and on the dis-
solution of that party, and the formation of the
Republican part\', he associated himself with the
latter organiz.ation, and has since voted the Repub-
lican ticket. He united with the Congregational
Church in 1846, and has remained a consistent
member of that denomination to the present time.
His wife united with the same church four years
prior to her husband's conversion, and has since
been a f.aithfnl and exemplary member.

Since 1852 Mr. Hart has been a resident of the
city of Mt. Pleasant. He has never been an aspir-
ant for the honors or emoluments of public office,
but has preferred to devote his undivided attention
to busiuess pursuits, in which he has been eminently
successful. He began life with nothing, but by in-
dustry, frugality, and the exercise of good judg-
ment in his business ventures, has accumulated a
large and valuable property. During his long
residence in Henry Count}' he has made many warm
friends, and has won a high place in the esteem of
his fellow-citizens, for his upright and fair conduct
in all the affairs of life. An excellent view of his
city residence is shown in this work.
, m^

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260

HENRY COUNTY.

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i

ERNHARD TRAUT, a resident of Marion
Townsliip, living on section 21, was born in
Eppingen, State of Baden, Germany, Feb.
29, 1832, and is the son of George and
Catharine (Lindner) Traut, who were also natives
of Germany. George and Catharine Traiit were
the parents of six children, but only three grew to
man and womanhood: Louisa, deceased; Nancy
died in Germany at the age of thirty ; Mina mar-
ried Henry Klingemeier, a farmer now living in
Wapello County, Iowa; Elizabeth, Catharine and
one other child died in infancy. Bernhard was the
fourth child, and when four j'earsof age his parents
removed to Bretten, where he attended school. At
the age of fifteen he left school to learn the trade
of d3'eing' and printing goods of various kinds, at
which trade he worked about three years, or until
he was eighteen years old, at which time he made
up his mind to leave his native country. Accord-
ingl}', April 1, 1850, he embarked on board a
ship and sailed for America. After a voyage of
forty-five days he landed in New York City May
13, where he remained for about two months, work-
ing in a brewery at 12 a month for the first, and 13
for the .second month. About this time a friend of
young Traut came from Philadelphia to New York,
and Traut concluded to go with him on his return
to the City of Brotherly Love, which he did. After
looking around for some time, he concluded to
learn the cari)entcr's trade, and accordingly went
to work with the firm of George Link & Fisher, at
$30 per year, board and washing included. He
worked with them two years and eight months, or
until he was twenty-one years old. At the expira-
tion of his time with Link & Fisher, he began tak-
ing instructions in stair-building, receiving |il.25
per day for the first year, boarding himself. 'I'hc
second year he worked as journeyman, and re-
ceived $1.75 in summer and $1.50 in winter. In
May, 1 855, he went to Chicago and remained there
until sometime in June, when he went to Burling-
ton, Iowa, and from there bj' wagon to Mt. Pleas-
ant, where he went to work at his trade for Robert
Reed, for whom he woiked one month, when the}-
formed a partnership, under the firm name of Reed
& Traut. In January, 1856, he went to St. Louis

and from there to New Orleans, where he remained
-^*

three weeks. Taking passage on a steamer, he re-
turned to New York, remaining there until the time
of his marriage, which occurred July 15, 1856, to
Miss Caroline Schneider, who was born at Ober,
Oterbach, in the State of Bav.aria. German}', April
7, 1832. She was the daughter of Frederick and
Frederica (Fath) Schneider, who were both natives
of Germany. In August, young Traut returned to
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, with his young bride, and built
his first home in America. He worked at his trade,
part of the time at St. Louis and Jefferson City,
Mo., until 1858, when he went to work on the hos-
pital for the insane at Mt. Pleasant, and continued
at this work from June until December. \York
being scarce in Mt. Pleasant, he again went to St.
Louis, and engaged in stair-building at $2.25 per
day, remaining three months. When his work was
finished, his emploj'ers made him a present of §10
as a token of their appreciation of his ability as a
workman. While he was in St. Louis, Jlr. Traut
received word that his father had come to New
York, and he returned to Mt. Pleasant with the in-
tention of going for him, but in the meantime the
old gentleman arrived at that place, where he made
his home with his son and daughter. He died at
the age of eighty-one years and three months. His
wife died when Bernhard was twelve years old. Mr.
Traut began work on the asylum in 1850, working
there until the spring of 1861, when he bought
forty acres of land, but two acres of which were
cleared, and on which was a log cabin. He com-
menced working on his land, grubbing and clearing,
and adding buildings and more land from time to
time, until he now has 235 acres. He and his two
sons own 515 acres, of which the first forty acres
were the foundation. Mr. Traut has erected good
liuildings on his farm, and it is under a fine state of
cultivation, being the result of economj' and indus-
try on his part, for at the age of twenty-one he had
but $4 in cash with which to begin the battle of life.
To-day none stand higher in the respect of the
citizens of Henry County than do Mr. Traut and
his estimable wife.

Four children have graced their union : Louisa,
the eldest, died in infancy; George, born Dec. 20,
1858, was united in marriage with Miss Maggie
Smith, now deceased; by this union he had one

■1

HENRY COUNTY.

261

child, Frederick, born Sept. 27, 1886, and resides on
section 20, Marion Township. Henry, bcnn in Jul3-,
1862, married M.ary Lafferty. a daughter of .Tobn
Lafferty, and now resides on a farm in Marion
Township; Lillie, born Oct. 10, 1866, is still living
at home. Mr. and Mrs. Traut have given each of
their children a good education, and all are held in
high esteem. In politics, Mr. Traut holds liberal
views, voting for the man and not the party.

-» -HH--^)jt:|:$t>ijt-HH-«.

'I^^ATHANIEL E. ARMSTRONG, a prominent
I jj and well-known citizen of Henry County,
li\J^ residing on section 24, Tippecanoe Town-
ship, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1816,
and is the son of Leonard and Rebecca (Riggs)
Armstrong, the former a native of Virginia, and
the latter of North Carolina, the father being of
Scotch and the mother of German descent. Leonard
Armstrong settled at Columbia, Ohio, in 1796, near
where Cincinnati now stands, though at that time
there was no settlement there. Here he lived a
short time, then moved a few miles east to the
Little Miami River, where he and three brothers,
John, Thomas and Nathaniel, each claimed a mill
site and built a mill. These mills were widely'
knowu as the Armstrong Mills, and were among
the first erected in that part of Ohio. They were
visited by the settlers for 100 miles around. One
of them was used for the manufacture of woolen
goods and the others were saw and flouring mills.
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong reared a family of
eleven children, four sons and seven daughters, all
of whom grew to man and womanhood, and lived
to rear families of their own, and eight of them are
still living. They were as follows : Nathaniel, our
subject; William P., who now resides in Missouri,
and is a miller by trade; John R., also a miller, re-
siding in Illinois; Hannah Ann, wife of John C.
Webb, of Hamilton County, Ohio, both decea.'ed ;
Harriet, the wife of John W. Millspaugh, a car-
penter of Winfield, Kan. ; Philomelia, wife of Thomas
Spellman, a resident of Kansas ; Selina, wife of An-
drew Riggs, residing in Eddyville, Iowa; Frances

■^•^ : ^, - -

v., w'ife of Alfred Riggs, of Mahaska County, Iowa;
Aniarida, wife of John Slemmons, residing at Coun-
cil Bluffs, Iowa; Zelia Jane married B. K. Pharr, a
citizen of this count}', and departed this life in
Salem, in 1868, he dying in the same place in 1865;
CIa3-ton W. died in Winfield. Kan., at the age of
si xt}' -five.

Our subject passed his youth on a farm and
worked in a mill. He was educated at the public
schools and at Parker's Academy in Clermont
County, Ohio. At the age of twenty-seven, in
1843, he was united in ra.arri.ige with Miss Char-
lotte Millspaugh, who was born in 1826, in Cler-
mont County, Ohio, and is a daughter of James
and Cynthia (Corwin) Millspaugh. The latter was
a cousin to Thomas Corwin, the distinguished
orator and Statesman of Ohio. In the spring of
1844 Mr. Armstrong emigrated with his young-
wife to AVarrick County, Ind., there purchasing
eighty acres of land in the forest, with but a few
acres cleared, on which was a log cabin. In this
cabin he lived happily in true frontier style for
four years. Selling this, Mr. Armstrong purchased
a tract of land of seventy-six acres in the suburbs
of Boonville, Ind., residing there for ten years en-
gaged in farming and running a mill. In 1 858 he
emigrated to Henry County, Iowa, purchasing the
Oakland Mills and 320 acres of land in connection
with his three brothers-in-law, Messrs. Riggs, Spell-
man and Millspaugh. Mr. Armstrong still owns
his interest, his p.artner being John P. Stringer, the
husliand of his daughter Eugenia.

Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are the parents of six
children, namely: Marcellus, who resides in Cen-
ter Township in this county; Sarah Belle died at
the age of fifteen ; Alice died at the age of eighteen ;
T. N., who resides with his father; Eugenia, wife of
John P. Stringer, of this county; Milton, residing
in Colorado, is engaged in the mercantile business,
and Josephine, who makes her home with her par-
ents, is an artist of. considerable ability.

Mr. Armstrong is very liberal in his political
views, believing in political reform, and at present
heartily indorsing the ininciples of the Union La-
bor party. In religion he is a free-thinker. He
has held many township offices with credit to him-
self and satisfaction to the community, and has held

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262

HENRY COUNTY.

■ the office of Township Treasurer for twelve years.
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are among the pioneer set-
tlers of this count)', and are well known and highly
respected by all who know them.

EVI L. BEERY, a farmer and dairj^man of
Baltimore Township, is prominent among the
[L^^ agriculturists and business men of Henry
County, and his name has been for years a familiar
one. He was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in
1814, and is the son of Isaac and Mary (Cridle-
baugh) Beery, who came to this county in 1842.
Isaac Beery was born in Rockingham County, Va.,
and his wife in Reading, Pa., their marriage being
celebrated in Ohio. Mr. Beery built a flatboat for
the purpose of emigration, and on it made the jour-
ney to Ohio, where he was one of the first settlers.
He was a minister of the Dunkard faith, also a
farmer, and after living for man}- years lives worthy
of emulation, the parents were called to their final
home. They reared a family of twelve children:
Delilah, Catherine, George, Andrew, Elizabeth, Levi
L., Maria, Elijah, Jesse, Isaac, Enoch and Priseilla.
Eight of these children are now living, but our sub-
ject is the only one residing in this county. In
Ohio Levi L. Beery was wedded to Miss Margaret
Short, in 1839. He came to this count}', as before
stated, in 1842, and the next j-ear brought his
young wife, selecting this for a permanent home.
He was present at the treat}' made with the In-
dians, at the time of the second purchase, and the
land selected by Mr. Beery was upon the Black Hawk
purchase, and the fertile valley that produces such
bountiful crops was the favorite luinting-ground
of the Indians, wIki had two considerable villages
not far from his present homestead. Mr. Beery
made a first purchase of 1C2 acres, which was occu-
pied by a squatter who had built a small cal)in
upon the site of his jiresent home. With his young
wife, Mr. Beery moved into the cabin, and after
twelve months of pioneer life he erected a more
commodious house.

Mr. Beery is an example of a typical self-made
■^« _^_^___^_

man, and was in straightened circumstances when
he first came to this county. He erected a mill in
1844, which lie operated for perhaps a score of
years. Later, putting in an engine and boiler, he
added a gristmill, and this was also operated for
several years, Mr. Beerj' having learned the miller's
trade while engaged in the business. The ruins
now serve as a landmark. This mill was the prin-
cipal source of Mr. Beery's good fortune, and from
that investment his possessions have increased with
his years, until he now owns nearly a section of the
finest land in Baltimore Township, stocked with
flocks and herds, and the bottom lands are of the
most productive character. His buildings are in
keeping with his enterprise, and in addition to his
farming interests he has a cheese factory with a
capacity of 700 pounds weekly. His own cows sup-
ply the milk, and the products find a ready sale in
the home markets: in fact, the demand is greater
than the supply. Aside from the industries men-
tioned, Mr. Beery has done a large business for
years in both grain and stock, which has been also
a source of profit and pleasure.

Mr. and Mrs. Beery have seven children: Jane,
now the wife of A. L. Micksell, a resident of Cov-
ington, Miami Co., Ohio: AVilliam H., wedded to
Lizzie Briton : Isaac, husband of Nellie IMoul ;
Enoch, married to Susie Rains; Mary, Delilah and
Angeline, at home with their parents. In addition,
Mr. and Mrs. Beery are rearing as carefully as their
own, a niece, Gertie Beery, a daughter of Jefferson
and Martha Beer}'.

This household has ever been noted for its cour-
tes}' and kindness, and as host and hostess the names
of L. L. Beery and his estimable wife are known
far and wide. The first family reunion occurred
Oct. 15, 1887, at which all the children were pres-
ent with their respective husbands and wives. Mr.
Beery has lived a life worthy of emulation, and as
his years increase, his love and veneration for the
Republican party increase, and although nut a
candidate forollicial position, he isan ardent worker,
and at the last county convention, held at Mt.
Pleasant, he was Chairman. His children have been
carefully educated, and all have certificates enti-
tling them to teach, and some of them have taught
in this count}'; Delilah and Angeline have been

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HENRY COUNTY.

263

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teachers in Nebraska, and Jane in Ohio. The same
teacher that was preceptor wlieii Mr. Beerj' was a
student, was the instructor of his children— Prof.
S. L. Howe, who founded the academy which bears
his name, and which has given an education to many
people of note from this and other States.

Mr. Beery was a schoolmate with Gen. W. T.
and .Tohn Siierman, Tom Ewing and other noted
men, and in their boyhood days their debates grew
ardent in their literary societies. Men grow old
in years, but their good deeds and their virtues are
left for examples for future generations, and to
such men as Mr. Beery Henry Countj^ owes much
of the fame she possesses as a leading county in the
State of Iowa.

!<^ AVID BURDEN, merchant and Postmas-
^' ter, Salem, Iowa, was born in Charlbury,
Oxfordshire, England, in 1833, and is the
son of James and Ann (Sales) Burden.
Both parents were natives of England, and James
for many years was a stone-cutter and mason.
They reared eleven children, seven of whom are
now living, and four are deceased. Those living in
England are : Ann married Mr. Kench ; Har-
riet wedded her cousin, AVilliam Burden; Han-
nah is married to William Kerry; Sarah became the
wife of Job Tolley, and William is also married.
John is the onlj- unmarried one, and is a teacher in
Oxfordshire, England, in which locality all the
children except David reside. He left his native
home in 1854, and landed in America before he had
reached his twenty-first year. He was full of the
enthusiasm that fills the breasts of enterprising
young men, and expected to better his condition in
life, although he was engaged in the mercantile busi-
ness before leaving England. His .academic educa-
tion was completed in Europe and he was well fitted
for any occupation. His first experience was in Au-
rora, N. Y., he taking a position with the mercan-
tile house of E. B. Morgan & Co. The senior pro-
prietor was then a Member of Congress. During
his residence of ten months in Aurora, our subject

became acquainted with Miss Rosa Savage. After
the family left New York and emigrated to Iowa,
he followed them, and Jan. 1, 1857, he became the
husband of Miss Rosa Savage, the wedding being
celebrated beneath the paternal roof. Rev. L. J.
Rogers, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, per-
forming the ceremony. One mile east of Salem
the young couple began their domestic life, which
has been continued under the most happy circum-
stances. Until the breaking out of the Civil War
Mr. Burden farmed in the summer and taught
school in the winter, and was at that time teaching
in Southern Illinois. He was one of the first to vol-
unteer in a CO mpanj' raised in Richland County, 111.
Their services were proffered the State, but the quota
being full and a regiment then partly organized in
St. Louis being readj' to start to the front, they be-
came Company E, of the 1 1th Missouri Regiment of
the noted Eagle Brigade. They formed a part of the
western army, and their first engagement was at
Fredericktijwn, Mo., followed by that of Point
Pleasant, Mo., below Island No. 10. He then partici-
pated in the siege of Corinth and the battles following.
He was tlien detached from the regiment and assigned
to special duty at Gen. Grant's headquarters. He re-
mained at the executive part of headquarters, and at
Holly Springs was taken prisoner and escaped three
times during the daj'. The last time, however, he
was paroled and returned to headquarters, where
he was in the service of the medical department.
Following this, the transfer of Gen. Grant to
Commander-in-Chief of the United States armies,
placed Gen. Sherman in charge of the department
in which our subject was serving. His abilities
secured his retention, and during his entire service
he remained with the executive headquarters of
Sherman's army. After the battle of Vicksburg
he was discharged from the volunteers and made a
member of the regular army. He was selected by
the Secretary of War, and retained by him with in-
creased work and salary. His appointment l)ears
the signature of Gen H. W. Ilalleck, dated Aug. 1,
1 863. While lying at Vicksburg the smallpox broke
out, and our subject vaccinated most of the offi-
cers at headquarters, among whom was Gen. Grant,
and has the lancet still in his possession with which
he performed the operation. Among his numerous

1

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264

HENRY COUNTY.

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war relics is a receipted liill from Claghorn & Cun-
ningham, of Savannah, Ga., Sept. 7, 1864, for a
pound of tea, price §40, lionght b}' Charles C.
Jones, Secretary of the Georgia Historical Society-.
He was discharged from the service Sept. 18, 1865,
having served over four years. His discharge
bears the signature of J)r. .John Moore, now Sur-
geon (General of the United States Army. We
quote from the certificate given in writing by that
distinguished surgeon : "Hospital Steward Burden,
United States Army, has been in my office for
more than twu years. He is a man of spotless moral
character, and one of the most efficient clerks I
have met in the armj- in a service of thirteen years."
After his return from the army, Mr. Burden pur-
chased a farm near Salem, remaining there until
1877. He took an active part in the organization
of the Grange store at Salem, and was placed in
charge, and under his management, from 1874 until
its incorporation expired, it was successfully con-
ducted, and its stockholders realized in the ten
years one hundred and forty per cent in dividends
on their investment, and received their stock back
in full. Prior to the fire that destroyed Union Block,
Mr. Burden had sold his farm and invested his cash
in that business, but the accumulation of years was
in one short hour swept away. He secured another
stock of goods, and has remained in business to date.
In local politics he has been an important factor, and
has frequently lieen a delegate tv District and State
Conventions, sent by the Democratic part}'. April
1, 1887, he took charge of the post-office at Salem;
his appiiintment, dating March 1, bears the signa-
ture of I'ostmaster-Cieneral N'ilas. He has fitted up
an oflice in the rear of his stcire, with improved
boxes, and there is no better ollice in anj" country
town in the county. Five children have graced the
union of Mr. and Mrs. Burden — Charles F., Lena
L., Oliver VV.. Sidney \V. antl \'ietor K. The
eldest son is a graduate of Wliittier College; he
is by profession a teacher. Mr. Burden, his wife
and two children, arc members of the Congre-
gational Church, and he was a member of the
Congregational National Council held in 1886 at
Chicago, representing the Denmark Association, and
in the Church Bi>ard of olMcials he is one of the
Trustees. Feb. 6, 1855, he took out his first papers,

and by the act of Congress admitting all soldiers of
the late war to citizenship, became a citizen of the
United States. Later, he secured full naturaliza-
tion papers, and expects to live and die in the
country and under the flag for which he fought.
He is a member of Salem Lodge No. 48, L O. O.
F., and has passed all the Chairs, and has been Dis-
trict Deputy and representative to the Grand
Lodge. As a gentleman and citizen he stands high
in the estimation of all his acquaintances.

^^^*-H^^

^ 1^1 J. MARTIN, inventor of the reversible
\/jJ// Monitor or Roadgrader, of Mt. Pleasant,
V^^ was born in Schuylkill County, Pa., on the
16th of February, 1848. His father, John L. Mar-
tin, the first stonemason and contractoi' of Mt.
Pleasant, was also a native of Pennsylvania, and his
mother was Carrie (Bird) Martin. The}' were mar-
ried in Pennsylvania, and in 1856 emigrated to
Henry County, Iowa, settling in Mt. Pleasant,
where he embarked in his business, residing here
until his death, which occurred in 1880. Mrs. Mar-
tin resides at Des Moines, and is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Martin
were the parents of five children, two of whom are
dead; the living are: William, who is a stone-
mason, of Brighton, Iowa, and Wellington J.,
the subject of this sketch, and Clementine E., wife
of W. H. Penn, a postal clerk, residing in Des
Moines. John L. Martin held the political views
of the Whigs until the organization of the Repub-
lican party, alwa^'s since then voting with that
party.

Our subject received his education at the com-
mon schools. He is a carriage-maker and mechanic
by trade. In the year 1877 he was united in
marriage to Miss Clara Picking, daughter of ('.
Picking, of Nebraska. l{y this union there are four
children — Pearl P., Harry, Florence and Lydia.

In the year 1877 Mr. M:utin patented the road
grader, of which mention will be made in another
part of this book; the thought flashing .across his
mind all in an instant, he set to work to invent that

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most useful machine. He has now another machine
under consideration which he hopes soon to com-
plete. As a machinist, he has more than ordinary
abilitj'. having no superiors and few equals in this
region.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin are bighly esteemed by all
who know them, and have the confidence and love
of the whole community. Mr. Martin is a member
of the I. 0. 0. F., and also the Knights of L.ibor.
Politically he is a Democrat.

' ' eui

R. J. B. ALLEN, Hillsboro, Iowa. Few
men in a business or professional life re-
main for a quarter of a century in one city
or village, but the subject of this sketch
has been a continuous resident and phj'sician of
Hillsboro for almost twoscore years. He was born
in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1822, and is a son
of Thomas and Rachel (Green) Allen. The death
of Thomas Allen occurred when his son, our sub-
ject, was one year old. Thomas Allen was a Major
in the War of lbl2, and died at the age of thirt3'-
five years, leaving a widow and five children. The
mother owned a small farm upon which they lived
for a few years, and .all was harmonious and the
children were happj- in the love of their mother
and the companionship of each other until the
death of the mother in 1833. The children were
named respectively — Jane, Alfred A., Thomas G.,
Joseph B. and Calvin. The eldest daughter wedded
.Julius Beach, a farmer of that county, about a year
after her mother's death, and the eldest son be-
came an inmate of the family of David Bacon.
Later he taught school in Ohio, and afterward prac-
ticed medicine in Elizabethtown, Ind., later in
Mercer County, 111., and is now a practicing physi-
cian in Dakota. He was twice married ; the first
wife was Sarah Heal, who bore one daughter; the
deaths of both mother and daughter occurred in
Illinois, and in that State Nancy Maloy became his
wife. She bore several children, one of whom,
Austin B., is a physician and surgeon of prouiin-
ence in Missouri.

The death of Calvin occurred in infancy, and the
two younger surviving sons, Thom.as and Joseph
B., were consigned to the care of Deacon John
Hammond, b}' the loving mother upon her dying
bed. He was a father to the two orphan boys and
they were given all the opportunities for an educa-
tion that the Deacon's children enjoyed. All were
reared upon a farm. Thomas remained a bachelor,
and at one time w.as a merchant of Hillsboro, Henry
Co., Iowa, but is now a resident of Nebraska. Our
subject, Dr. Joseph B. Allen, always desired to
become a physician, and having secured all the edu-
cation afforded by the common schools, his foster-
father, the good Deacon mentioned, sent him to an
academ3' in Guernsey County, Ohio, he being at
that time eighteen j^ears of age. At twenty he
began the study of medicine with Dr. Welcome
Ballon, of Cumberland, and his first practice was in
partnership with his brother in Indiana. In 1844
the Doctor came West and located in the country
in Mercer County, III., and a few months later set-
tled in Little York, Warren Count}', where he re-
mained ten years. While a resident of that village,
in 1845, he wedded Dorothy M. Hammond, a niece
of the Deacon mentioned. She bore four children,
two of whom are j'et living: Richard E. and Mary
A., the latter the wife of Cyrus Newbold, a brother
of ex-Gov. J. G. Newbold. After the death of
Mrs. Allen the Doctor removed to Iowa, and located
in Hillsboro, Henry County, in 1854. He purchased
the practice of the resident physician. Dr. Weir,
and eighteen months later was wedded to Miss
Sarah J. Kimes, a daughter of Dr. Royal P. and
Priscilla (Hull) Kimes, who were residents of Hills-
boro, where Dr. Kimes h.ad practiced, but at the
time of his death was in St. Louis, whither he had
gone for the purpose of graduating. His widow
later wedded John Billingsley, whose death oc-
curred afterward, and she now resides in Van Buren
County, near Hillsboro. Two children were born
to the second marriage — Mary and Samuel. Dr.
Allen has been actively engaged in the practice of
medicine for thirty-three consecutive years, and
also has engaged in mercantile business in Hills-
boro. During his residence in that village .and
since his last marriage five children have gi-aced his
home: William S., a lawyer of Birmingham, Iowa,

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HENRY COUNTY.

the husband of Ella McCorraick; Louis B. is a
practicing physician of Humboklt, Neb., the hus-
band of Queen V. Gaj'lur; he was formerly a part-
ner of his father in Hillsboro, and after three years
spent witli him removed to his present location,
and is now the principal physician of that city.
Louis is a graduate of Keokuk Medical College,
and "William is a graduate of the law department
of the State University. Emma was the first daugh-
ter, followed 1)3' Anna B., now the wife of John W.
Harper, of Ravenna, Garfield Co., Kan., where he
is in part proprietor of the probable county seat.
Flora, the youngest daughter, died in infancy.
During a long lifetime of honorable management
our subject has earned and saved a competence.
He is one of the most widely known |>hysicians of
his county*, and among society and in ()ublic he and
his family enjoy a most enviable reputation. Dr.
Allen is a graduate in medicine from New I'ork
Citj- and belongs to the regular school. Forty
years of active practice have made him an expert
in diagnosis. We are pleased to give him a place
as a deserved one among the professional men of
his county.

.^(^^

^^ AMUEL WALLACE GARVIN, Mt. Pleas-
ant, Iowa, is a dealer in dry-goods, carpets,
notions, etc., and is also a partner of the
firm of John Moroney & Co., dealers in
staple and fancy groceries, of the same citj'. He
was born in Fleming County', Ky., Sept. 28, IS3G,
and is the son of James and Margaret (Saunders)
G.arvin. In 1848, when he was but twelve years
of age, the family emigrated to Henry County,
Iowa, and settled upon a farm in Center Township.
In the public schools of his native and also of his
adopted .State, Mr. Garvin received his primary
education, and then look a course of study at the
celebrated academj- of I'rof. Samuel L. Mowe, of
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. In 18.J8 lie made his home at
Mt. Pleasant and commenced business as a mer-
chant clerk, in which capacity ho served initil Au-
gust, 1 8C2, when he enlisted as a private in Company

B, 2oth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Before going to
the front he was appointed Sergeant of his com panj-
and was promoted Commissar^' Sergeant of the regi-
ment, and faithfuU}' served until the close of the
war, receiving his discharge in June. 1865. The
25th Iowa Volunteer Infantry was assigned to the
15tli Army Corps, and made a glorious record dur-
ing the war, participating in the battles of Chicka-
saw Ba^-ou, Arkansas Post, siege of Vicksburg, bat-
tles of Raymond, Champion Hill, Lookout Mount-
ain, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Snake Creek Gap,
Kennesaw Mountain, the battles of July 22 and 28,
1864, at Atlanta, and the siege of Atlanta, battles
of Jonesboro, Sherman's march to the sea, capture
of Savannah, march through the Carolinas, battle
of Bcntonville, N. C, and other minor engagements.

On his return from the army, Mr. Garvin en-
gaged as a clerk at Mt. Pleasant for three and a half
j'ears, then, in .September, 186H, he formed a part-
nership with T. II. Garlick in the mercantile busi-
ness, which partnership existed for one and a half
years. He was next in partnership with William
G. Saunders in the same line of trade for six
years, since which time he has carried on the busi-
ness alone. As a merchant he has been quite suc-
cessful, and has a reputation far and wide for the
good quality of his goods. In addition to his ex-
tensive dry-goods business, Mr. (iarvin is a part-
ner in the grocerj- house <if John Moronej- (k Co.,
which connection dates since April. 1877.

Mr. Garvin was married at Mt. Plcisiuil, Iowa,
Sept. 5, 1867. to Miss Emma Fitcli Franklin, a
daughter of \\'illiam and Lydia Franklin, both of
whom were from the St^itc of New York, locating
in Iowa at an early day. Mrs. fiarvin was born in
Toolsboro, Iowa. Five ciiildren have been b(jrn
to thein, two sons and thiee daughters: Will-
iam F., aged eighteen years; Nina S., aged fifteen
years; Mamie S., aged thirteen 3'ears; George W.,
aged nine years, and Emma, an infant. Mr. and
Mrs. (iarvin are members of the Ciiristian Church
and have ever taken an .active interest in all ihurch
work. For several years Mr. (iarvin w.-is an lOlder
in the Mt. Pleasant Churcii and also served as
Superintendent of the .Suixlay -school. Politically he
is a Ke()nl)lican and a lirm believer in Prohibition.
.Socially he is a member of the McFarland Post No.

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LENOX AND
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20. fi. A. R. In addition to his other business Mr.
Garvin is a member of the Comstoek Scale Com-
pany and Machine "Works, of which he was Vice
President for several j'ears.

As a means of relaxation, Mr. Garvin made a
trip to Colorado in the spring of I860, and re-
mained in the mountains, mining, ranching and
hunting, until the fall of 1861. He made another
trip to the same region in the summer of 1887.
He is one of the leading business men of Henry
County, is a genial gentleman, methodical and ex-
act in his business habits, and is held in high esteem
as a business man, neighbor and friend. In con-
nection with this sketch a fine portrait of Mr. Gar-
vin is given on the opposite page.

#^

/^EORGE WILLIAM STEADMAN, retired
III J—, farmer and blacksmith, of Mt. Pleasant,
^^;jj( Iowa, was born in Jefferson County, Va.,

Jan. 15, 1815, and is the sou of William .and Mary
(Berry) Steadman. His father was born in Vir-
ginia, and was descended from good old English
stock. His mother was born in Maryland, and was
.also of English descent. When sixteen 3'ears of
age our subject was apprenticed to the blacksmith
trade, to work uutil twenty-one years of age, at
$36 a year, and eight days in harvest time. Dur-
ing the first year he saved $18 out of his w.ages, but
at the end of the first six months of the second year
his employer failed and went out of business, leav-
ing his apprentice to begin over again, and .at a loss
of his h.alf year's earnings. He was then newly ap-
prenticed to another man in the same business, for
the term of three j'ears, at the rate of $5i» for the
first year, $55 for the second and $65 for the third.
His employer was a very close, but upright man, and
taught his apprentices to be frug.al as well as in-
dustrious. At the end of the three years it w.as
found that our subject had lost two and a half days,
which he was obliged to make up. Having finislied
his four and a half years of apprenticeship, six
months prior to his majority, he began work as a
journeyman. In tiie spring of 1836 he went to

Highland County, Ohio, and opened a shop, but
not meeting with the success he anticipated, he re-
moved to Chillicothe, the same State, where he
worked as a journeyman, at $ I per day. Six months
later he started a shop for himself at Marble Fur-
nace, Adams Co., Ohio, where he met the estimable
lady whom he afterward made his wife, Miss Eliza-
beth Long, daughter of John Long, who was born
in Adams County July 28, 1 820, and to whom he
was married April 19, 1838. Having carried on a
shop at Marble Furnace for one year prior to his
marriage, six months later Mr. Steadman went
with his wife to Sinking Springs, Highland County,
where he opened a shop in companj' with his
brother-in-law, where he carried on business for
eight years, and then removed to Bainbridge,
Ross County, where he worked at his trade very
successfully for eleven years, securing the best
of the trade and m.aking considerable money. At
the end of this time Mr. Steadman again removed,
this time going to Hillsboro, in that State, in hopes
of doing still better, but this move was a mistake,
and he sunk about $3,000 of his h.ard-earned
savings. He then came to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
ill the spring of 1857.

The financial panic of that year crippled all lines
of business, and after a year and a half spent at
Mt. Pleasant he became disgusted with the prospect
and returned to Bainbridge, Ohio, .and opened a
shop, and again made money. Mr. Steadman re-
mained at this place eight years, at the end of which
time he went to Montgomery, Ind., and thence
returned to Mt. Pleasant in 1867. He purchased a
grocery and bakerj', which he conducted a year and
a half, when, being satisfied thattliore was no money
in th.at enterprise for him, he sold out and returned
to his old trade of blacksmith ing. Two years later
he bought his present fine farm of 160 acres in
Marion Township, since which time he diviiies his
attention between his farm and his residence in the
city.

Mr. and Mrs. Steadman have been tiie parents of
seven children, four daughters and tliree sons, four
of whom are living. Evaliue was born May 30,
1 839, and is the wife of James Miller, of Marion
Township, and to tliem were born two sons and two
, daughters; Mary Ann, born Dec. 21, 1843, who

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HENRY COUNTY.

was the wife of Abraham Blackson, and died April
24, 1869, leaving three children, two daughters and
a son; Samuel Joseph, born Dec. 25, 1846, mar-
ried Carrie Mathews, and resides on the home farm
in- Marion Township, and to them were born three
boj's and two girls ; William E. was born March 13,
1 849, married Mary Spry, and lives in Marion Town-
ship, and four children, one boy and three girls,
graced their union; Laura was born Feb. 27, 1854,
and is the wife of L. E. Williams, a resident of Keo-
kuk, and thej' have one child living; Lizzie, born
March 7, 1865, died July 22, 1885. Mr. and Mrs.
Steadman have now been married nearly fifty years,
and if living, they can celebrate their golden wed-
ding on the inth of April, 1888. They have been
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church nearly
all their lives, and their children are members of
the same denomination. Mr. Steadman united with
the church in 1833. He is an earnest Republican
in politics, with strong temperance sentiments.
During the seventy-two years of a well-spent life he
has lived a temperate, industrious life. Both he
and his wife have always been industrious and fru-
gal in their habits; starling in life with almost noth-
ing, they have lived well, reared a large family, and
accumulated a comfortable property. Mr. Stead-
man is a thorough mechanic in his line, and wher-
ever he has worked has always won the highest
opinions of his customers for the rapid dispatch and
fine quality of his work. I'h^sicians and druggists
have never enjoyed much profit from In's custom.
Temperate and !i total abstainer in his habits, his
total doctor's bills during his life will not exceed §5.
He is still rugged and strong, and bids fair to enjoy
man}' more years of life.

|0?2L M. SMITH, one of the oldest and most

prominent citizens of I\It. I'leasant, was born

in IhMuy County. low.'i, on the Sth day of

July, I8.'>8, wheu Iowa was yet a Territory.

His parents were .Samuel and Hannah (Wallers)

Smith; the fcirmer, a native of Henderson County,

Ky., was born in 1816, and the latter, a native of

Tennessee, was born in 1822. His grandparents
were Scotch and French, with the exception of his
grandmother on his father's side, who \vas an In-
dian squaw. Samuel Smith left Kentuckj' in 1832
while yet a young man, and located for a short
time in Burlington, Iowa. He then went to Au-
gusta, Des Moines Co., Iowa, where he was married,
subscquentl}' settling near Skunk River, in Jackson
Township, Henry County. Here he took up a
claim which he developed into a beautiful and pro-
ductive farm. In 1850 he removed to California,
where he remained two years engaged in mining.
He then returned to Henry Countj% where his wife
died the following year, leaving a family of eight
children to mourn their loss. Of these, three are
now living: Joel, of Mt. Pleasant; Elias, of Des
Moines, and Benjamin E., a contractor, also of Des
Moines. Mr. Smith was again married, to Miss Mar}-
J. Herring. By this union there were two children,
one of whom is dead ; the other, Calvin B., is lo-
cated in Warren County, Iowa. Mr. .Smith was a
man of intelligence, and one who always kept well
posted on all public affairs.

Joel M. Smith, the subject of this sketch, re-
ceived but three months' schooling, having no
chance to obtain an education b}-the usual methods,
but by sheer hard work and earnest application has
obtained more than an ordinary education, and
what is better, a practical one. He .always keeps
well informed in regard to the affairs of the country,
and is a good conversationalist. In 1858 Mr. Smith
went to Pike's Peak, then relumed to Florence,
Neb., where he had a brothor-in-law who was a
Mormon Elder. From there he went to Denver
Plains, where he remained till 1863, as wagon-
master. He then proceeded to Montana, with Cal.
Bozman, traveling around Big Horn. Thej" were
the first men to make the trip. Subsequently he
went to the Red Kivcr country, and continued
traveling until ISOli. In the year of 1869-70 he
embarked in business at \\'alla Walla, Wash.
Ter.. but in 1871 returned to Henry Count}',
where he lias since resided, and for a lime was en-
gaged in railroading, which proved a losing busi-
ness. In 1883 Mr. Smith patented a tile ditching-
machine, and a company was organized for its
manufacture, known as the Iowa Ditching-Machine

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271

Manufacturing Company, of which he was elected
President, having full charge of the business until
the time he disposed of his interest. The Monitor
Roadgrader was the invention of W. J. Martin, to
which Mr. Smith added man^- improvements.

Mr. Smith has been twice married. His first wife
was Miss Isabel Martin, by whom he had two ehil-
(li-en — Thomas J. and Laura Bell. His present wife
was Alice H. Roderick, and by this union there are
four children now living — Joseph S., Clyde A.,
Bertie and Dottie. Mr. Smith is a self-made man.
With no advantages, by hard labor and good man-
agement, he has gained a competency, and is the
owner of 2,480 acres of land in Cheyenne County,
Neb., worth $8,000. In politics Mr. Smith is a
Greenbacker, and was the first man to be initiated
into the Knights of Labor in Henry County. He is
a strict abstainer from all that can intoxicate, and
is a just and upright man.

«Sp*f-»»^5tf-«

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HARLES H. TRIBBY, farmer. There are
(11 ^^ many of the young men of to-day, who were
^^Jf' born in other States, that are representatives
of the business interests of Henr3' County. Among
these we are pleased to mention Charles H. Tribby,
who is favorably known to many of the people of
this county as an energetic farmer whose home for
a score of years has been in Salem Township. He
was born in Harrisville, Harrison Co., Ohio, in
1855, and is a son of John W. and Jane H. Tribby.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, and his
family, were natives of Virginia, and of their early
history but little is known. John Tribby, grand-
father of our subject, was left an orjDhan when ten
years of age, and before he reached full manhood
went to Harrison County, Ohio, where lie was mar-
ried to Ann White, then in her sixteenth year. Her
death occurred in this State in 1873, and her mar-
riage must have been one of the earliest celebrated
in that county, and was consummated, perhaps, in
1813. Her husband was a tanner by trade, aud be-
fore his marriage worked at that business in \'ir-
ginia. He also owned ami operated a tannery in

Ohio .after his marriage, and engaged in clearing up
aud farming the lands previously entered. They
were the parents of several children, of whom we
mention: Sarah J., who is the wife of Milton Men-
denhall, and lives in Colorado; Isaac B., married to
Mary Yost, lives in Londonderry, Ohio; Lewis D.
is married to Melissa Thompson, and lives in Mar-
shall County, Iowa; John W., father of Charles H. ;
and Samuel. Several died young. The children
were born, reared and married in Ohio, and with
their parents emigrated to this county in 1864, pur-
chasing land four miles north of Salem. Upon that
farm the parents lived, and died within a year of
each other, at a ripe old age. They were of the
Friends' faith, and were zealous advocates of their
doctrines. John W. and his wife, Jane Howard, are
the parents of six children, living: Martha, wife of
Wyke Elliott; .lulia, wife of .Sanuiel Spray ; Han-
nah, wedded to Levi Parkins; Ella, the wife of
Marion Weimer; Melissa wedded Alpheus Taylor;
and Charles H. Possessed of an adventurous spirit,
the parents have taken a Western trip, and have
located a tract of unimproved land in Greelej^
County, Kan., although their connection with this
count}- has not been severed.

Our subject attended school in this county, com-
pleting his education at Whittiei- College in the
summer of 1879. For several years both before
and after that time, he engaged in teaching in this
and Lee Count}', in which profession he was favor-
ably known. Having been reared upon a farm he
learned to love its independent life, and worked at
farming at intervals. The 3'ear prior to his mar-
riage he was in the employ of the "Gate Citj- Pub-
lishing Compan}'," engaged in reportorial and vari-
ous kinds of work in the States of Illinois, Iowa and
Missouri. IJesirous of l)ecoming settled in life, and
of engaging in the breeding of stock, he relinquished
journalism, and on the 30th of November, 188'2,
Miss Mar}' Carver, of Lee County, this State, bo-
came his wife. Her mother, Mary (Cook) Carver,
died at her birth, and Mary was reared and educated
by her uncle and aunt, Samuel and Susan Hill,
formerly of Lee, but now respected citizens of
Salem Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Hill
were early pioneers <^f Lee County, and began life
in the most primitive way, but the ends for which

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J 275

HENRY COUNTY.

they toiled have been accomplished, and they are
now numbered among the aged and wealthy couples
of this county. In 1844 they settled in Lee County,
but subsequently became residents of Henry County
solely for the purpose of educating their niece, who
was in attendance at Whittier College. She was
reared with all the care and tenderness a mother and
father could have bestowed upon her, and to the
aged couple her love goes out with all the warmth
of affection of an appreciative daughter. Mr. and
Mrs. Hill had no children of their own, conse-
quently their attention was given not only to Mrs.
Tribb3% but they also partly reared several other
children, all of whom are now gone from the home-
stead.

After his marriage, in the winter of 1882-83, Mr.
Tribby was assistant teacher at Whittier College,
and this closed his school work. Mr. and Mrs.
Tribby are the parents of two children, Nellie and
Ray, both bright, interesting children. In 1887
Mr. Tribby leased a half section of land near Salem,
and has stocked it with breeds of the best cattle and
hogs, and intends to engage largely in the rearing
of stock. Having been the son of a good father,
who W.1S industrious but poor, Charles was obliged
to work his own way in the world, and he is a thor-
oughly self-made man. Mr. Tribby is a charter
member of Monarch Lodge No. 143, K. of P., of
which he was first Past Chancellor, and also its first
representative at the Grand Lodge. In local poli-
tics be is a prominent factor. He is the soul of
courtesy, and an honored citizen, respected and
esteemed by all who know him.

to

/^EORGE W. TVNEH, fanner, ami President
of tiie Salem Hank. I ml iaiia has contributed
many enterprising men to the Western States,
and Iowa has shared largely in securing them. The
fertility of her soil, the facilities for raising stock
and for the production of cereals, are a boon of which
she is justly proud.

Our subject was born in Hancock Countj', Ind.,
in 1832, and is a son of Elijah and .Sarah A. (Hal-

»► ^ ^>

berstout) Tyner. Elijah T^'ner was born on Little
River, Abbey ville District, S. C, March 21, 1799,
and was the second son of Rev. William Tyner, a
Baptist minister who removed with his famil}' to
Kentucky in 1802, and three years later to the Ter-
ritory of Indiana, locating near where Brookville
has since been built. In 1854 he removed to De-
catur County, Ind., where his death occurred.
Elijah Tyner was thrice married. The first wife
was Martha McCune, who had one son, William M.
The second wife was Mary Nelson, whose children
were Martha A., Mary J., Robert N. and Charlotte.
Sarah A. Hallierstout was the third wife, and had
seven children — George W., our subject, John H.,
Oliver H., James M., Elbert, Alonzo and Missouri.

Before the first marriage of Elijah Tyner, he took
a claim in Hancock Countj-, Ind., where there was
no road but Indian trials to guide the chance trapper
or occasional squatter to and from his humble cabin,
and here Elijah opened a small stock of general
merchandise in a log cabin. As long as he lived
he was engaged in the mercantile trade, and upon
his original claim, which he finelj- improved, he
lived and died. He was a very exemplary and suc-
cessful business man, and by reference to clippings
from Indiana journals we learn that he was one of
the wealthj' and highly' respected citizens of that
county. At the time of his death he owned over
1,000 acres of land in one body. His wife still re-
sides on the Indiana homestead, and has reached the
ripe age of eighty years.

In 1854 George W. Tyner left Indiana and lo-
cated in McDonough County, 111., where he began
the business of stock-breeding and farming. In
1855 he took a survey of Southeastern Iowa, and
purchased his present farm on section 33, Jackson
Township, in the autumn of that year. While a
resident of Illinois, Mr. Tyner first met the lady
who is now his wife, and the occasion was the
removal of her parents from Indiana with the inten-
tion of locating in this county. They stopped dur-
ing the winter in tiie village of Olena, in Illinois,
o|)p<)site Burlington. It w.as agreed thatthej'
should be wedded, and after a few months, by mu-
tual agreement our subject followed the young lad}'
til this county, and in the autumn of 1855 Miss
Mar}' F. Bartlett became his wife, the ceremony

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being performed at the home of her parents, John
W. and Catherine (Carraichael) Bartlett, in Jack-
son Township. The Bartlett family are yet exten-
sively represented in the county, one son, William
A., being in the clothing business in Salem, and Jesse
D. residing on a farm near Mt. Pleasant.

The parents of Mrs. Tyner lived for many j-ears
after they came to this county, the mother dying
Aug. 4, 1879, the father. May 22, 188.=1. During
bis earlj' life John W. Bartlett resided in Virginia,
and when a young man removed to Cincinnati,
Ohio, and learned the coach and carriage making
trade, which he afterward carried on in that city.
He was married at Lawrenceburg, Ind., and when
the family removed to Iowa they came from
Rush County, Ind. Mrs. Tyner was born in Harri-
son, Dearborn County, in that State, Nov. 3, 1832.
She is the eldest living of the ten children. Her
birth was followed by those of William, Jesse D.,
Kate and Maggie, who are all living and married.
Five others died In infancy.

The domestic life of Mr. and Mrs. Tyner was be-
gun under the most favorable circumstances upon
their present farm. Their union has lieen one of
the happiest, their successes the most continuous,
and their social qualities so well known as to win
for them the respect and good-will of their neigh-
bors. Thej' are the parents of eight children, of
whom six are living — Elijah, Sarah C, Jlelvin,
Oliver, James and Elbert; and William and John,
deceased. Two of the children are married. Eli-
jah is the husband of Emma Gee.se, and resides in
Tippecanoe Township, this count}', and Sarah C. is
the wife of Dr. A. J. Rodgers, a physician of Hast-
ings, Neb. The four eldest children were educated
at Whittier College prior to its destruction by fire.
Melvin has been engaged in teaching in this county,
and is another of the manj" teachers educated in the
old college which has fitted many of the youth of
this county for a successful business life.

Aside from his farm duties, Mr. Tyner finds time
to attend to other business of importance. He was
for two years Township Clerk, and for four years
has been a member of the School Board. The
Salem District Fair owes much of its success to the
efforts made by him, Mr. O. H. Cook and Mr. Z. H.
Arnold, to whose enterprise the successful exhi-

bitions of 1886 and 1887 are largely due. From
its beginning he has been one of the principal pro-
moters and supporters of the enterprise. He has
been Treasurer of the association since its organi-
zation, and no debt remains unpaid. The society
is now fully organized and future meetings will prob-
ably be even better than the past. As a successful
farmer, his well-tilled fields give evidence. To be
assured of their courtesy, it is only necessary to
visit the Tyner home, and to judge of their social
and business life, the praise of neighbors is suffic-
ient.

For several j-ears Mr. Tyner has been connected
with the Bank of Salem, as a stockholder, and since
1882 has been its President. For a term of four-
teen years he has been in partnership with J. L.
Bennett in the purchase and shipment of stock.
Mr. Tyner is widely known in a business and social
way, and is one of the most successful farmers and
business men inthecount3^ He and his famil}' are
distinguished for their social qualities, and he is
justly regarded as one of the leading and estimable
citizens of the count}'.

'§^#P«^

ENRY CLAY SAUNDERS, dealer in real
estate, loan and collection agent, Mt. Pleas-
ant, Iowa, was born in the Shenandoah Val-
ley, near Staunton, Augusta Co., Va., Dec.
1829, and is the son of Bartley M. and
Annie (Caulk) Saunders, who were pioneers of
Henry County, Iowa. Henrj^ C. removed with his
parents to Tennessee in early childhood, and from
there went to Georgia. From Georgia the family
removed to Georgetown, 111., and from there to Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa, arriving May 26, 1838. Our sub-
ject vvas educated in the public schools and at Mc-
Kinney's High School, of Mt. Pleasant, and after
completing his studies engaged as a merchant's
clerk at Mt. Pleasant, following that occupation for
ten years. He was appointed Postmaster at Mt.
Pleasant in 1849, under President Zachary Taylor's
administration, and served four years. He was
next made Deputy Recorder and Treasurer of
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HENRY COUNTY.

Henrj' Count}-, and served in that rapacity about
six years. He then entered ii|i(iii \n> piesent l)usi-
ness, which he has [)iirsucd coiitimioiisly since. Mr.
Saunders was married at West Union, Fayette Co.,
Iowa, in November. 1855, to Miss Rhoda Bowman,
a daughter of John Bowman. She was born in
Warren County, Pa., whence her jiarents re-
moved to Henry County, of which they were early
settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Saunders have four chil-
dren, two sons and two daughters: Dermont M.,
married to Miss Stella Comstoclf, and residing in
Mt. Pleasant: Frank D., unmarried, and living in
Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Ona, wife of Harry Porter,
living in Lincoln, Neb., and Anna, still at home,
ail born in Mt. Pleasant. Mrs. Saunders is a mem-
ber of the Christian Church. He is a member of
Mt. Plca.sant Lodge No. 8, A. F. <t A. M. He is
also a member of the L O. O. F., Henry Lodge No.
10. He has passed all the Chairs of the Grand
Lodge of Iowa, and is one of the charter members
of the oldest lodge of the order in Mt. Pleas-
ant. In politics he is a supporter of the principles
of the Republican party.

■^t> ' ^~^i^^^5«^^^tfitf<

SSAAC W. ALLEN, of Henry County, Iowa, le-
sides on section 9, Jefferson Township, and is
engaged in farming. Jackson Allen, the fatlier
of our subject, came with his family from Clarke
County, Oliio, in October, 1840, and located in
Henry County, and liled a claim upon land one
mile south of where Wayland now stands. Braxon
Bcnn Iiad built a small eal)in, and for this and iiis
claim Mr. Allen traded a span of horses. In Ohio,
Jackson Allen wedded Mary Ann Wade, and eleven
children were born to tiiem in that State, two of
whom were twins, who died in infiuicy, their names
being Mary A. and .lulia A.; Joiin, who is married
and resides near Stockton, Cal. ; Maria became tlie
wife of Erastus Warren, vvho died in the army;
Jesse, husl)and of Kacliol Anderson, is a farmer re-
siding in Jefferson Townsliip: Heecc wedded Me-
lissa J. Warren, and resides in Jefferson Townsliip;
Ellen D. wedded J. N. Allen, now deceased, who

h

was ex-County Clerk of Heniy Count}' ; his widow
resides in Mt. Pleasant. Our subject followed ; then
came Jane, whfi died unmarried; .Samantha, resid-
ing in Council Bluffs, is tlie wife of Edward Saj'les,
agent at the Union Depot in tlint city ; Sarah E. is the
widow of Dennis Warren, and Alvin S., husband of
Aia Maiiafsfy, resides in Wayland, and w.as born in
tliis county. Alvin was older than Sarah. The last
tliree were born in Henrj- Count}-. Jackson Allen
entered forty acres of land and purchased the claim
mentioned. After a long lifetime spent on the
farm, he sold the first purchase, removed to Way-
land and lived a retired life. Mrs. Allen died at
the age of sixty-seven years, and Mr. Allen in his
eightieth year. .Jackson Allen was for several
years in the early history of the county, Assessor,
and afterward represented the township as Trustee.
He was active in the erection of the Methodist
Episcopal Church at Wayland, of which his wife
was a member. He was by birth and profession a
Friend, and worshiped at their chnrcli in W.ayland
To^vnship.

Isaac Allen was born in 1844. and from his sec-
ond year has been a resident of Henry County, with
the exception of two years spent in California. He
was educated, married, and has reared a family on
her soil, and is one of her best known men. In
1867 Miss Keziah Musgrove, of tliis county, became
his wife. She was born and reared in Clark County,
111. Her people have all removed from that State
to Kansas, and her father, John Musgrove, a mem-
ber of Company H, 25th Iowa Infanti-y, died in the
service. Reece Allen was a member of the same
comp.any and regiment, and also Erastus Warren.
Since the marriage of Isaac Allen and Miss Mus-
grove five children have gr.aced their home: Cora
B. ; Ella M., who married C. C. Wenger, Jr., of
Wayland, Dec. 8, 1887; John Jackson, Bessie I.
and Anna. Mr. Allen resides upon the farm last
purchased liy his father, adjoining the town of
Wayland, known .as the R. M. Pickle farm, and a
portion of vvhich comprises the village (ilat of Way-
land. When a young man he learned the black-
smithing trade of M. C. McCormick & Son, and
started a shop of his own in Wayland, at which
trade lie worked twenty years, then bought his
present farm and went to farming. He is a suc-

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HENRY COUNTY.

27r.

cessfiil farmer and owns 120 acres of land, and is a
credit to the townsliip in wliicli liis famil}' resides.
We are pleased to make such mention as the Allen
family deserve in the history of tiie county, where
for many years they have resided.

DDISON CHANDLER, harness-malier, sad-
dler and dealer in horse furnishing goods,
New London. Mr. Chandler settled in
New London in 1852. and for twentj'-five
years has served as Postmaster of that village. He
was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., Oct. 24, 1817,
and is the son of Ebenezer and Lueinda (Niles)
Chandler. He served a regular apprenticeship to
the saddle and harness maiiing trade at Skaneateles,
N. Y. He removed to Indiana in 1837, and located
at Moore's Hill, where he worked as a journeyman.
He started in busines.s at Wilmington, Ind., in the
line of his trade, and later removed to Manchester,
Ind., where he also carried on a shop. He was
married at Moore's Hill, June 17, 1839, to Miss
Mary Emeline Hedge, daughter of Samuel Hedge.
Mrs. Chandler was born in Steuben County, N. Y.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Chand-
ler: Isabel is the wife of C. Whit Smitli, and re.
sides in Burlington, lovva; James married Martha
De Long, and lives in Lincoln, Neb. ; Janett died
aged five years; Otho A. died at the age of one
year; those named above were born in Manchester,
Ind. The remainder of the children were born at
New London: Thomas married Nettie Lewis, and
lives in Burlington ; Frank is at home, and Maggie
is the wife of S. E. Symons, of Saginaw, Mich. Mr
Chandler removed from Indiana to Ft. Madison
Iowa, Nov. 20, 1851, and the following September
came to New London. He opened a harness-shop
at that place, and carried on the business till 1862,
when he was appointed Postmaster of New London
under President Lincoln, in August of that year.
He had been Acting Postmaster from the April pre-
vious, was re-appointed, and held office utitil Janu-
ary, 1887, when he resigned. During his twenty-
five years of service as Postmaster he was never

absent a single day on account of sickness, and
rarely from an}- other cause. His administration
of the office was prompt, efflcient and courteous,
and most satisfactory to the people. Soon after
taking the postniastership Mr. Chandler formed a
partnership with his son-in-law, Mr. Smith, in the
mercantile business, under the firm name of Chand-
ler <fe Smith. They dissolved partnership soon after
the close of the war, and Mr. Chandler conducted
the business alone until 1884, when he closed out
his stock in anticipation of going out of office. He
has just perfected his arrangements to resume busi-
ness again in the hainess-making line. Mr. Chan-
dler iias served two terras as Justice of the Peace
at New London, and is a member of New London
Lodge No. 28, A. F. &. A. M. Mrs. Chandler was
a member of the Protestant Methodist Church, and
was a most estimable Christian lady, and a devoted
wife and mother. Her death occurred April 30,
1884. Mr. Chandler's father was born in Vermont
and his mother in Cayuga Countj'. N. Y., and both
families date their origin in America back to Colo-
nial days.

.-■-^

'^ C. ALLSUP was born in Jackson County,
Ind., on the 3d of February, 1823. His
parents were John and Nancy (Shumaker)
(^^j// Allsup, l-he former a native of Virginia and
the latter of Tennessee. In 1810 they emigrated
to Indiana and settled in Jackson Countj, where
John Allsup felled the trees, and in the midst
of the forest developed a fine farm. There were
eight children in the family who grew to man-
hood, but only two of these are now living: Rich-
ard H., of Jackson Count}-, Ind., and J. C., our sub-
ject. John Allsup was reared in the Dunkard
Church. Mrs. Allsup died a member of the Chris-
tian Church. She was a true mother, a sincere
Christian, an earnest worker for the Master.

The subject of this sketch is a pioneer of two
States, Indiana and Iowa. He was reared in the
new country of Indiana, educated in the primitive
schools, and was apprenticed to his trade of a car-
penter in 1838, receiving his board and a suit of

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HENRY COUNTY.

clothes. His apprenticeship was over a terra of
two years. In the fall of 1841 he came to Henry
County, remaining one winter on Skunk River, and
in 184,5 he led to the marriage altar Miss pylizaboth
M. Burge. She was born in Licking County, Ohio,
in April, 1825. One child was born to them, R.
Elizabeth, now the wife of John Noble, of Page
County, Iowa. Mrs. AUsup was called to her final
home in the year following her marriage. Mr. AU-
sup was again married, in 1847, to Mrs. Elizabeth
Sharp, widow of Davis Sharp, by whom she had
three children: Davis, of Lee County, Iowa; Han-
nah, wife of Edward Forbes, of Oregon, and Robert
J., of Oregon.

Mr. and Mrs. Allsup had a family of six chil-
dren, five of whom are now living: Ellen, who is
the widuw of Francis M. Prickett; .Jennie, residing
in Taylor County, Iowa, is the wife of Charles
Richardson; Leni Leoti lives at home; Harrison
resides at Canton, 111. : Jessie is the wife of Hiram
Allen, of New London. In 1865 Mr. Allsup came to
Mt. Pleasant, where he has since resided. When he
first came to this county the settlements were so
few that each man knew all uf the settlers of the
county. One could travel miles and not strike a
farm, and there were but two or three settlers be-
tween New Loudon :ind Middletown. Mr. Allsup
will always be remembered for the good he has
done for Mt. Pleasant and Henry County, Iowa.
In politics, he is a Republican, though he has voted
with the Greenback party.

r

^jP^ AMUEL L. MILNER, dealer in stock and

^^^^ real estate, now of Hastings, Neb., was for-

1ft^\uj nicrly a resident of Tippecanoe Township^

Henry County, and is a son of Joiiii T. ;uid

Harriet Milner, foi- sketch of whose history see

Couitland W. Milner. Our subject was Ixirn in

I'ickaway, Miiuni Co., Oliio, June 4, 1<S42, and was

eleven years old nhen iiis parents emigrated to Van

Buren County, Iowa, where he lived until 1857,

when he went to work in the Oakland Mill in Tip-

pee.inoe Township. Henrj- County, for his uncle,
Nathaniel E. Armstrong. There he remained until
the fall of 1861, when he volunteered in the com-
pan3' known as " The Tippecanoe Rangers," John
Millspaugh Captain, who entered the State service
as Home Guards for three months. On the expi-
ration of this term Mr. Milner enlisted in Company
B, 25th Iowa Volunteer Infantr}', and served until
the close of the war, being mustered out at Daven-
port, Iowa, June 16, 1865. He participated in the
battles of Chickasaw Bagou, Arkansas Post, the
siege of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission
Ridge, Ringgold, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, the
siege of Atlanta, the historic " march to the sea,"
at Savannah, Ga., Columbia, S. C, and the closing
scenes of the war, to the great review at the cap-
ital, where Company B led the advance of Sher-
man's army. On his return Mr. Milner rented the
sawmill at Oakland, which he carried on until Jan-
uary, 1866, when it was wrecked by a freshet. He
then went to Louisa County, Iowa, where for three
years he was engaged in farming, going thence to
Ottumwa, where he entered mercantile life, and
also bought a f.arm four miles from that place,
which he subsequentlj' sold. P'rora Ottumwa he re-
moved to Sheridan, Lucas Co., Iowa, running a
woolen-mill for two years, and then selling it, en-
gaged in selling implements, traveling for three
years. In 1876 Mr. Milner removed to Webster
County, Neb., and opened a new farm, on which
he lived for seven years, when he sold it and re-
moved to Hastings, Neb., where he has since been
engaged m the stock business, and recentl}- has
been engaged considerably in real-estate transac-
tions.

December 24, 1865, Mr. Milner was married
to Miss Tliirza A., daughter of Israel and Mary
(Scott) Murphy, who were early settKMS in Knox
County, Ohio, where Mr. Murphy had for a long
time been engaged in carpentering and contracting.
The family removed to Mt. Plea,<ant. Iowa, in 1864,
and thence to Louisa Count\', whore Mr. .Murphy
died in 1867. His wife is now living in Sheridan,
Iowa. Mrs. Milner was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio,
Oct. 1, 18311. Mr. and Mrs. Milner were l)lessed
with eleven children, of whom si.\ are now living,
namel}': John F., Fannie Belle, AUie May, Harry

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THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOII, LFNOX AND
TILD;N FOUNDATIONS.

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HENRY COUNTY.

279

Leonard, Fli)i;i and Hattie. Those deceased were
Rossie, Ettie and Nora, and two twin infants.

Mr. Miluer is an energetic man, wIki has been
quite snccessful, and has always borne the reputa-
tion of an upright man and good citizen. In relig-
ious matters he is liberal . in his belief, and in
politics believes in the doctrines of the Union Labor
party.

^^EN. NICHOLAS GREUSEL, of Mt. Pleas-
[|| g=^ ant, was born in Bavaria, Germany, July
^^Jl 4, 1817, and liefore leaving the old coun-
try received a fair education in German and
French in the schools of his native city of Blies-
kastle. The Greusels, consisting of father, mother,
brothers and sisters, emigrated to the United
States in the summer of 1833, and on arriving at
the city of New York strangers and penniless, the
eight larger children were told by their father that
they were now in a free country, that he had noth-
ing more than a parent's blessing to bestow, and
that they must commence the battle of life for
themselves, but that in case of sickness or misfort-
une, such a home as he might be in possession of
should be theirs. AVithout knowing a word of the
linglish language, the future of these poor children
looked dark and gloomy. The boy Nicholas wan-
dered over the citj' for hours in search of em.
ployment, when, after many failures and rebuffs, a
kind and benevolent ladj' admitted him under her
roof, and gave him shelter and work. The lady
who at this dark hour proved an angel of mercy to
him was the mother of Hamilton Fish, once Sena-
tor from New York, and afterward Secretary of
State under President Grant. Here Nicholas re-
mained a year, and the following year worked in a
brickyard at Nasburg, N. Y., when the whole family
removed to the Territory of Michigan, reaching
Detroit by canal and steamer, Nov. 1, 183o. At
first such odd jobs as could be found were resorted
to for a liveliliood, such as driving team, gathering
ashes, etc., but in the spring of 1836 he obtained a
permanent situation in the firm of Rice, Coffin &.
Co., in the business of lumbering, and remained in
their employ for eleven years, until the breaking
out of the Mexican War. Prior to this he had

served as Captain of the Scott (Guards, a local mili-
tary company, and subsequently as Major of the
Frontier G uards, and was on dutj' during the Patriot
rebellion in Canada. At the municipal election in
Detroit in 1844, he was elected Alderman of the
Fourth Ward on the Whig ticket, and served in that
capacity two years. On the breaking out of the
Mexican Wax he raised a compau}' for service,
which became Compan}' D, 1st Michigan Volun-
teers, of which he was elected Captain. Marching
to Springfield, Ohio, the company were sent thence
hj rail to Cincinnati, and hy steamer to New
Orleans and Vera Cruz, which latter place was
reached ten days after its sui-reuder to Gen. Scott.

In the march upon the city of Mexico the Michi-
gan Volunteers were attached to the division of
Gen. Bankhead, which marched through Cordova
and Orizaba some distance out on the National
road to the Mexican capital. Their progress through
the country was almost a continuous battle with
bands of guerrillas and bodies of Mexican soldiery,
who swarmed from their mountain fastnesses. In
their encounters with the enemy the Michigan Vol-
unteers acquitted themselves nobly, performing
successfully and well every duty assigned them.

The war being ended, in the summer of 1847 the
regiment returned home, arriving at Detroit July
12. At the outset Capt. Greusel's company num-
bered 105 men, and he returned with eighty-five, the
company having been better cared for and in better
health than any other in the regiment. Under his
economical management about ^300 company
money was saved, with which he purchased new
shirts, shoes, blacking, and such articles of clothing
as were lacking, and when within a few hours' ride
from Deti'oit, directed his men to shave, wash,
and dress in the new outfit provided for them. The
other officers were astonished and somewhat cha-
grined to find that his company were clean and well
dressed, while theirs were walking bundles of dirty
rags. On landing, Col. Williams placed Companj'
D in the advance in marching through the cit3%
and the newspapers were filled with articles eulo-
gistic of Capt. Greusel and the fine appearance of
his veteran company.

The day succeeding his discharge and muster
out of the service, found him back in his old posi-

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280

HENRY COUNTY.

tion in the Itimber-yard of Rice, Coffin & Co., at-
tending to business as of j'ore. Subsequently he
was elected Captain of the City Guards, and then
Lieutenant Colonel of the battalion : was appointed
Superintendent of the city water- works in 1849,
and was the first Inspector General of lumber for
the State of Jliehigan in 1 850, which office he held
two years. An unfortunate investment stripped
him of the hard earnings of a lifetime, and he
again commenced at the lowest round of the lad-
der of life to win his way to a competency, and to
fame. He next turned his attention to railroad-
ing, and found continuous employment as a con-
ductor, first upon the Michigan Central, and then
with the Chicago, Burlington & (^uincj- Railroad
Compan}', in whose employ the Rebellion found him.
A company recruited by him at Aurora, 111.,
was among the first to respond to the President's
call for troops, he being the first man to enlist in
that city, and on the organization of the 7th Regi-
ment he was commissioned as Major, and pro-
ceeded with it to the front. This was the first
regiment raised in the State of Illinois. At the close
of the three months' service he was commissioned
Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, which had re-
enlisted for three years, and on Aug. 14, 1861, was
promoted to Colonel of the 36th Illinois Vol-
unteer Infantry, and served as such until Feb. 7,
1863. He was a brave and efficient officer, and
soon after the close of the war received the follow-
ing letter from Lieut. Gen. Phil. H. Sheridan :

Headquarters, Mo. Div. of the U. S. Ar.mv.
Chicago, Oct. 15, 1865.
CoL. N. Greusel,

Late of the 36th 111. Vol.
Aurora, III.
My dear Colonel: — It gives me great pleasure
to summarize the service performed by ^-ou while
under my command. I first met 3'ou as Colonel
of the 36th Illinois Infantry. In the fall of 1862
your service was most valuable. At the battle of
Perry villc, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862, while in command
of a brigade, you were quite gallantly leading
your brigade all the time, and on the campaign to
Nashville the excellent discipline your men main-
tained was a model for all. In the battle of Stone
River, Dec. 31, 1862, while commanding your regi-

•►B^^-

ment, and after the death of Gen. Sill, the brig-
ade (1st Brigade, 3d Division, right wing), your
services were marked by bravery and good judg-
ment, and when you were compelled to leave us it
was much regi-etted, for it was felt that our cause
was losing one whom it could ill}- spare.
I am, mj- dear Colonel, yours truly,

P. H. Sheridan, Lieutenant General.

Gen. Greusel left the army on account of dis-
abilitj' by rheumatism, which he contracted on the
night of Jan. 2, 1863, at the battle of Stone River.
He had been fighting for several days, and had
no sleep nights, and on the night in question, in
company with^Gen. Sheridan, occupied a brush shel-
ter. The wind shifted during the night, and in
the morning they were completely' covered with
snow, and he was unable to move, and was com-
pelled to resign in consequence, Feb. 7, 1863.
He was breveted Brigadier General, b^' recom-
mendation of Gen. Rosecrans, after Stone River.
Returning to Aurora, 111., as soon as he was able to
work, he was offered the position of conductor on
the Chicago, Burlington lV Quiucy Railroad, which
he filled until Sept. 1, 1866, when he removed to
Burlington, Iowa, and in January following made
his home in Mt. Pleasant. He came to Iowa as
Roadmaster of the Burlington it Missouri River
Railroad, holding that position for three years,
when he retired from active life with the good
wishes, and greatlj- to the regret of his superior
officers on the road. He has in his possession a
valuable solid gold badge, in shape and size of an
annual pass, suitably inscribed, given to him in
1866 by James C. Sherman, President of the Con-
ductors' Association, which is one of his most cher-
ished souvenirs.

Gen. Greusel since his residence in Mt. Pleasant
has connected himself with the Masonic fraternity
here, demitting from the Illinois bodies. He is a
member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A.
M. ; of Henry Chapter No. 8, R. A. M., and Jerusa-
lem Commandery No. 7, K. T., in which latter
bod}' he has been Senior Warden for sixteen years.

In Detroit, Mich., in 1839 Gen. Greusel was
united in marriage with Jane Doumens, a native of
France. By this union there were twelve children,
eight of whom are now living: E. Stu^'vesaut is

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281

assistant master ineclianic at Plattsmouth, Neb.;
Josephine is the wife uf Lafayette Langston; Eliza-
beth F. is the wife of John A. Wh'te, a resident of
Aurora, 111. : Rachel married Fred Grouch, a resi-
dent of Sandusky, Ohio; John 0. resides at Mt.
Pleasant; Nettie is still at home; Susie, wife of
Charles Martin, of Plattsmouth, Neb. ; Phil. Sheridan
is employed on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroad; Joseph R. enlisted in the 27th Michigan
Volunteers, and was killed while on the steamer
"Lyon," in 1 863. In 1 860 Gen. Greusel came to Mt.
Pleasant. The General and Mrs. Greusel are both
members of St. Michael's Episcopal Church at Mt.
Pleasant, of which he is a "N'estryman. They are
highlj' respected by all who know them. By good
management and hard labor, they have obtained a
competencj'. Probably no man has held more of-
fices of trust, or served more faithfully his adopted
country, than has Gen. Greusel. Hismilitarj' abili-
ties are very great, as is shown by the letter we
give from Gen. Sheridan, which, coming from such
a soui'ce, is higher praise than any we could give.
Alone, unaided, b3'his own might he has conquered
all, and from humble beginnings he has won for
himself an honorable name and an enviable position.
The portrait of this brave and gallant soldier and
honorable man is given on an accompanying page.

-^ ^-^ ^

, LIVER McDonald is a farmer of Baltimore
Township, Henry Co., Iowa. One of the
early settlers of this State was the father of
our subject, who located in Pleasant Grove Town-
ship, Des Moines County, in 1837, on land adjoin-
ing that upon which his son Oliver now resides.
Originally, the McDonalds were of Scotch and Irish
ancestry, and wo trace their history back to Mary-
land, where .John, father of Oliver McDonald, was
born. He went to Kentucky a single man, and later
wedded l\[ary Mahan, near Lexington, in that State.
Most of their children were born in Adair County,
Ky. They were: Elizabeth T., wife of Isaac Cor-
nelius, and both now deceased; Alexander, who
died single; John E., wedded to Mary L. Parrot;
W. Wallace, who died in childhood; Archibald C,
who died unmarried, and Oliver, of whom we write.

r

completes the list. He is the only living represent-
ative of the family. In the spring of 1 836 the
family went to McDonough Count}', 111., and not
finding a good title to the land there open for entr}-.
Ml-. McDonald pushed on to Iowa and took the
claim mentioned above, leaving his familj' in Illi-
nois until the next spring. The lands are on what
is known as the Black Hawk purchase, and that cele-
brated chief, with his band, was at Burlington when
the emigrants landed in Iowa. Oliver, who was
born June 3, 1828, w.as a lad, but being so near their
village for nearly a year, he formed a personal
acquaintance with man_y of the tribe, as well as with
the chief Black Hawk. This village was a mile and
a half above Burlington, at the mouth of Flint
Creek, now in the city limits, and Oliver remembers
well when the tribe took their final departure.
Even after they had gone and came back on annual
visits to Burlington to receive their annuity, boys
with whom he pla^-ed remembered him, as they
stopped often at his father's cabin.

Familiar in every detail with pioneer life, our
subject, who has lived for half a century upon the
same land, has witnessed its entire development,
from the first cabin to the fine farm house and sub-
stantial home which take the place of the old cabins
and pole sheds of fifty years ago. The death of
his mother occurred when Oliver was only six
months old. and his father, who loved her with all
the fervor that a foud husband can love, remained
true to her memory. His daughter Elizabeth was
her father's housekee[)er until her marriage, and
then his sister, Maria McDonald, remained with him
during his lifetime. He died in 1 854 in his seventy-
first year, and his remains were interred at Pleas-
ant Grove Cemetery in Baltimore Township.

Oliver McDonald, the same year, was married to
Miss Ann;R. Algeo, of Des Moines County. She
is the daughter (>{ John and Ann (Stewart) Algeo,
and the paternal ancestors were of Irish origin.
They came from Wellsburg, Va., where she was
born, and the famil}' removed to this State about
1847. John Algeo went to California in 1850, and
died in a mining camp. After her daughter, Eu-
genie Archer, and her husband, decided to go to
California, Mrs. Algeo resolved to accompany them,
and in that State her death occurred later. She

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282

HENRY COUNTY.

was the mother of six children : Thomas, John,
Ann R., Eugenie, William and Ridgeley. Four of
these are now living: John wedded Louisa Harlan;
Eugenie married John Archer; Ridgelej' was mar-
ried in California and lives there, and Ann is the
wife of our subject, and was born Dec. 29, 1837.

After the death of his father and the other heirs,
Mr. McDonald and his brother, John E., purchased
the old homestead, and our subject now owns the
original site where stood the pioneer cabin. The
domestic life of the young couple was begun on
the same tract, and the same residence to-daj' is the
one in which, for almost thirty-five years, they
have lived the happiest of lives. Four children
have blessed their union : John E. and William
Edgar, who are single: Anna B., wife of Seneca Kcl-
ley, a farmer of New London Township, and Mil-
ton, the husband of Ivenette Williams, residing in
Danville Township, Des Moines County.

The family circle remains intact, and in a cosy
home, with all that makes life worth living, and
with children of whom they have every reason to
feel proud, the historian leaves the subject of this
sketch, who has been an industrious and fortunate
man, and has accumulated since he began life for
himself, 2S0 acres of very desirable land. Neither
he nor his father have ever desired or ever held
public oflicc. but as citizens, gentlemen, and kindly
neighbors, few men have greater credit. Mr. and
]Mrs. McDonald are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church at Pleasant Grove, of which he
has been Steward and Class-Leader, and is now a
Trustee. Socially he is a member of Charity Lodge
No. .'ifi, L 0. O. F., of New London, and in politics
has been a life-long Democrat.

|-*-p-

^^ APT. WARREN BECKWITH, a leading
(i\ r ''"*''"^*s '"''" ^"d prominent citizen of
^^^ Mt. Pleasant, was born in Henrietta, Mon-
roe Co., N. Y., in 1833, his parents being George L.
.'Uid Sally (AVinslow) Bcckwith. The former was a
native of New Brunswick, born in 1800, who went
with his parents to Buffalo, N. Y., in 1813. The
following year his father died, directly after which
event news reached the settlers of the intended

destruction of the place by the Indian allies of the
British, in the war then existing between the
United States and Great Britain. Mrs. Beckwith
and her family were among those who sought safetj^
by flight beyond the Genesee River. In 1816 the
family settled on a farm in Henrietta, Monroe
County, near Rochester, N. Y., where the subject
of this sketch was born, and which he now owns.
George L., his father, was the eldest of the family,
and the management of the farm naturally devolved
upon him, and he subsequently became its owner.
On this place he lived all of his after life, and died
there in 1883, at the age of eighty-three years. He
was always a farmer, but in his 30unger days had
also been a teacher. He was a man of positive
character and of strongly marked personal charac-
teristics. Though never an office-seeker, he took
an active part in public affairs; a Democrat by con-
viction, he was also an original Abolitionist, a be-
liever in the doctrines of William Lloyd Garrison,
and an ardent admirer of Horace Greeley. He w.os
an extraordinarily well-read man, a sound thinker
and cogent reasoner and fluent speaker, and wielded
a more than ordinary influence in his locality. In
the infancy of tiie common schools of the State he
was an influential friend and supporter, and did
much to insure their success in that region. On
the breaking out of the Rebellion he took an active
part in support of the Government, helping to fill
the (juota of lii> county, and three of his sons were
in the army, in which two of tliem lost their lives.
He never engaged in any occupation but that of
farming, and at his death left a competence. He
was married in 1829 to Sall^-, daughter of Jonathan
Winslow, of Henrietta, who had come to that place
from New Bedford, Mass. She was boin in 1805,
and died in 1885, aged eighty 3'ears. They had
seven children, namel_v : Adolphus, who was a farmer
in his native count}', and entered the Union armj-
in 1861. enlisting in the 8th New York Cavalry,
and (lied of typhoid fever in cnnii) in Virginia, in No-
vember, 1862; Samuel, the next son, was part of his
life in the railroad business, and came to Mt. I'leas-
ant, where he was Station Agent of the Burlington
& Missouri River Railroad from 1859 to 1864,
when he returned to the old home in New York,
staying there until 1880, during which period he

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HENRY COUNTY.

283

was elected to the State Legis-lature ; he came
back to Mt. Pleasant and died here in 1884. War-
ren was the next son, and after him came George,
who died young; Sarah, the next child, also died
while young; Everett, who followed Sarah, also
was a Union soldier, in the same regiment as his
brother, and like him died in camp of typhoid
fever, in January, 1863; the youngest of the fam-
ily, Elizabeth, died in childhood.

Warren Beckwith, the subject of this sketch, was
reared on the home farm, and was educated at the
Monroe Academy and at the Genesee Wesleyan
Seminary, at Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y. Leaving
school at the age of nineteen, he embraced the pro-
fession of civil engineering, his first work being
done on the Genesee Valley Railroad. He followed
this business in the East until November, 1854, when
he went to Kansas, and the following winter, at Ft.
Riley, helped to laj' out Pawnee City, designed by
Gov. Reeder for the capital of the State. He as-
sisted in putting up a building for the Legislature,
which however, occupied it but one day. This
work was in charge of Natlianiel Lyon, then a Cap-
tain in the regular army, with wiiom he was brought
into close relations, and who afterward became
famous as Gen. Lyon, and who undoubtedly frus-
trated the plots of the secessionists, and saved
Missouri to the Union.

In 185G Mr. Beckwith came to Burlington, Iowa,
entering the employ of the Burlington & Missouri
River Railroad, with whom he staid until 1860,
when he went to Texas with a drove of sheep. He
was there when the war began, and determined to
return North and offer his services to the Govern-
ment. He came by way of New Orleans, In which
city he spent the Fourth of Jul}', 1861. Reaching
Burlington, Iowa, he enlisted in September, 1861,
as a private in Company C, 4th Iowa Cavalry, and
served until after the close of the war, proving him-
self a brave and gallant soldier, and making an hon-
orable record. Dec. 25, 1S61, he was promoted to
First Lieutenant of his company, and on Jan. 1,
1863, was made Captain. He was with his company
in service under Gen. Curtis in Southwestern
Missouri, was subsequently at Helena, Ark., and
during the summer and fall of 1862 was in active
duty, in skirmishing and scouting tlirough that
.^t

dangerous region. The regiment joined Grant's
army at Grand Gulf, on the march to Vicksburg,
and participated in the arduous labors of the siege
and capture of that rebel stronghold. They re-
mained in and near that city until February, 1864,
when they took part in the Meridian expedition
under Gen. Sherman. Later in the year they had
a lively time in and about Memphis, Tenn., where
they were engaged in chasing the rebel cavalry
under Forrest, who were trjdng to intercept Sher-
man's communications. The regiment during this
time was engaged in sharp fights at Guntown,
Tupelo, Holly Springs and at other places. In
January, 1865, the 4th Iowa was joined to Wilson's
Cavalry Corps, and saw a good deal of active serv-
ice, notably at Selma, Columbus, etc., and it is the
universal testimony of his comrades that wherever
Capt. Beckwith was engaged he acted in a brave
and soldierljr manner, and had not only the confi-
dence of his superior officers, but of his own men
and of all those with whom his duties brought him
into contact. In 1864 he was on detached duty,
and was in command of the mounted provost guard,
district of West Tennessee, and in 1865 was Brigade
Inspector General. He was mustered out Aug. 29,
1865, after an honorable army career of four years,
during which he saw much hard service, but was
fortunately never wounded. As a recognition of
his meritorious services he was tendered a commis-
sion in the regular army, which he did not accept.
Returning to the pursuits of peace he came to Mt.
Pleasant and again engaged with the Burlington &
Missouri River Railroad Company, and after the
consolidation of the lines in 1872, became Chief
Engineer and Superintendent of Track of the Chi-
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. In
1879 he began contracting on the road, and was in
that business until a" short time since. He and his
brother-in-law, Frank P. Porter, are now proprietors
of the quarries at Dudley, Iowa, where is found the
best stone in the State, all of wiiich is taken by the
railroail company ns fast as taken out. Capt. Beck-
with, Charles H. Smith and Richard Stubbs were
the originators of the Western Wheel Scraper
Works at Mt. Pleasant, for a description of which
see sketch of Charles H. Smith. Another business
carried on by him. and which is evidently a labor
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284

HENRY COUNTY.

of love, is the breeding and raising of fine horses,
both draft and driving, principally Shires for
work and Hambletoniau for driving purposes. At
his extensive farms near the citj' of Mt. Pleasant
he has usually about sixty head of blooded stock,
which is doing much to raise the standard of the
horses in this section of the country.

Capt. Beckwith was married, in 1863, to Luzenia
W., daughter of Col. A. B. Porter, an eminent citi-
zen of Henry County, of whom a history is given
elsewhere. She died in 1880, leaving five children,
as follows: p]verett, Orvillc, Emil}', Florence and
Warren, all living with their father. The mother
of this family was an estimable lady, whose death
was sincerely mourned, not only by her family but
by a large circle of friends to whom her lovable
character had greatl}' endeared her. She was a
prominent member of St. Mich.iel's p]piscopal
Church.

In 1881 Capt. Beckwith was united in marriage
to Miss Sarah E. Porter, a sister of his first wife,
and a lady of decided ability and culture. She
likewise is a communicant of the Episcopal Church.

The sul)ject of this sketch is a member of Mt.
Pleasant Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A. M., of McFar-
land Post No. 13, G. A. U., and of the Loyal
Legion of America — the most exclusive organiza-
tion in the country, membership to vvhich is granted
only to commissioned officers of the army and navy
who saw sei'vice in the Civil War, and after a most
searching examination into tlie private and public
record of the candidate, vvhich must be unblemished.

Contact with the world, together with his inher-
ited qualities, have made Capt. Beckwith a man
of broad and lUn'ral ideas. A natural leader among
men he has acquired many warm friends, not only
at his home, but among leading men in all parts of
the country, and m the community in which he
resides he is a prominent figure.

-^E=

^ )»/ELLlNGTON BIRD, M. D., a prominent
\/^// physician of Henry County since 1841),
W^ iiiid a resident of Mt. Pleasant, was born
in Northumberland County. Pa., M.-xy ij, lf<17, and
is a son of WilliMni and JIargaret (Moyer) Bird.
His father was boin in New Jersey in 17Da, and

emigrated with his parents to Pennsj'lvania when
two years of age. James Bird, the grandfather of
the Doctor, was a soldier in the war of the Revolu-
tion in the Patriot army. He was a wagonmaster,
and participated in the battle of Monmouth, and
served till the close of the war. His wife's name
was Osborne, to whom he was married in New
Jersey, and with whom he removed to Northumber-
land County in 1797. where they both died. The
Birds were a large, athletic race, descended from
the sturdy yeomen of old England. Dr. Bird's
mother was born in Philadelphia, and was of Ger-
man descent, her father being a native, of German
parentage, while her mother was a native of Ger-
many, who came to this country while young, and
lived to the extreme old age of ninety-five years,
dying in Catawissa, Pa. William Bird, the father of
our subject, was a blacksmith b^' trade, and worked
in Columbia County, Pa., and adjoining places, his
home for some years prior to his coming west being
in Danville, Montour County, from which place he
removed to Mt. Pleasant in 1858. After coming
here he and his wife lived retired in a house owned
bj' their son. Mr. Bird died at the age of seventy-
six. His wife survived him about ten years, dying
at the age of eighty-five. Mr. Bird was a pleasant,
genial and popular man, and was well liked by all
who knew him. He and his wife were members of
the IMethodist Episcopal Church. They had twelve
children, all of whom grew to maturity. Those
now living are: Caroline, widow of John Martin,
late of Mt. Pleasant; Philip, a fanner in Kansas;
Wilhelmina, a widow now living in Dauphin
County, Pa.; Charles, a machinist at Danville, Pa.;
Clement, living at Afton, Iowa; and Wellington
who was the oldest of the family. When twelve
years old the latter went with his parents to
Bioomsburg, Columbia Co., Pa., and there received
his education, and grew to manhood. He took a
regular course of study at the Jefferson Medical
College, of Philadelphia, and graduated in the class
of 1841. In October of that year he was united
in marriage, at Hloomsburg, Pa., to Miss Sarah,
daughter of Eli Tliornlon, a prominent and respected
citizen of tlnil place, and a member of the Penn-
sylvania Legislature for several terms.

Immediately ufler taking his degree Dr. Bird

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HENRY COUNTY.

285

located in Knox County, Ohio, and established a
fine practice at the city of Frederickstown. Having
a desire to come farther west he emigrated in July,
1849, from Ohio to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he
has since been engaged in the practice of his pro-
fession. While his professional duties have been
quite exacting he has yet found time to give some
attention to other enterprises. On the establishment
of the Iowa Wesleyan College, at Mt. Pleasant, now
the Iowa Wesleyan University, he took an active
part in the management, in its construction and
outfitting. He was elected a Trustee of the college,
and served in that capacity for twenty-five years,
or until he resigned to accept an appointment as
Indian Agent in 1877. On the breaking out of
the late war, in 18C1, he was appointed as Assistant
Surgeon of the 4th Iowa Cavalry, which position
he resigned to accept that of Commissary of Sub-
sistence, with rank of Captain, and served in that
capacity till the fall of 18G2, when he resigned on
account of ill-health. His son, Hiram T., who was
then a student of the Iowa Wesleyan College
enlisted in lcS63, at the age of seventeen, as a
private of the 8th Iowa Cavalry, and was subse-
(|uently appointed Hospital Steward. lie was
made prisoner before Atlanta during McCook'sraid,
and was taken to Charleston, S. C, where, having
been classed as an Assistant Surgeon, he was ex-
changed without much dela}-. After one month
spent at home, on furlough, he returned to the
front, and participated in Wilson's raid and other
engagements, serving till the fall of 18G5.

In 1866 Dr. Bird went to Idaho, and spent one
year on the headwaters of the Columbia River.
Returning to Mt. Pleasant at the expiration of that
time he resumed practice, and was actively engaged
until his appointment, by President Hayes, in 1877,
to the Indian Agency at Ft. Peck, Mont. He
served in this capacity nearly three years, during
which time he was quite successful in his manage-
ment of the natives. When he took the agency
there was not an acre of land under cultivation,
buthe instructed tlie Indians in the metliods of agri-
culture and labor, and at the close of his term had
a thousand acres enclosed, and several hundred
under cultivation. He returned to his home in
Mt. Pleasant in 1880.

Dr. and Mrs. Bird are active members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, the Doctor's member-
ship dating from 1846, and Mrs. Bird's from 1839.
He is President of the Board of Trustees. They
have been blessed with nine children: William
N. died in childhood; Myra is the wife of Hon.
John S. Woolson, State Senator, and a prominent
attorney in Mt. Pleasant (see sketch) ; Allie is the
wife of Hon. Washington I. Babb, a leading at-
torney of Mt. Pleasant (see sketch) ; Hiram T.
married Florence McLaran, and is engaged in busi-
ness at Mt. Pleasant; Regina is the wife of Theo-
dore F. Twinting, formerly of Mt. Pleasant, now
of Passadena, Cal. ; Caroline was burned to death
in childhood by her clothes catching fire; Horace
died in 1859, aged three and a half years; Burnetta
died in infancy; Leslie, the youngest, is unmarried,
and lives in Mt. Pleasant.

Dr. Bird is a prominent citizen; he has been a
member of the City Council for a number of years;
he was many times elected Trustee of the public
schools, and for several terms was President of the
board. He is a member of McFarland Post No.
20, G. A. R., and is still in the active practice of
his profession, his skill and ability having won for
him a flattering reputation and a large practice.

ILLIAM S. BURTON, Clerk in the War
fl Department, Washington, D. C.,and a resi-
dent of Mt. Pleasant since 1865, was born
in Guilford County, N. C, Feb. 7, 1820, and is the
son of Ainsley and Sarah (Clarke) Burton. He re-
moved with his parents to Davidson County, in the
same State, in childhood, where he learned the car-
riage-maker's trade. In 1842 he removed to Ran-
dolph County, Mo., and established himself in
business in Huntsville, where he remained until
1854, when he came to Iowa and located at Rich-
land, Keokuk County, and there embarked in the
carriage business. From Richland he came to Mt.
Pleasant in 1865, and opened a carriage-shop which
he continued until the spring of 1882, when he was
appointed to his present position in the War De-
partment by Robert T. Lincoln. Mr. Burton held
various local offices while in Missouri and Richland,

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28G

HENRY COUNTY.

and was Mayor of Mt. Pleasant in 1879 and 1880,
and he has held other minor offices. In politics he
IS a Republic.in. He is a member of Mystic Lodge
No. 55, I. O. 0. F., and of the Camp, and has been
Grand Master of the order in Iowa, also Grand
Patriarch, and represented the Grand Lodge in the
Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United Stales in
1866 and 18G7.

Mr. Burton was married in DavidsonC'ount}', N.
C, in March, 1839, to Miss Malinda Moffitt, daugh-
ter of Robert and Lydia Mofiitt. She was born in
Davidson Count)', N. C. Ten children were born
of their marriage, seven of whom are now living,
four sons and three daughters: Lydia C. is the wife
of James S. Pringle, residing in Richland, Iowa:
Sar.ih A. resides at home : William M. married Miss
Vaughn, and resides in Jefferson County, Ark.:
Robert A. married Fannie S. Way, and resides in
Washington City, D. C; Lorenzo W. died at the
age of two years; Constantine B. is single, living
in Cohirado: James K., single, now at Mt. Pleasant:
Harriet M., single, resides at home; Mariettii died
in childhood. Mr. and Mrs Bm-ton are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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-€-*-B-

'NDREW W. McCLURE, M. D., is the most
W£M noted physician, and the one longest estab-
lished in practice in Mt. Pleasant. He was
born at Lebanon, \\:uren Co., Ohio, June
10, 1828, and is a son of Andrew and Mary (Gra-
ham) MfClure, both natives of Dauphin County, Pa.,
the former born in 179.'), and the latter in 1790.
They emigrated to Warren County, Ohio, and were
among the first settlers of that region. There they
took up a farm among the timber, whicli they
cleared, and on which they lived for many years.
They were of Scotch and Irish ancestry, and both
were strict members of the Presbyterian Church.
When they removed to Ohio, they were poor in this
world's gooils, but by industry and thi-ifl, and care-
ful JKibits, acquired a comfortable cumpetence.
Mr. McClure was a patriot soldier in the War of
1 812. He was a Free-Soiler .'uid old-line A\'hig, and
a supporter of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster.
He died in 1858, and his wife iu 1884, aged eighty-

eight. They were the parents of eight children, of
whom three are now living: Hugh, a resident of
Eureka Springs, Ark.; Ann, wife of Robert H.
Todd, (jf Warren County, Oiiio; and Andrew W.,
the subject of this biographical notice. He was
reared upon the farm, and after leaving the district
schools received an academic education at the
Lebanon Academy. When twenty-one years old,
he began reading medicine in the office of Dr.
Fisher, a prominent practicing physician of Leb-
anon, at the same time having charge of Turtle
Creek Academy, a Qu.aker school near that place.
Under Dr. Fisher he laid a good groundwork for
a thorough medical education, and in 185"2-5o at-
tended the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati,
graduating in the latter year. He at once began
the practice of his profession at Paris, 111., in con-
nection with Dr. S. York, of that place. This part-
nership was dissolved in 1856, and Dr. McClure
came to Mt. Pleasant, where he has acquired the
well-deserved reputation of a skillful and successful
physician and surgeon. On first coming to Mt. Pleas-
ant, he formed a partnei'ship with Dr. Bird, which
continued until 1861, and that fall Dr. McClure re-
sponded to his country's call, and entered the service
as surgeon of the 4th Iowa Cavahy. The regiment
was in a camp of instruction at Mt. Pleasant until
the spring of 1862, when the regiment was sent to
St. Louis, and thence to Springfield, Mo. After the
battle of Pea Ridge, they were joined to the com-
mand of Gen. Curtis, in Gen. Carr's division, and
the summer was spent in marching and scouting in
the Southwest. They wintered in Helena, Ark.,
and on the investment of Vicksburg were made a
part of Grant's army, taking part in the siege and
capture of that place. After the fall of Vicksburg,
Dr. .MctClure resigned his commission, having served
two years, and returned tu Mt. Ple;isant. and again
engaged in pr.actiee.

In 1858 Dr. McClure wa.s married at Homer, III.,
to .Maria Conke}', a native of Massachusetts, who
lived but a year after, her babe surviving her but a
siiort time. In the fall nf ISOO Dr. McClure w.as
married iu .Ml. Pleasant to .Miss Emily I'orter,
daughter of Col. A. 1!. Porter, one of the earliest
settlers of Henry County, and one of its best
known citizens. .Mrs. McClui'e w;is born iu this

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HENRY COUNTY.

287

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county in 1839. Dr. and Mrs. McClure are the
parents of three children, of whom two daughters,
Mary and Jlartha, are now living.

Dr. McOnre is prominently identified with the
industrial, professional and social life of the city
where he has made his home for more than thirty
years. He is a member of the Wheel Scraper Com-
pany, the leading manufacturing enterprise of tiie
cit}', of which a sketch appears elsewhere. While
not in the ordinary sense a politician, he takes an
intelligent interest in public affairs, and is a sup-
porter of the Republican party. In all educational
matters he takes a warm interest; he has been for
ten j'ears one of the Trustees of the State Hospital
for the Insane, and is in fact heartily in support of
everything tending to the advancement and pros-
perity of the city and county. He and his wife
are members of the Presbyterian Church.

As a physician, Dr. McClure occupies a leading
position, not only in the city, but abroad. He is
a member of the American Medical Association ;
the DesMoines Medical Society, of which he was
President for one year, and since 1858 has been a
member of the Iowa State Medical Society, and was
President in l88fi-87. The address which he de-
livered before that body at their annual meeting in
Sioux City, in 1887, received the warmest enco-
miums from the most eminent physicians present,
and has been widely copied in medical and other
journals. Mt. Pleasant numbers among its citizens
no more worthy and creditable representative than
Andrew W. McClure.

ICHARD AMBLER, of the firm of R. Am-
bler & Son, is a well-known and successful
attorney of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, of thirty
^years' practice in this city. He was born in
Pittsburgh, Pa., in 18.31, and is the son of Henry
and Hannah M. (Spright) Ambler. He received a
liberal education, and engaged in the study of law
in New Philadelphia, Ohio, and was admitted t(j the
bar in 185.5. In 18o7 he came to Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa, and entered upon the practice of his profes-
sion, and in 1862 formed a partnership with his
brother Henry, which connection continued for

twenty-three years. The existing partnership with
his son Harry was formed in 1880, under the firm
name of R. Ambler & Son. Mr. Ambler was mar-
ried in Henry County, Iowa, in the fall of 1858, to
Miss N. H. Andrews, born in Trumbull County,
Ohio, and a daughter of D. G. Andrews. Four
children were born of this union, one son and three
daughters, all of whom were born in Mt. Pleasant,
namely : Sarah, Harry, Lulu and Dolly. Harry was
educated at the Iowa AVesleyan University, at Mt.
Pleasant, studied law with his father, and was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1884, and in 1886 formed the
existing partnership with his father, and has since
pursued the practice of his profession at this place.
The children are living with their parents.

Mr. Ambler has been a Republican since the in-
ception of the party. He is a Knight Templar Ma-
son, a member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 8, A. F.
& A. M., of Henry Chapter No. 8, R. A. M., and
of Jerusalem Commandery No. 7, K. T.

ENRY TRAUT, one of the young, enter-
prising farmers of Henr^' County, residing
onsecti<m21, Marion Township, was born
f^j in this county, July .3, 1862, and is the son
of Bernhard and Caroline (Schneider) Traut, whose
sketch appears elsewhere in this work. His parents
were natives of Germany, emigrating to Iowa in
1856, where Henrj' was born. He was reared upon
the home farm, and attended the district school,
but his parents feeling that this was not enough,
sent their son one term to Howe's Academy at Mt.
Pleasant and two terms to the Wesleyan Univer-
sity, where he made such good progress that he
received a teacher's certificate. He is a man who
believes that a farmer, to be successful, must be in-
telligent and keep posted in the current events of
the day. After his return from school, he made
his home with his parents until Feb. 17, 1886, when
he concluded to take to himself one of Iowa's fair
daughters. He w:us married to Miss Mary I. Laf-
ferty, who was born Aug. 24, 1861, in Henrv
County, Iowa, and is the daughter of John and
Martha (('ampbell) Lafferty, natives of Indiana.
Mr. Traut owns a fine farm of 160 acres, and in

f'

4

i

f

HENEY COUNTY.

1886 erected a beautiful and commodious two-
story house thereon, which has added much to
the beauty and value of his farm, which stands
second to none in the county. He is turning his
whole attention to farming and stock-raising, and
has been very successful in both. Mr. Traut is a
young man full of energy and enterprise, never
hesitating to lend a helping hand to any enterprise
that is for the general good of the community. He
and his 3'oung wife stand high in the esteem of
their friends and neighbors, and Henry County has
few nobler sons and daughters than Mr. and Mrs.
Traut. His political interests are with the Demo-
cratic party.

'JilOSEPH McDowell, residing in Center
I Township, was born in Tuscarawas County,
Ohio, Feb. 5, 1822, and is the son of John
(^^Jj and Susainia (Vaughn) McDowell, both of
whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They emi-
grated to Ohio in 1812, and were among the pio-
neer settlers of Tuscarawas Countj', wiiere he trans-
formed the wild land into a fine farm. In the year
1854 they removed to Henry County, Iowa, locat-
ing on section 31, Center Township, where he
bought ninety-two acres of partially improved land,
living tliere until his death, wliich occurred in I8G1
at the ripe ;ige of seventy-seven yea: s, being l)orn
in 1784. Mr. McDowell served during the War
of 1812 as a non-commissioned ollicer. He was a
conscientious man, and was an earnest Christian.
He held tlie political views of the Republican party.
Mrs. McDowell was called to her final home Nov.
10, 1870. She was born on the 20th of February,
1792. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell were the parents of
eleven <liil(Ii-cn, four of whom are j'et living:
Martha is now the wife of Daniel Richey, of Corn-
ing, Iowa; Joseph, our subject; Eliz.'ibeth. the wife
of Silas Thomas, residing in Mt. Fleasaui, and
Agnes, the wife of Alford Wilson, a minister in
Page County, Iowa.

Joseph McDowell lived u\nm iiis father's farm
in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, until the age of
twenty-one. at which lime he went to Holmes
County, Ohio, working as a farm hand until tiie

fall of 1846. Mr. McDowell then went back to his
native county, where he was united in marriage, on
the 6th of September, 1846, to Rebecca Kwope, a
native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of James
and Rachel (Frazier) Swope, both of whom were
natives of Huntingdon County, Pa. After his mar-
riage, Mr. McDowell engaged in farming uutil the
spring of 1848, when he emigrated to Henry
County, Iowa, settling near Mt. Pleasant. Here
he rented a farm until the spring of 1851, when he
moved to section 29 of Center Township, where he
rented a farm for sixteen years. Mr. Mcl3owell
afterward moved to section 0, Jackson Township,
where he bought a farm of eighty acres in I860.
He resided upon this latter farm for four years,
when he bought the ninety-two acres on section 31,
Center Township, which his father bought in 1854
on coming to Iowa, where he now lives. He now
owns 213 acres of land, mostl\' under cultivation.

Mr. and Mrs. McDowell have had .1 famil}- of
thirteen children: William, who died when but
nineteen months old; David, now residing in Jack-
son Township; Henry, a resident of Center Town-
ship; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Columbus
Watson, of Jefferson County, Iowa; Iowa, the wife
of Robert Jemmeson, a harness-maker of Mt. Pleas-
ant, who served as a soldier during tiie Rebellion;
James now resides in Jefferson County, Iowa;
Clara is at home; Mary is the wife of Z;icliariali
Doan, a resident of Salem Township; Albert, John
and JNIargaret reside with their parents. Those de-
ceased are William, Ellen and Sarah.

In politics, Mr. McDowell s^-mpathies with the
Labor Union part}'. Mrs. McDowell is a member
of the Holiness Ciuucli, while .Mr. McDowell be-
lieves in universal salvation. Mr. and Mrs. Mc-
Dowell have gained all that the}' have b}' their own
tiirifl and economy. Tiie}' are highly esteemed
througliont tiie commuiiitv in whicii tliev reside.

-^y/\,-^*sie£.'^i^^^\>%i;'^-io.''S'!'*-~-\/\^s^

W WILLIAM B. BUFFINGTON was born July
5, LSI 3, in W.ashington County, P:i., and
resides on section 27 of Trenton Townshi|),
Henry Co., Iowa, where he is engaged in farming, ,
althougii a tanner by trade. His i)arents, Seth and y

»►-•-♦

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t

HENRY COUNTY.

289

Sarah (Mileson) Buffington, were also natives of
Pennsylvania, born in Chester Countj'. They were
both members of the Society of Friends, and reared
a family of eleven children, all of whom lived until
maturity, though but four are now living, namely:
William B. ; Joseph, a farmer residing in Washing-
ton County, Pa.; Robert, living in Cincinn.ati,
Ohio, is a carpenter, and Abigail, wife of John
Dean, a resident of Bates County, Mo. Seth Buf-
fington spent his whole life upon a farm, dying in
1840, when seventy-four years of age, and his wife
in 1858, at the age of seventy-three.

Our subject was reared upon a farm, receiving
his education at the district school. When sixteen
years of age he began an apprenticeship of five
years to the tanner's trade, after which he went
into a distillery, where he worked as a hand for two
years, and the following three years was employed
upon a farm in Pennsylvania. Sept. 18, 1834, he
was joined in marriage with Elizabeth C. Goodrich,
a native of Greene County, Pa., and a daughter of
Goodwin B. and Ruth (Bayne) Goodrich, the father
a native of Connecticut, and the mother of Wash-
ington Comity, Pa. Her father died Nov. 14,
1861, in Mt. Pleasant, at the age of seventy-six,
while on a visit to his daughter. He was a devoted
member of the Christian Church, and was a soldier
in the War of 1812; and her grandfather, Jesse
Goodrich, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Goodwin B. Goodrich owned a fine farm near
Columbus, Ohio, at the time of his death. The
mother died when Mrs. Buffington was but ten
years of age.

William B. Buffington and his young wife emi-
grated to Ripley County, Ind., locating at New
Marion, where he remained for three years. Going
to Milford, Decatur Co., Ind., he was employed as
foreman of a distillery for two years, and then re-
moved to Rush County, Ind., where he bought a
sawmill, which he operated for two years. Again
removing, he settled this time in Tipton, building a
sawmill, and remaining there until 1858, when he
came to Iowa, locating southeast of Mt. Pleasant.
He repaired Boyls' mill and operated the same for
two years, when he removed to Mt. Pleasant and
engaged as engineer, and in that city resided for
two years. Mr. Buffington then purchased 100
-^«

acres of raw land out of which he developed a
farm. He erected a mill upon his farm, which he
operated for twenty years, and at the end of that
time, in 1881, the mill blew up, and he has never
rebuilt it. Credit is due Mr. Buffington from the
fact that all his property was acquired by his own
labor, helped on by good management and fair
dealing. Mrs. Buffington, an estimable lady, pre-
sides over the home, and welcomes the stranger,
the friend or the Isinsman who enters her door. Not
only in Trenton Township, but throughout Henry
County, are this worthy couple universally known
and respected. To make the family circle com-
plete, two children have blessed their union: Ruth is
now the wife of George Boyer, a carriage-maker of
Tipton, Ind., and to them have been born two
children: Frances Olive, wife of Martin Vickery,
M. D., of Tipton, and Asher G., who died at the
age of twenty-four. The other child is Reason S.,
who married Mary A. Edy, of Canada ; they now re-
side in Leadville, Col., and have a family of four
children — William J., Francis E., Lulu May and
Edna B.

*EORGE W. S. ALLEN, dealer in clothing,
hats, caps and furnishing goods, has been

G

^JiS! established in that business in Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa, since 1882. He is a native of Rutland
County, Vt., born Oct. 15, 1850, and is a son of
Robert and Eliza (Albee) Allen, both of whom
were also natives of the Green Mountain State.
The Allen family were of English and Scotch an-
cestry, and for many generations had been resi-
dents of New England. The parents of the sub-
ject of this sketch removed to Iowa in 1855, and
made their home in Lee County, whence they re-
moved to Salem, Henr}' County, in 18G2, in which
j'ear the elder Allen died, aged forty-three. His
wife is now living atCreston, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs.
Allen had four children, .all of whom are now liv-
ing, and are named: J(jhn F., who is a hotel-keeiter
at Creston, Iowa; Elvira, wife of Levi Snell, for-
merly a merchant in Mt. Pleasant, now a real-estate
dealer in Lincoln, Neb. ; Ella M., wife of Charles
Dahlburg, in charge of the telegraph lines on the „
West Division of the C, B., & Q. R. R., and liv- *

■<^

A

290

HENRY COUNTY.

ing at Creston, and George W. S., who was the
youngest. After getting such education as was af-
forded by the public schools, the latter attended
the High School at Mt. Pleasant, and began his
business life as clerk for E. L. Penn & Co. He re-
mained vvitli that firm some time, and then sought
employment witli Mr. George H. Spohr, clothier,
with whom he remained until he engaged in busi-
ness for himself, which was in the year 1882. He
carries a stock of from *10,000 to $15,000 worth
of goods.

Mr. Allen was married, Oct. 28, 1886, to Miss
Mary Whiting, daughter of .John H. Whiting, of
Mt. Pleasant, of whom see sketch in another part of
this volume. Mrs. Allen is a n.ative (if Mt. Pleas-
ant.

^@: — -^>

^jy^ LIJAH ANDERSON, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
one of the pioneer settlers of Henry County,
Iowa, was born in Hampshire County, Va.,
Dec. 18, 1825. His father, Jesse Anderson, was
also a native of Virginia, while his mother, Anna
(Harvey) Anderson, was born in Licking County,
Ohio, to which State her parents emigrated at an
early day, but subsequently returned to Hampshire
County, Va., where she wedded .Jesse Anderson.
They were the parents of fifteen children, only five
of whom are now living: Elijah, residing in Mt.
Pleasant, is the subject of this sketch; Abraliam
resides in Buffalo County, Neb. ; David also resides
in Buffalo County, Neb. ; Rachel lives in Marshall
County, Va. ; Margaret is the wife of John Allen, a
resident of Marshall County, \'a. Politically, Mr.
Anderson was a Whig, and was well informed on
all questions of interest in his day. He was a
devoted member of the Metliodist Episcopal Church
for many years, of which body his wife was also a
member. They had the respect and confidence of
all wlio knew them, and were always ready to help
a fellow traveler over the difficulties and trials
which he could not meet unaided. Both died in
Marshall Count3% \'a.

Tlie subject of this sketch received his education
in the log school-house so common in early days, in
whicli vvere tiie puncheon floor and seats, while ii
portion of one of the logs was removed, and the

aperture covered with greased paper served as a
window. The fireplace was of enormous size, occu-
pying nearly the whole of one end of the building.
In 1855 Mr. Anderson came to Henry County,
Iowa, at a time when the country was yet compara-
tively new. . Here he became acquainted with Miss
Mary E. Curtis, and the acquaintance ripened into
love, and on the 15th of October, 1858, he led her
to the marriage altar. By this union seven children
were born, six of whom are now living: Gertrude
is the wife of Harvey Harrison, a butcher of Mt.
Pleasant; Wyley lives on a farm; Laura and Lula,
twins; Stella and Carrie Maud. For many ^-ears
Mr. Anderson has given his attention to the raising
of fine stock. At one time he owned Kentucky
Bill, one of the finest horses ever brought to this
county, measuring sixteen hands high, and widel}'
known throughout the State. At present he owns
Little Matt, a gelding, seven j'ears old, and one of
the finest steppers in the county. He can now
trot his mile in 2:25, and by judicious training will
doubtless make it in 2 :20. Little Matt is from
old Iron Duke, he by Cassius M., he by Henry
Claj', he by Andrew Jackson, he from a colt by old
Bashaw, and lie bj- a colt from Kentucky Bo^.

Mr. Anderson liolds political views with the
Democratic part^', in which he is an active worker.
When he came to Henry County he was i)oor in this
world's goods, but he and his estimable wife by
their hard labor, thrift and econom}', have accumu-
lated a fine proijerty. For thirty-two years he has
been identified with the county, and has seen the
forest leveled, and the wild prairies transformed
into beautiful homes. In the various changes that
have been made he has borne well his part.

•'^•^fll

TBHSSBSSSSS

UlSmSmOi

^?W^

ATRICK BAKER, Station Agent at Rome,
was born in County Clare, Ireland, March
17, 1827, and isasoiiof Michael and JIary
(O'Gr.idy) Baker, both of whom were na-
tives of Ireland, and were reared, married, and
ilied in County Clare. His father was eighty-
two years old at his death, and his motlier
seventy-five. They were both members of the
Catholic Church, and reared a family of nine chil-

i

— i-4»-

HENRY COUNTY.

291

I"

dren, all of whom grew to man anrl womanhoofl.
Tbey were named: Thomas, who died in Ireland:
Mary, wife of Patrick Bja-on, also a native of Ire-
land ; Bridget, wife of James C'lune, of the same
country: Ellen, wife of John Snllivan; Ann, wife
of James Daloiighty; Daniel, also a resident of his
native country: Michael, who died there; John,
who died in Rome, Iowa, in 1874, and Patrick.

Our subject was the second one of the familj' to
emigrate to America. He crossed the water in
1849, settling in New York, where for seven years
he was engaged as section foreman on the New
York & Erie Railroad. In 1855 he came to Bur-
lington, and engaged as track foreman for the B. &
M., now the C.,B. & Q. R. R., and in 1858 came to
Rome. Here Mr. Baker was engaged as foreman,
continuing in this emploj'ment until 1878, when he
was made Station Agent, which position he has held
ever since.

Mr. Baker was united in marriage, in 1 855, to
Johanna Ambrose, a n.ative of County Limerick,
Ireland, and a daughter of William Ambrose. B}'
this union seven children have been born: Michael
A., now a resident of Keokuk, is chief dispatcher of
the C, B. & Q. R. R. : John C. is operator at Rome ;
Katie is a teacher in the same village; Maggie is
also a teacher; Peter B. and James D. are now en-
gaged in fanning, and Johanna is the youngest.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker with their children are mem-
bers of the Catholic Church. He was poor in this
world's goods when he came to this county, but by
close attention to business, and good management,
has gained a competence. He now owns 200
acres of fine land, all improved, adjoining Rome.
Politically, he is a Democrat, and has been Presi-
dent of the Board of Education for ten years. He
takes great interest in educational and public affairs,
and of the citizens of Tippecanoe Township, none
deserve more respect than does our subject.

ylLLIAM S. MILLSPAUGH, proprietor of
the Millspaugh Mill, of Trenton, was born
in Shelby County, Ohio, in 1844. He is
the son of Harvey and Sarah A. (Kyle) Millspaugh,
the father a native of Orange County, N. Y., and
the mother of Clermont County, Ohio. The parents

of Harvey Millspaugh, James and Cynthia (Cor-
win) Millspaugh, were of German descent. William
came with his parents to this county in 185G. They
settled in ]\It. Pleasant, making that their home for
two years, when they moved to Tippecanoe Town-
ship, where they lived some years, then moved to
Trenton Township. Harvey Millspaugh and his
wife were both members of the Missionary Baptist
Church. He was a miller by trade, and was a well-
informed man upon all subjects, especiallj'f upon
political affairs, and always cast his vote with the
Republican part}'. While in Ohio he held the
office of Assessor. Mr. and Mrs. Millspaugh were
the parents of seven children, four of whom are
yet living: John R., who is owner of a sawmill in
Gunnison, Col.; Electa resides with our subject,
William 8.; and Thomas, who is in Colorado with
his brother John. Those who have died are : George
W., who died Dec. 29, 1885; Harvey died at the
age of twenty-one; and Elizabeth, the deceased
wife of Thomas McCall, of Montana Territory,-
died in 1877; three died in infancy. Mr. Mills-
paugh departed this life May 28, 1861, at the age
of fifty-three. His wife still survives him, and
finds a happy home with our subject.

William Millspaugh when twelve years old came
with his parents to this county, and here he has
continued to reside. He learned the miller's
trade, and has been engaged in that business
nearly ever since. On the 22d of January, 1885,
he was united in marriage with Mary Rivey. She
is a native of Jefferson County, Iowa, though
her parents, Peter and Permelia (Draw) Rivey,
were natives of France. One child, a darling-
little daughter, has come to make glad the fond
parents' hearts. To this daughter, who was born
Dec. 31, 1886, the name of Ethel has been given.

The Star Mill, owned by Mr. Millspaugh, was
erected in 1879, and h.is a capacity of six bushels
of wheat per hour, and ten bushels of corn. It
is a water-power mill, and Mr. Millspaugh being
well acquainted with his business cannot but make
it a success. Mr. Millspaugh was reared in the
Baptist Church, and is a member of the same,
taking an active interest in and doing his part of
all the work. He is one of the enterprising busi-
ness men of Trenton Township, and has done much
i»

t

»>^B^4«

292

HENRY COUNTY.

toward developing and building np the countj',
and among the citizens of Henry County none
deserve more iionor tlian he.

'■" t S^^

ir and farmer,
Township,
Monmouth

County, N. J., in 1 8.32, and is the son of Cor-
nelius V. and Joanna (Rogers) Conover. Both
were n.itives of that State, of German ancestr}', al-
though for five generations they rank as native
Americans. Joanna Rogers was three weeks old
when the battle of Monmouth was fought, and her
parents resided at Penolopen during the progress of
that war. After their marriage Cornelius and
Joanna began domestic life upon a farm in New Jer-
sey, and there all their children were born. They
are: Cornelius, now a farmer of Monmouth County,
■N. J. ; George H. ; Samuel, deceased ; Marj- M. ; Jo-
anna B. ; Ann and Charlotte L.

Our subject learned his trade in New York City
with Ills uncle, E. F. Rogers, a noted .irchitect and
builder. He completed the palatial residences of
Cyrus W. Field, the great telegraph monopolist, at
the corner of Twenty -first street and Lexington
avenue, and the philanthropist, Peter Cooper's, at
the corner of Lexington avenue and Twenty-.sec-
ond street, besides many other buildings of note.
After four years' residence in New York City,
George Conover came west to visit his uncle, John
T. Rogers, who at that time resided on the Calvin
Burrows farm in Jefferson Township. .Seeing a
great future for the new country he was easily pre-
vailed upon to make this his home, and at once be-
gan work at his trade, his first job contracted for be-
ing the elegant residence of Jacob Moore, which was
completed at a cost of ijifi.OOO, and was tiie liiiest resi-
dence ever erected in Jefferson Township. It was
later destroyed bj- lire. lie built the Trenton
Presbyterian Church in 1868, also the Rus.sell .school-
house, the Foster school building, the Union School
in Wayne Township, the Crawford School, and also
the fine farm residences of John Montgomery,
Perrj' Morrison, John Felger, Dr. Leeper, Oliver
Stephenson, Evan Davis, and a iiost of others of

greater or less importance. For thirty-one yeare
Mr. Conover has been the most prominent con-
tractor and builder in tiie northern part of the
coinit^' and formerly emplo3'ed a large number of
hands. The past three years his sons have aided in
the work, the two eldest having become finished
workmen and the third le.irning the trade.

Mr. Conover was married, in 1856, to Adelaide,
daughter of George W. an^ Rebecca (Rame)
Kingsbury, who came from Indiana to Henry
County in 1855, and who, after a twelve years' resi-
dence in Henry Count3- removed to Labette Count}',
Kan., where the widowed mother and other mem-
bers of the family yet reside. Jlr. and Mrs. Cono-
ver have had twelve children, of whom but five
are now living, namely: Edmund F., who has been
twice married, first to Ida Fulton, and after her
death to Miss Emma Ramer; Howard H., George
W. ;Irvin and Florence, who are married. Ed-
mund manages the home farm, the father giving
all his attention to his trade. Living onl}- two
miles from where he first located in the count}', Mr.
Conover has perhaps done more in his line of busi-
ness than any other man in the county. His skill in
mechanics keeps him constantly employed. The farm
upon which the famil}- has since resided was bought
in 1862, and the fine residence built in 1873. Prom-
inent in social .and business life, we are pleased to
make this mention of one of the best known resi-
dents of Henry County.

The father of Mrs. Conover w.as during his oar-
Her years a mechanic, and was also a minister of
the Baptist Church. In Indiana he was Judge of the
Franklin County Court, and by that title he was
familiarly known in this county. He died in his
sixtieth year, in Labette County, Kan. Two
grandchildren, Edua and James IL, are the favor-
ites of the grandparents, and the same farm is the
residence of both families, who live within easy
walking distance of each other. We complete this
family history with mention of the brothers and
sisters of our subject and his wife, who are :
Maryi M., wedded to James H. Hough, also a
contractor and builder, of Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Ann,
widow of John Lippincott, who during his life
was a merchant of Freehold, N. J.: Charlotte L.,
wedded to John Bowden, also a resident of Free-

♦-■-^^

4

■».^li-

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HENRY COUNTY.

-•►

293

«!

i

hold, N. J., and owner of a large tVnuKlry. Of Mrs.
Conover's brothers and sisters, Theodosia wedded
Jacob Rubel, a minister of Oswego County,
Kan ; Theodore, deceased, was married to Hannah
Hinebaugh, who resides in Labette County, Kan. ;
Madison M. became the husband of Zettie Cosier,
and resides in Oswego County, Kan., engaged in
the wholesale drug business; Winfield Scott wedded
K.ate Pliilpot, and resides in Missouri, where he is both
a merchant and a farmer; William is the latter's
partner in business, and the husband of Hattie
Cosier; Joseph became the husband of Amelia Bur-
rows, now deceased, and he is married again and
operates a photograph gallery in Oswego, Kan.;
Libbie married James Dickerman, a dealer in real
estate in Oswego.

THOMAS COAD, a farmer residing on section
23, Canaan Township, Henry Co., Iowa, is
of English ancestry. He is a son of John
and Jennie (Jeffry) Coad, both natives of Devon-
shire England, where they were married, and
whence they came to America, about the year
1827, settling in Westmoreland County, Pa. In
1844 the family came to Iowa, settling in Des
Moines County, near Burlington. VV^ith them from
England came seven children, all born there : Louisa,
widow of Isaac Coljbet, of Butler County, Pa. ;
Edward married Nancy Ford, and resides in New
Loudon Township; W^illiam wedded Mary A. Mc-
Laughlin, and then came to Iowa, where they both
died ; Priscilla, deceased, wedded Daniel Beer, of
Pennsylvania, and came in 1844 to Iowa; Robert,
deceased, married in Kentucky, and resided there
the remainder of his life; Mary A. wedded Isaac
Horn, and yet resides in Indiana County, Pa. ; John
married in Builington, Margaret Thompson becom-
ing his wife, and still resides in Des Moines County;
Henry, the first son born in America, wedded Maria
Riffle, and resides in Des Moines County; James
wedded Susan Dixon, of Burlington, where they re-
side, he being in the employ of the Chicago, Burling-
ton & Quiney Railroad; Samuel wedded Annie
O'Neil, of Oregon, and is engaged in farming in
Salem, that State.

^ ^«

Thomas, our subject, and the youngest one of the
family, was born in Westmoreland County. Pa.,
July 8, 1835. Since 1844 he has resided in South-
eastern Iowa, and for twentj'-one 3-ears in Henrj'
Count}'. He was a soldier, enlisting Oct. 11, 1861.
in Company A, 14th Iowa Volunteers, and after
two years' service, was mounted and became a mem-
ber of the 7th Cavalry. The first three companies
were assigned to the frontier service, taking the
place of the regulars who were sent to the front.
Until July, 1866, he was in active service in guard-
ing the outposts from marauding Indians.

After Mr. Coad returned from the war, he was
united in marriage with Miss Emeline Hale, daugh-
ter of John D. and Sarah (Lee) Hale, old settlers of
this county, and highly respected people. The
ceremony was performed Dec. 12, 1869, Rev. James
Haines, a Methodist Episcopal minister, officiating.
Their domestic life began on the farm of Mr. Hale,
and after a few years Mr. Coad removed to his
own farm in the same neighborhood that he had im-
proved. This was afterward sold, and his present
farm of 160 acres was purchased, to which he re-
moved in 1880. His new residence was completed
in 1 887 at a cost of $2,000, it being one of the finest
in the township. Truly it is a fitting home for a
man who has done so much to improve the countiy,
and surelj- no happier one can be found.

The children are John M., Harry E., Laura M.,
Minnie L. and Edgar T. The eldest and youngest
are deceased. Mr. Coad is a Republican in politics.
His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, known as Trinity Chapel.

^'AMES SNYDER, a farmer residing on sec-
tion 25, Canaan Township, Henry Co., Iowa,
was born in Marshall County, W. Va., April
_ 21, 1830, and is a son of Andrew and S.arah
(Baker) Snyder. Andrew Snyder was born in
Jefferson County, Ohio, and Sarah Baker in Mar-
shall County, Va. George Snyder was the grand-
father of our subject and a Pennsylvanian German
by birth and parentage. He married Rachel Taff
in Pennsylvania, then removed to Virginia, and
from thence to Highland County, Ohio, their last

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HENRY COUNTY.

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daj'Si being speut in Brown C'dunty, where they died
and were buried. They were parents of Samuel,
Hiram, William. Adam, Peter, Andrew, Mary A.,
Nancy and Kittie. Of these, Adam, and probablj-
Peter, are living, the first in Centerville, Iowa, the
latter in Ladoga, Ind.

Andrew Snyder went to Virginia, and there mar-
ried Miss Sarah Baker about 1827. She was a
daughter of George and Sarah Baker, who resided
on a farm in that county. After a married life of
eighteen years in V^irginia, during which time eight
children were born, the family removed to Iowa,
settling in Des Moines County, near Danville, in
1844. The children were Rachel, wife of Oliver
Little; James, our subject; Elizabeth, who resides
with him: Mary A., who died unmarried; Caroline,
who wedded James Crogan; Sarah, wife of Charles
Crocker: William W.. who died in childhood, and
Lou J., wife of E. A. Miller. Mr. Snyder pur-
chased a half section of land in Des Moines County
and erected a log house, which has long since been
torn down. Under its roof were born Theo.
B., an attorney-at-law in Burlington aa4/the hus-
band of Mary L. Dorgan, and Wilbur, a resiclfent
farmer of Pleasant Grove Township, who married
Nellie Burns, of Des Moines County-. For thirt\'-
seven happy years the parents lived on their old
homestead, when the mother was taken from them,
the father living three years longer, when he too
died, on the old homestead.

The pioneer life of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder was
shared in its fullest sense. The imjoroving of a
new farm was not such a hardship for them as for
many, thej' living so near the city of Burlington.
Their lands were productive, and their children
grew to man and womanhood, bringing gladness
and joy to the old homestead. All except one had
reached maturity at the time of the mother's death,
which occurred in December, 1882. Her remains
were interred near the old family mansion in Pleas-
ant Grove Township. She reached the mature age
of seventy-four, and her funeral obsequies were
held on Christmas Day in 1882. The husband sur-
vived until 188.5. and all that was mortal of the
pioneer was laid to rest by the side of the wife he
had loved so well. The very advanced age of
eighty-three had been reached by that patriarch.

who had held in his arms a score and a half of
grandchildren, some of whom are now parents.
Andrew Snyder was a quiet and good citizen,
always a farmer, and his children were early taught
habits of thrift and sobriety.

Our subject gi-ew to manhood in Des Moines
Count\'. He was united in marriage with Miss
Mahala Doty, Nov. 27, 1859, Rev. G. B. Bowman,
President of Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Linn
Co., Iowa, performing the ceremony at the
residence of the bride's mother in Linn Countj\
Ephraim Doty, the father of Mrs. Snyder, was born
in Ohio County, Va., and wedded Mary Snyder in
that State. They removed to Highland County,
and thence to Williams County, Ohio, where his
death occurred in the autumn of 1844. He was
the father of twelve children, the eldest of whom
were born in Virginia. His widow came to
Iowa the same year, locating at Mt. Vernon, Linn
County, where she remained until her death, in
August, 1881. Her house was the home of all her
fatherless children except the eldest, who married
in Ohio. We are pleased to give not onlj* the
names, but the wives and husbands of those
•children, who were pioneers in Southeastern
Iowa : Rachel manned Caleb Richart, who died in
phiof Kittie A. became the wife of Barnej'
Pettj'court, of Williams Count3\ Ohio: Abner,
husband of Mary A. Barnes, died in Western Ne-
braska; Mary A. wedded Horatio Wtilker, and
resides in Buchanan County, Iowa; Phiebe became
the wife of Chauncy Blodgett, of Mt. Vernon,
Iowa; Andrew married Hannah McElro}', and was
killed at the battle of Champion Hills, where his
bodj- was buried; George W. was killed at the bat-
tle of Pittsburg Landing, and was burled in the
National Cemetery there; Minerva, wife of Joseph
S. Cookus, of Crete, Neb. ; Mahala, wife of our
subject, is a twin sister of Minerva; Ephraim mar-
ried Emily L. Jenks. and resides in Mt. Vernon, and
with Ruah, his sister, formed another pair of twins.
She wedded Christian Cordes, of the same village,
and Eliz.abfth became the wife of Peter H. H.
Kepler, also of Mt. Vernon.

Six years after the marriage of our subject he
removed to Henry Countv and purchased a farm,
upon which he now lives. Not a tree was standing

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uor a furrow tinned uijon this tract, but from the
beginning a farm has been made, substantial im-
provements erected, and for years Mr. Snyder has
been recognized as one of the leading farmers of
Canaan Township. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are the
parents of six children: Virginia A., wife of W.
H. Deal, of Scott Township; Rachel F., wife of J.
H. Forbes, a resident farmer of Crawford, Neb.;
Charles W., James P]., Wilbur D. and Howard T.,
complete the family and are all beneath the paternal
roof. Both the daughters were educated at Howe's
Academy, and were engaged in teaching in this and
Des Moines County prior to their marriage. Since
1865 Mr. Snyder and his family have been honored
residents of Canaan Township, and as such we
desire to do them justice and give them the credit
they deserve for the part taken in the development
of this goodly land.

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A J.

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EONARD FARR, a retired f.armer, resides
■ ^ at Mt. Pleasant. He was a pioneer in Iowa
^ of 1841, and has been a resident of Henry
County'since 1848. He was born in Huntington,
Crittenden. Co., Vt., April 1, 1814, and is the son
of Artemas and Mercy (Fitch") Farr. His father
was born at Tinraouth, Conn., in 1781, and removed
to the wilds of Vermont with his family when but
a lad. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, and
commanded a company of volunteers at the battle
of Plattsburg. A farmer by occupation, he emi-
grated to Ohio in 1824, settling in Butler Countj',
where he was engaged in his chosen vocation. He
came to Iowa at the time of the land sales, in 1839,
and purchased claims in Henry County, returned
east, and moved to Henry County in 1841, and
settled in New London Township. He died near
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Oct. 18, 1844. The paternal
grandfather of Leonard emigrated from Wales to
America in Colonial days, and settled in Martha's
Vineyard. Leonard's mother, Mercy Fitch Farr,
was born in Coventry, Conn. Her father, John
Fitch, was also a native of that place, and came of
old New England stock. Her mother's father was
Maj. Elias Buell, an officer of the war of the nevo-
id.—---^—-—-^^— -——___

lutiun. Her uncle, Hon. Jesse Buell, of Coventry,
Conn., and later of Albany, N. Y., was a prominent
man of his day, being an eminent agriculturist and
horticulturist of those early times, the publisher of
the pioneer agricultural journal in this countrj',
the well-known Culiivator and Country Gentleman,
of Albany, N. Y., .and a leading man of that place.
The Buell farail}' trace their descent from the
nobility of England. William Buell, the founder
of the family in America, came from England in
the year 1630, and landed at Pl3'mouth Colony,
Mass. The family subsequently settled at Coventry,
Conn., and to-day their, descendants are to be found
in every State in the Union, many of them having
distinguished themselves as soldiers. Statesmen, and
in the private walks of life.

Leonard Farr received his primary education In
the district school, and pursued his studies at the
Hudson River Seminary, Kinderhook, N. Y., .and
at the Burr Seminary, Manchester, Vt. AVhen
nineteen years of age he commenced teaching
school in Butler County, Ohio, and followed that
calling in that count}' until 1838, when he removed
to Rushville, Ind., where he was similarly engaged
for one year. He spent the years 1839 and 1840
in traveling and teaching in the Southern States.
In the latter part of 1840 he located in Augusta
County, Va., and taught school in that county until
December, 1848. He was married, Feb. 22,1848,
to Miss Margaret D. Bush, a daughter of John
Bush, a resident of Augusta County, Va. Previ-
ous to this time Mr. Farr had made several trips to
Henry County, Iowa, the first being in 1841, when
he purchased some land. He w.is back and forth
afterward three or four times, seeing to its im«
provement, and in 1 848 he removed west and made
his home at Mt. Pleasant. In 1855 he bought the
seminar}' property at Salem, and conducted that insti-
tution until the fall of 1856, following which he
and his wife traveled east for two years. Returning
to Iowa, he settled on his farm near Salem, in Salem
Township, where he remained five years, and then
moved to the city of Mt. Pleasant, where he has
since continued to reside. In his life-work he has
been reasonably successful, having at the present
time some 1,600 acres of land, 1,300 of which lie
in a body in Salem Township.

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HENRY COUNTY.

From its organization until 1870 Mr. F.arr was a
member of the Republican party, since which time
he has acted with the Greenback part3^ In 1868
he was elected Superintendent of Public Schools of
Henry County, and served with his characteristic
abilit3' one term. Religiously he is identified with
and is a member of the Christian Church, and has
contributed liberally to religious and educational
institutions. While unpretending and disposed to
avoid being thought a philanthropist, he is broad,
liberal and humane in his views, and is ever ready
to lend himself to the support of worthy objects.
He gave twelve acres of land with good buildings
to the Christian Church in Mt. Pleasant, the pro-
ceeds of which go toward the support of the
church, of which he and his wife are prominent
members. His home is on the corner of Clay and
Marion streets, and a fine view of it is given in this
work. Portraits of this well-known citizen and his
wife will also be found on preceding pages.

^^MJH*^^^

\f? EVI CAMMOCK, who is now a retired
I (© farmer, lesiding in Salem Township, Henry
jlL^ Co., Iowa, was born in Greene County,
Ohio, Nov. 4, 1815, and is the son of John and
Jane (Ilollingsworlh) Cammock. The grandfather,
James Cammock, was born in Scotland, but went
with his parents to p]ngland, and subsequently, in
1780, to North Carolina, where he was twice mar-
ried. His first union was with Ann Inscoe, who was
the mother of John Cammock. James Cammock
removed to Greene County, Ohio, where he was one
of the first settlers. Later he removed to W.ayne
County, Ind., and there died.

In Greene County, Ohio, John Cammock was
man-led and there sevieral of his children were born:
Janu'S, who wedded Penina Cook, and after her
death Edith Pearson, is a farmer, residing in Ham-
ilton County, Ind.; Henry married Sally Horn, and
resides in Rush County, Ind.; Levi, our subject,
and Ira. In the spring of 1816 John Cammock
settled in Wayne County, Ind., and entered eighty
acres of land, building his own log cabin, and
enduring all the hardships of true pioneer life. Indi-
ana was very sparsely settled at that date, but the

Cammock families were of the enterjnising kind
that soon made homes in the wild woods, and from
their toil a competence was in after years secured.
Other children were born in that State : Elihu, who
mairied Rebecca Wiggs, and afterward Remina,
widow of his brother Martin, is a resident of Mar-
shalltown, Iowa; Martin, deceased, married Anna
Wiggs, and after her death Remina Davis, the lady
now the wife of Elihu; Johanna, deceased, married
Jesse Morris, and died in Reed County, Ind. ; Elijah,
a resident of Hamilton County, Ind., wedded
Marj' Jay ; William married Hannah Horn, and
resides in Miami C(»unty, Ind.; Sarah wedded
Thomas Knight, but after their removal to Iowa
she died; Mary died in Indiana, and two other
children died in infancy.

The parents and ancestors of our subject for
generations back were Quakers of the strictest
sort. They were among the first of their faith in
both North Carolina and Indiana, and in the latter
State botii the parents of Levi Cammock were bur-
ied. He was left fatherless at thirteen years of age.
He was reared on the Indiana farm, and from boy-
hood until he left that State was engaged in grub-
bing the stumps, felling trees, rolling and burning
the logs, and doing everything that a lad could do to
aid in clearing up a farm and make a start in life.
When his wedding was celebrated, he was barely
past his seventeenth birthday, and as the historian
is writing Uncle Levi makes the remark, "This is
m}- fifty-fourth marriage annivcrsarj', the 19th day
of September, 1887. I was married in a Quaker
Church, according to their customs." His wife,
Elizabetli Frazior, was eighteen months his senior,
but during their long lifetime and through all the
tribulations and struggles of their earlier years she
was ever devoted, tender and true. Uncle Levi says
the}' had not a dollar in the woild but were fully
determined to make the best of life, let come what
would. Mrs. Cammock's mother w.ns a widow, and
owned eighty acres (if land, upon one corner of
which Levi built a pole cal)in, and Jlrs. Frazler
gave them a few things to commence housekeeping
with. He relates with glee how he had to make
rails at tlilrtj'-sevcn cents perlnindrcd to [lav for his
wedding clothes, but notwithstanding all this, the}'
prospered.

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Deciding to move further west, we will follow
for a time their fortune. Uncle Levi states: "We
left our little cabin in the green woods May 10»
1837, having a good wife, two little children, and
an old wagon to which was hitched three yoke of
small young cattle." In his pockets reposed twelve
silver dollars, and it was his intention to return if
|6 of the same were spent when his journej' was
half completed. There were forty-five souls in the
colony that were en route to Iowa, all Quakers, and
a herd of cattle and hogs was driven by members
of the party in the rear of the caravan. The roads
were not graded, nor were man}' of the streams
bridged, but day after Any the troops made prog-
ress, yet the trip required almost six weeks. They
crossed the Mississippi at Ft. Madison, June 14,
1837, and camped on this side of the river. That
night a steamboat came up the river and frightened
the stock, causing a general stampede, and the}-
were all the next day in getting them together
again. The next night the company reached West
Point, and as it looked like rain, on account of his
wife and children Mr. Cammock concluded to sleep
in the hotel. This was a log house with a sod
chimney, which on top was surmounted with a salt
barrel to add to its height and give it a better
draught. Mr. Cammock looked over his cash,
found $1, and when the bill was paid next morning
received seventy -five cents in change, which consti-
tuted the capital from which he later built up an
immense landed estate. The next night the party
encamped within sight of where we are now writ-
ing. Aunt Polly Pugh was then in her new cabin,
of which mention is made elsewhere, it being the
onl3' house in sight. The horses and cattle were
turned loose to range across the prairies, where
until that time nothing fed except wild deer and
wolves, and the white man had scarcely a dwelling-
place. The next day was spent in visiting Uncle
Aaron Street, who lived farther up the Little Ce-
dar. On Monday the wagons were unloaded, and
Levi, Thomas Cook, and Mrs. Frazier's families,
made one household for the season. They at once
went to work, and by Saturdaj' week had the cabin
built in Salem on a lot donated by Mr. Street. The
last seventy-five cents owned by Levi purchased
corn meal, and again he was even with the world.

He was furnished with money by the neighbors,
and started back to Illinois with his oxen for meal.
He made two trips for meal and one for bacon
during the fall. He then went to Adams County,
111., for hogs, in company with Henry Johnson.
They drove them home, buttheir trip made in three
days was a terrible one. Over night the wolves
would fight with them and a continuous squealing
and howling was kept up. His boots were carried
on his arm, and the long frozen prairie grass cut
the woolen stockings from his feet as he trudged
over the frozen ground, but he persevered and
brought in the stock. He paid §12 for a bushel of
salt to cure his meat, and that winter salt was worth
$60 per barrel. He turned his cattle on brush
along Skunk River during the winter and spring,
and in the spring of 1838 bought a claim on the
half section where he now resides, upon which
he built a cabin-. That fall the land came into market,
and Mr. Cammock and other men in the neighbor-
hood went to Burlington to attend the land sale.
Scarcely any of them had a dollar, but they in-
tended getting money of brokers at Burlington,
paying fifty per cent, but b}- good luck Mr. Cam-
mock's uncle, Reuben, arrived at the same time
with $100 belonging to Levi, who, by borrowing
$100 from Jones Richey at fifty per cent, entered
one and one-fourth sections. He became a very
prosperous man, and during his business life was
one of the largest dealers in stock in Southeastern
Iowa. He has 'owned thirteen 80-acre tracts of
land during his residence here, and has put under
fence and cultivation since coming, 15,000 acres,
building four good houses, and at one time owned
640 acres in one body. His kindliness of heart has,
however, caused him the loss of almost his entire
fortune. Security debts by the thousands of dol-
lars melted it away like snow before a summer's
sun. For one man he paid $20,000 and for others
larger amounts.

The home of Levi Cammock was always rioted
for its hospitality, and his genial manner and their
well-spread board were known to all both far and
wide. The death of his first wife occurred in 1865.
Every pioneer grieved when that most estimable
lady passed from earth. She was tender, kind and
true. Her love of home, devotion to her husband,
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HENRY COUNTY.

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children .aiu) friends, was an axiom in tliis comnin-
nit}'. She was the mother of three sons and six
daughtei's, all of whom are married except one
daugliter who is deceased.

On the 9lh of September, 1865, he was again
married, to Ann Wilcoxon, who has borne him one
daughter, Laura B. The blood of Levi Cammock
flows in the veins of fifty grandchildren and nine
great-grandchildren; all the latter are sons. Who
can air a prouder name than a Cammock.'' Who has
done more to develop and support tiiis countj' with
her schools, her churches and her colleges than our
subject? Methinks not one. In a lifetime of almost
half a century he has wielded an influence in this
community unsurpassed by any man a resident of
Salem Township. Business, and nothing but business,
has been his watchword. In conclusion, he is now
seventy 3'ears of age, has never used tobacco in
any form, never tasted anj' kind of spirits, tea or
coffee, and never used a pair of spectacles. He is
to-day mentally as brilliant as when thirty years of
age, and despite his reverses of fortune is the same
hale, genial, Levi Cammock as in the pioneer days
of 1837.

^ OHN SAVAGE, farmer, was born in North-
amptonshire, England, Jan. 22,1838, and is
a son of William and Marj' (Worrall) Sav-
age. William Savage was born in the same
shire, and Mary, his wife, in Warwickshire, in the
city of Coventry. William and his father, John
Savage, Sr.. were both tailors, and during a long
term of years William worked in London and
Birmingham.

In London his marriage was celebrated Aug. 4,
1829, at St. Pancreas Church, in the county of Mid-
dlesex. In London their first son, John, was born,
whose death occurred in infancy. Not long after-
ward Mr. Savage removed to Northamptonshire,
to Greens-Norton, where Rosa, who is now the
wife of David Burton, of Salem, was born. Rosa's
birth was followed by that of Mary, wife of Ed-
ward Simkin, a carpenter of Salem, formerly a
farmer. Then came John, our subject, and
Thomas W., deceased, who was wounded during

the late war, his death occurring eleven da3-s after.
He was a member of Company K, 19th Iowa Regi-
ment, and had been but two months in the service
when his death occurred, he having not yet reached
his majority. The Savage family removed from
England to America, landing in New York May 1,
1 846, after a voyage lasting two months. His un-
cle, Samuel Savage, was one of the leading Friends
in the township of Venice, Cayuga Co., N. Y., and
to that point William made his way. The family
were warmly welcomed, and Samuel, who was also a
tailor, advised William to locate in the same town-
ship, on the Poplar Ridge Road. William engaged
in business there for nine \'ears. Our subject was
then a lad grown old enough to work, and his father's
trade was too confining for the boy, so he engaged
at farm work for a farmer living in the neighbor-
hood, at $1..50 per month, and liking it very much,
he prevailed upon his parents to go farther west,
and in 18')5 the family removed to Iowa, making a
landing at Burlington.

Dr. Thomas Siveter, a well-known resident of
Salem, had been somewhat in correspondence with
Mr. Savage, and being also a native of England,
tendered the hospitalities of his home to the famil3'
until they could look over the countrj-. The offer
was accepted, and a team carried them to Salem
soon after their arrival at Burlington. The next
day rooms were rented in Salem, and William and
our subject drove over the country and selected the
tract now the home farm (if John Savage. The
family removed within a few days to their new
home, consisting of a small house of two rooms
and thirty acres of cleared land, and in the same
year an ox-team was purchased and in the autumn
of 1 8o5 the first crop was harvested. The parents
both lived and died on this farm, and for several
years prior to the death of the father John managed
the place. The family' were only in moderate cir-
cuiostances, but their last days were spent in an easy
manner. William Savage and his wife were devoted
Christi.ins. For man}' 3'ears he was a leader of the
Methodist Episcopal class at Wesle}" Chapel, near
Salem.

The marriage of John Savage to Miss Tacy D.,
daughter of Walter and Sarah Crew, was celebrated
Oct. 24, 1862; she was born Sept. 14, 1834. (An

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HENRY COUNTY.

303

interesting histoiy of her family appears elsewhere.)
The domestic life of our subject and his young
wife was begun on the farm of Charles Poulter, his
brother-in-law, he, liowever, managing the farm of
his father. One year later he completed a room in
the Savage residence, and brought his young wife
to the farm upon which they have since lived, and
all their children except Nellie, the eldest daughter,
were born in the old farmhouse of their grand-
father. The famil}' was composed of eleven chil-
dren— Nellie M., Jennie T.; Thomas E. and Alice
S., twins; Walter H. and William, twins, the lat-
ter deceased ; Sarah, deceased ; then William C. and
John R., twins, Samuel M. and David L. After the
death of his parents our subject became sole owner
of the homestead. He had, however, purchased
other lands, and his successors have since added
man}' broad acres to his domain. The children old
enough to learn have a substantial education, and
Jennie, Alice and Thomas hold certificates entitling
them to teach in the schools of this county.
Thomas and Jennie have both been engaged in that
profession, the former now having charge of a school.
Several terms were taken by them in Whittier Col-
lege and in tlie schools of Salem, and we are pleased
to observe that the children of such parents have all
a literary taste.

Mr. Savage had secured a good education before
his parents came to this State, and prior to his mar-
riage he had taught several terms of school in this
county, the first of which was in what was known
as District No. 7, which is now consolidated with
another. Continuously, with two exceptions, Mr.
Savage tauglit for seventeen consecutive winters,
and many of the middle-aged residents in this
township were former students under his tutel-
age. For many years Mr. Savage has been a mem-
ber of the School Board, and a long while before
and until the school districts became independent,
he was Treasurer of the School District Township
Board of .Salem. In 1883 he was elected Assessor
of Salem 'I'ownship, serving two years. Mr. Savage
now gives his entire attention to the management
of his farms, which have increased from a 60-acre
tract in 1871, to 340 acres in 1887. This is indic-
ative of his energy and good management, and
few men have a better business record. Politically,
-4*^

he has acted with the Republican party sinc§ its
organization, but of late has leaned strongly to the
cause of prohibition, of which he is an ardent advo-
cate.

Mrs. Savage has for some time past been an inva-
lid, but bears her suffering with Christian pa-
tience and resignation. By birthright, she was a
member of the Society of Friends. She has ever
proved herself a sincere Christian, a faithful and
devoted wife and loving mother.

'i^^-

trade.

F. MORRIS is a merchant and dealer in
stock in the new town of Coppack, where
he and his wife do the principal business in
the mercantile, stock, grain and millinery
Mr. Morris is a native of Indiana, born
near Knightstown, Henry County, in 1840. His
fatiier, Benjamin F. Morris, died in that State, and
with the widowed mother our subject came to Jef-
ferson County, Iowa, in 1857. She was a Miss
Catherine Williams, and was the mother of ten
children: Lucinda, now wife of William Huddle-
son; Hannah, deceased wife of Joseph Wiggins;
Levi, husband of Mrs. Sarah (Tracy) Flannigan;
William, wedded to Miss HoUingsworth ; Lavina,
wife of David Hoilopeter; Cyrus, who wedded Ra-
chel Echroid; Martin, the husband of Minnie
Williams; Benjamin F., our subject; Kate, who died
unmarried; and Louisa, the wife of Thaddeus
Cooper, completed the number, all of whom, except
Lucinda, Louisa and Hannah, came to Iowa. The
family removed from Jefferson County, and located
near Brighton, Washington County, the mother
finally selling her place and living with her chil-
dren. She died in Keokuk County, where Keota now
stands.

Our subject, Benjamin F. Morris, w.as engaged in
farming in Washington County until 1867, when
he bought a farm near Sigourney, Keokuk Co.,
Iowa, which he sold two years later, removing
to West Grove, Davis Co., Iowa, and emiiarkiiig
in mercantile pursuits. A few years later he sold
out and rented the farm of his wife's father in Jef-
ferson County. Two years later he bought the lat-
ter's business at Brighton, which he carried on there

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HENRY COUNTY.

for a year, then removing to Wayland, in this
county, in which village he and his wife remained
in business for nearly ten years, then selling out and
going back to his own farm in Jefferson Township.
Farming did not satisfi' his energetic temperament,
and in 1886 he built his present store in the new vil-
lage of Coppack, adjoining the depot of the Iowa
Central Railroad, where he is doing a flourishing
trade. In October, 1866, he was married to Eliza A.
Wood, a daughter of Charles and Catharine (Freder-
ick) Wood, of Jefferson County, both natives of
Ohio, coming from that to this State in 1 840, making
them among the earlj' settlers of Jefferson Coimtj-.
There Mrs. Morris was born, reared, educated and
married. Mr. Morris now owns 450 acres of land
in a bod}", adjoining the village of Coppack. Mrs.
Morris was the first lady who did a millinery busi-
ness at Wayland, and also in the future history' of
Coppack can claim the same distinction. .She is a
practical business ladj', and during her girlhood
was a teacher for three years in Washington, Jeffer-
son and Henry Counties. For twenty years she has
aided her husband as clerk and counselor, and while
he purchases and ships grain and stock, she man-
ages the store and office of the Iowa Central Rail-
road, of which he is Station Agent. They carry a
stock of general merchandise of over $4,000, and
do an annual trade of perhaps $9,000. No heirs
have come to grace their home, but the}' are rearing
a nephew, Charles Frederick, a son of Martin Mor-
ris. In connection with his other business, Mr.
Morris manages his extensive farm, and this is indic-
ative of his enterprise, and also adds to his bank
account. We are pleased to welcome Mr. and Mrs.
Morris to a place in this volume.

HARLES L. MOREHOUS, editor and pro-
prietor of the Jit. Pleasant Evening Nev:s
and Weekly Independent, was born in the State
of New York June 13, 1830. His parents were
among the early settlers in Ohio, to which State
they removed in 1833, going to New York in 1835,
and returning to Ohio in 1839. In 1853 they re-
moved to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, our subject coming
with them. His father, George W. Morehous, was
a cattle-dealer and stockman, but since coming to

V

this count}' has principally lived a retired life. He
is still living, in his eighty-eighth year, in Wash-
ington, Iowa, of which place he has been a resident
for over thirty years. His mother, whose name was
Elizabeth Ann, died in 1886, aged eighty-six years.
George W. Morehous is a prominent and honored
member of the Masonic fraternity. He was the
projector and principal oi'ganizer of Henry Chap-
ter No. 8, R. A. M., in Mt. Pleasant. He has been
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for
nearly sixty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Morehous
were the parents of twelve children, of whom the
following-named five are deceased : Lucretia, Cor-
nelius B., Abigail, George W., and an unnamed in-
fant. The survivors are: Philo D., a resident of
Washington, Iowa, where he has kept a hotel for
twenty-five years; Alice Ann, wife of Rev. Cad-
wallader, living at Jacksonville, Fla. ; George W.
(2d), who is a mine owner at Star City, Utah, was
foreman of the grand jury which indicted John D.
Lee ; John W., a fanner at Nephi, Utah, was Deputy
Sheriff at the time of the conviction of Lee : Rosana,
widow of William Timberlake, now living in Har-
rison County, Ohio; Parker A., an engineer living
at Baraboo, Wis., and Charles L., our subject. The
latter learned the trade of a printer at Rochester, N.
Y., and has been connected with it all his mature
life, and since his removal to Iowa has been con-
nected with many newspaper enterprises. In 1859
he removed to Washington, Iowa. In 1865 he
went to Ft. Madison, and established there the
' Democrat^ a Republican paper, which he conducted
until 1868, when he sold it out and returned to Mt.
; Pleasant, which he has ever since considered his
I home, and where his family have liveil most of the
I time. In 1869 Mr. Morehous established the Salem
Register, and in 1872 the Mt. Pleasant Daily Re-
porter, which lie sold in 1880, and in the year 1881
began the publication of the Enterprise, in Iledrick,
Keokuk Co., Iowa. His next venture was the
Journal, at Williamsburg. Iowa County, which he
began in 1883. Returning to Mt. Ple.isant. he es-
tablished the Daily News and Weekly Independent,
the first number being issued Dec. 26, 1884. He is
still at tlie helm of these enterprises, and the Neivs
is a bright newsy afternoon paper, which Mt. Pleas-
ant people could not now do without.

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305

Mr. Morehous was married, Dec. 24, 1853, to
Elizal)eth A., daughter of William and Sarah E.
Meredith. She wasboru in Indiana, Feb. 18, 1832.
Her father was a machinist by trade, and removed
from Greensbnrgto Mt. Pleasant in the fall of 1850'
In 1 852 he started for California, but died of cholera
when near Ft. Laramie. His widow continued to
live in Mt. Pleasant, where she died in May, 1875,
at the age of sixtv-S(^ven.

Tiie union of Mr. and Mrs. Morehous was blessed
with three children. The oldest son, James Frank-
lin, is married to Nellie Clark, whose parents came
to Henr3- County from Boston, and lived here a few
years, when they returned to Massachusetts, where
both now reside. James F. has one child, named
Ethel. A daughter, Laura Belle, is the wife of At-
wood T. Porter, and a resident of Canton, 111. The
youngest of the family is Frederick D., who is mar-
ried, assists his father on the newspaper, and lives
with his pai-ents. Mr. Morehous and wife are estima-
ble people, wht) have the respect of all who know
them.

a^/ C. MARTIN, a farmer residing on section
JU 10, Jefferson Township, Henry Co., Iowa,
jTli ^^'■is born in Greene Count}-, Pa., April 8,
ijl 1834, and is a son of Bonham and PhcBbe

(Conkling) Martin, both natives of Greene County,
Pa., where the}' were reared and married. The
origin of the family is presumably German, as the
grandparents spoke the German language. Louis
Martin was the grandfather of our suliject, and
both himself and wife lived and died in Greene
County, they each being over ninety years of age.
They reared a family consisting of James, Daniel,
William, John, Bonham, Hannah, Mar^- and Bettie.
All of these were married except Mary, but Bon-
ham, the father of our subject, is the oul^y one who
came to Iowa. Perliaps none of these children are
living, at least no obtainable facts can be secured.
All the children of Bonham Martin and wife were
born in Greene County, Pa., and with the excep-
tion of the two eldest, came with their parents to
this State in the spring of 1845. All finally be-
came residents, however, of Henry County . of whom

A. C. Martin is the only representative in this
State. Bonham Martin entered the southeast quar-
ter of section 1, in Jefferson Township, this county,
but really began making a farm and home on the
east half of section 11, but this was entered after
his settlement bj- another man, and Bonham had to
purchase it of the man, although b}^ right its real
possessor. The tract on section 1 , and au 80-acre
tract in Washington County, were entered with a
soldier's warrant, which two of his sons improved,
the father making his home during the remainder
of his lifetime on section 11. For almost thirty
years Bonham Martin resided on that ti-act. His
wife died in 1865, aged sixty-eight 3-ears. Ten
children graced the union. Susannah, now deceased,
the eldest daughter, married Henry Ro6p in Penn-
sylvania; they removed to this county and later to
Schuyler County, Mo., where her death occurred.
Louis died in Pennsylvania unmarried: Ananias
also mari'ied in Pennsylvania, Margaret McCormick
becoming his wife; her death occurred in Ore-
gon, where he yet resides, and is the husband of
Mrs. E. T. Mitchell. Daniel wedded Rachel Pech-
over, and resides in Schuyler Countj-. Mo.; James
M. became the husband of Caroline Mathew, also
of Schuyler Count}-. Mo., then comes our subject,
followed b}- Simon, who wedded Adeline Mathew;
Elizabeth wedded Amos Adams, of Jefferson Town-
ship; two children, Samuel and David, died in Penn-
sylvania, which completes the family. After the
death of his wife, Bonham Martin married Miss
Ester ileyer, of Washington, in Washington County,
who became the mother of two children: Ella, wife
of Silas B. White, of Keokuk County; and Frank,
now a lad of twelve years. The death of Bonham
Martin occurred in 1876, being then in his seventy-
seventh year. His widow yet resides in Washing-
ton. Iowa.

A. C. Martin, our subject, was married, Dec. 25,
1856, to Miss Sadie M. Matthews, whose parents,
Madison and Lanah (Coleman) Matthews, came
from Gallia, Ohio, to this county in 1849, locating
on section 2, Jefferson Tosvnship. bringing two chil-
dren, Sadie M. and Ester C. After their coming
four other children were born — Charlotte, Brazilla.
Catherine E. and Emma R. The parents are yet
living ou the same section, where for thirty-seven

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HENRY COUNTY.

years everything wliich brings joy and happiness
to a home has been theirs. All their chiklren are
married : Ester is the wife of W. W. Woods, of Jef-
ferson Township; Charlotte became the wife of
Harvey Leeper; Catherine is the wife of Andrew
Johnson ; and Emma is the wife of Harvey John-
son, no relation to Andrew.

Our subject and his j'oung wife began their domes-
tic life on section 12 in Jefferson Township, remain-
ing there until 1873, when his present home farm
was purchased. The history of the family is that
of a successful one. The eldest child of A. C. and
Mrs. Martin is Mary L., wife of William Nichols,
of Yam Hill County, Ore.; Elmer wedded Mary
Johnson, a sister of Andrew, and lives with our
subject near Wayland ; Cora completes those of
the children living. Madison B., named in honor
of his two grandsires, died in infancy. We need
only add that this faniil}' have always been foremost
in enterprise, in moral and social life, and that their
home near Wayland is one of the most commodi-
ous and pleasant ones in the neighborhood. In
1884 Mr. Martiu served his township as Trustee,
and his olBcial acts were such as made him the
choice of his party in 1887 for the same position.
In Jefferson Township there is a large Republican
majority, but he was only defeated by eight votes.
He was for several j'ears a member of the School
Board, and his only son completed his education at
Howe's Academy in 1880. This son is the f.ather
of two children — Edwin Richard and Maxie G.
The daughter. Mar}' L., is the mother of Martin M.,
Wellman 1). and Blanche M.

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JETER M. ANDERSON is a farmer, resid-
) ingon section 2!), Wayne Township, Henry
Co., Iowa. ( )ne of the prominent families
I \ and one of the most substantial men of
Wayne Township is our subject, who was born in
Kristeanstad, Sweden, in 1830, and is a son of N.
B. and Nellie (Christianson) Anderson. The father
of our subject died wiien Peter was four years of
age. The widowed mother was left with three
small children — Peter, Christi.ana, and a son who
died in childhood. The niolher is yet a resident of

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Sweden and finds a home with her daughter, who
married a soldier, Mr. Lindo, who is 3'et a member
of the regular army. Peter Anderson was adopted
b3' his uncle, Hans Malm, who lived in the village
mentioned. He learned the trade of brick-making,
and in 1854 decided to try his fortune in America,
He made the voyage in a sailing-vessel, the trip
between Liverpool and Quebec lasting eight weeks.

Peter had just enough money to pay his passage
to Galesburg, 111., where he secured work with a
farmer, and two years later went to Biggsville, 111.,
where after two years he was married, Miss Mary
!Malmburg becoming his wife. The young couple
began life upon a rented farm, Peter's earthly i)OS-
sessions at that time consisting of a team and wagon,
and for seven years they prospered, and when they
left Illinois in 18G7 he brought monej' enough, the
result of their thrift, to buy the farm upon which
they now live. This for a score of years has been
their home, and here their children have gi'own to
man and womanhood, and here all except the three
eldest were born. Here they have become impor-
tant factors in the church and in society, and as
Peter and his good wife near the meridian of life,
they feel that a useful and hap]n' wedded life has
been theirs. Their children are — Edwin O., Charles
E., John M., Minnie D., Joseph A., Nellie, Bertha,
Tillie and Lilian J. The two eldest ;50ns have taken
a classical course at Howe's Academy. Charles is
a clerk in a dry-goods store at Mt. Ple.asant; Edwin
is with Keys & Bros., hardware dealers of Red Oak,
Iowa. All the others are residents beneath the pater-
nal roof.

Mrs. Anderson w.as also born in Sweden, and is a
daughter of John and Christiana (Nelson) Jlalm-
burg, who were married in Sweden, and were the
parents of seven children before thej- left their
native land for America. The}' sailed in 1863 and
settled in Biggsville, where their daughter lived.
There the father died seven years later, and the
mother survived until 1887, and died in Red Oak,
Iowa, at the age of eighty-five. Three of their
children are living: Andrew, who resides in Gl.ad-
stone, 111., the husband of Helena Knutstrom ; John,
residing at Red Oak, Iowa, is a grocery mercluant,
and the husband of Sophia Haugland; and Mrs.
Anderson completes the family. Of her and her

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HENRY COUNTY.

309

family we are pleased to make mention. Their
home is a pleasant one, and books, music, and all
the evidences of wealth and culture grace that
home. All this too has been brought about in a
few j'ears, for when they were married only a few
dollars composed their united fortune.

W

■B,ILLIAM F. NIXON. J. P., a wealthy and
■' influential farmer, residing on section 17,

\i/% Marion Township, was born in Washing-
ton County. Ind.. April 2G, 1824, and is the 5i>n of
Foster and Susanna (.Jordan) Nixon. They were
natives of North Carolina, and to them were born
six children: Thomas died in Helena, Ark.: Zach-
ariah died in Washington County, Ind., in 1886;
AVilliara F., of Mt. Pleasant; Benjamin T., a silver-
smith of Louisville, Kj-. ; Cyrus, editor of the
Chanute (Kan.) Times; Margaret, deceased. The
father with his two eldest children removed to
Washington County', Ind., in 1825, where he was
engaged in mercantile business, and in partnership
with his brother was running the Nixon Mills at
the time of his death, which occurred in 1832. He
was a man full of energy and life, and no enter-
pi'ise was undertaken by him but what it was ac-
complished. At one time while shipping a boat
load of goods to New Orleans he was robbed of
$1,000; the monej' was recovered, but being a very
tender-hearted man, he did not prosecute the of-
fender. Foster Nixon was a fine business man, and
was highly respected in the community. By his
death the family lost a kind and indulgent parent,
and the couuty of Washington a good citizen.
Mrs. Nixon was again married, to Jehosaphat Mor-
ris, and bj- him she had one child. Mr. iiorris died
in 1872. She was united in marriage, the third time,
with Levi Knight. Mrs. Knight yet resides in
Washington Count}-, Ind., at the advanced .age of
ninety, and is a wonderfull}' preserved lad}- for her
age, being able to take care of her own house. She
was clerk of the Society- of Friends for many years,
of which she and her three husbands were all mem-
bers.

Our subject lived with his mother until the age
of seven, when he was adopted b}' his grandfather

Nixon, living there until the age of twenty. After
whipping the wheat out of the straw to feed the
cattle he trudged off to the little log school-house,
where he received his education. Ater the death
of his grandfather, in 1844, he bought the old mills,
taking charge of them for about a year, but was
forced to quit this business on account of illl-
health, and selling out, he went to work by the
month, receiving but 19 per month. On the 17th
day of March, 1847, he led to the marriage altar
Miss Nancy J. Davis; who was born in Washing-
ton County. Ind., Jan. 20, 1833, and was the
daughter of Farlow and Sophia (Spoon) Davis,
natives of North Carolina. Three weeks after their
marriage Mr. Nixon and his young wife started for
Henrj- Couuty, Iowa, traveling from Keokuk to
Henry County in wagons. Settling in Marion
Township he rented a farm for four years, and in
1851 he bought forty acres of land on section 17.
He erected a little log cabin in which thej- began
housekeeping, living here until the bre^ikiug out of
the Rebellion, when he enrolled his name among
the manj- brave boys of the 4th Iowa Cavalry. For
many wear}- months he lay sick in the hospital, and
was discharged after having been in the service
for three years and six months. Returning home
he again turned his attention to farming, adding to
his first purchase until he now has 120 acres of fine
land, all under cultii-ation. The little log cabin has
long since given place to a beautiful two-story resi-
dence, and the little saplings have developed into
large, stately trees.

Mr. Nixon began life a poor man, but with the
aid of his estimable wife, who has truly been a
helpmeet to him, he hai become indepen lent.
They ai-e the parents of five children : Margaret,
born Feb. 23, 1849, died in .September, 1854.
.She had gone with her father on a visit to the old
home, when she was taken sick and died on the re-

j turning journey. Sophia, who was born March 21.
1851. is the wife of John Cubbison, and to them
two children have been born — Vinnie and Frank;
Benjamin F., born March 27, 1855, is in partnership
with his brother-in-law, John Cubbison. in the
mercantile business at Fairmont, Neb. : .Sarah Belle,
born M.ay 2, 1858. is the wife of Levi Miller, a
farmer of Cheyenne Couuty. Neb., and to them

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HENRY COUNTY.

have been born three sons — Charles, Jesse and Ira
D. ; Enoch D., born Jan. 28, 1866, is now clerking
in a store at Fairmont, Neb.

Politically Mr. Nixon is a Republican; he has
hekl many township offices of trust with credit to
iiimself, and to the satisfaction of his contituents,
and is now serving his fourth term as Justice of
the Peace, having held the office for six jears.
Mr. Nixon has given iiis children good educations,
and all of them have been teachers in the eountj'.
Mrs. Nixon is a great worker in the temperance
cause. They are both members of the Methodist
Episcopal Cliurch, and have tlie respect of all who
know them, and they are always ready with their
time and money to aid in all charitable, temperance
and church work. In him tiie poor find a helper,
and his acquaintances a noble friend.

^:^EORGE W. MARTIN, residing on section
III g— , 23, Marion Township, was born Nov. 25,
^^Ij 1809, in Fredericksburg, Lebanon Co., Pa.
His parents, Frederick and Sarah (Wolf) Martin,
were natives of Pennsylvania, but of English
ancestry, and to them were born four children : Will-
iam, deceased, whose widow now resides in Potts-
ville, Pa. ; Jesse died at the age of eighty-one in
Fredericlvsburg, Pa.; Sarah, wife of Jacob Hoffe^',
a resident of Fredei-icksburg, Pa.; our subject is
the fdurlli child in order of birth. His fathei' died
at the age of fifly-one and liis motlier at the age of
forty-five, in Fredericksburg, Pa. They were both
members of fhe Presbyterian Church, and took
great interest in ;ill the chiu'ch work. Mr. Martin
held the offices of Surveyor and Recorder of Public
Deeds, and was celebi-ated far and near for his ex-
cellent pcnmanshii). He was a line scholar, though
entirely a self-e<lucaled man, and none in the coni-
mnnity were more respected and liked than Fred-
erick Martin.

Our subject remained under the parental roof
until he was twenty-one years of age, and during
this time he attended the public schools, w.alking
three and a half miles both nH>rniiig and evening.
His parents died when he was thirty years of age.
In 1830 he wedded Miss Mary Pefley, a native of

Lebanon County, Pa., born in 1809. Four children
have graced their union: Josiah, a resident of
Delaware, Pa.; Sarah A., wife of Jerrj' Martin, a
bricklayer in Sharaokin, Pa.; William, who has
been married twice, his first wife being Marj'
Bealer, and to them were born a son and daughter,
Thornton and Ida; Mrs. William Martin died in
1880, and he was again united in marriage, with
Mrs. Elizabeth Baxter, and now resides in Marion
Township. Rebecca, wife of Joseph Howard, a resi-
dent of Mt. Pleasant. Mary, the mother of these
children, died in 1842 in Pottsville, Pa. Mr. Martin
was a second time united in marriage, on the 21st
of December, 1843, to Miss Eliza Bird, a native of
Catawissa, Pa., and b}' this union there were seven
children: Emma, wife of Alva Lindley, a resident
of IMt. Pleasant; Grace, at home; George, a farmer
near Hastings, Neb., wedded Mary Reed ; Elliot
P. married Emily Orr, now residing at Plattsmouth,
Neb. ; Maggie, wife of Collins Lindley, a farmer in
T.aylor County, Iowa : Charles, a resident of Platts-
mouth, Neb., was united in marriage with Susan
Greusel; Mary, wife of Robert Garard, residing
near Plattsmouth, Neb. Mrs. Martin dei);uted this
life March 5, 1876. She was a kiTid mother, a de-
voted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and was greatly esteemed by all. Mr. Martin's
thlid union w.as with Mrs. William Ogg, and her
maiden n.ame was Sabina J. Frame. She was born
in Laporte County, Ind., Feb. 24, 1838, and by
her first husband she had two children: Nellie and
Jennie, who are l)Oth at home. I?y this third union
there is but one child, ClilToid.

In 1856 Mr. Martin came to Henry County,
purchasing eight}' acres of laud, on which he still
resides. He now owns ICO acres of :is finely im-
proved land as there is in the county. He has been
a hard wc)rker and all that he now possesses lias
lieen made by his own industry. He and his es-
timable wife are members of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church. Mr. Martin has always borne his part
in every public enterprise, and in jiolitics casts his
vote with the Republican part}'. Being honest and
upright, in all he undertakes, Mr. Martin has the
rcspfft of ;UI.

.Mr. William Ogg was born Sept. 23, 1834, and

w:is Mrs. Martin's first husband, ;ind father of Nel-

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HENRY COUNTY.

311

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lie and Jennie. Mr. Ogg enlisted in Company K,
■4tU low.i Cavalry, Oct. 5, 1861, at Mt. Pleasant,
and was discharged from the United States service
Dec. 18, 1863, at Yicksburg, Miss., by reason of re-
enlistment on the 19th of December, 1863, at
Vicksburg. He served until Aug. 8, 1865, and was
discharged at Atlanta, Ga., after serving nearly
four years. His death occurred at Mt. Pleasant,
March "23, 1871, of consumption, contracted while
in the army.

\||AMES M. MITTS, prominent among the
1 well-to-do farmers and stock-raisers, resides
I on section 19, Marion Township, Henry
^^|// Co., Iowa, and was born in Center Town-
ship, this county, April 6, 1837. He is the'
son of .James and Martha (Moffett) Mitts. His
father was born July 11, 1807, and his mother
March 5, 1809. Her maiden name was Moffett,
and she was first married to Calvin Stevenson,
by whom she had one child, whose name was also
Calvin, who is now a farmer of Marion Town-
ship. After the death of her first husband Mrs.
Stevenson married Mr. James Mitts, by whom she
had thirteen children, eight of whom are now liv-
ing. The record is : William, born in Sangamon
County, 111., Aug. 5, 1832, now resides on a farm
in Macon County Mo.; John, born Feb. 5, 1834,
in Sangamon County, 111., died about the j-ear
1872; Thomas Calvin Stevenson, born April 30,
1833; James M. and Margaret J., born April 6,
1837, in Henr3' Count\-, Iowa; Margaret married
Stephen M. Cook, M. D., and now resides at Belle
Plaine; Sarah M., wife of John W. Lee, was born
Nov. 9, 1839, and resides on a farm in Trenton
Township; George H. was born July 18, 1841,
and was married to Lyda Ogg, who died in March,
1865; he was again mnrried,to Hettie McCormick,
and now resides in Wichita, Kan. Mary E., bom
March 25, 1843, was the wife of Wesley Allender,
a farmer of Marion Township; she is now de-
ceased. Abraham W., born Nov. 8, 1846, died at
the age of two years; Franklin, born June 5,
1847, is now a farmer of Barber County, Kan.;
Oscar and Osbert, born Oct. 20, 1849; Osbert

died in 1875, and Oscar is a farmer in Marion
Township, and his wife was Elizabeth Ogg, Mar-
tha L., wife of James Logston, was born Dec. 29,
1852, and now resides on a farm in Trenton Town-
ship.

James Mitts, Sr., moved from Kentucky to San-
gamon County, 111., about the year 1831, where he
remained until 1837, when he removed to Henry
County, Iowa, and first settled on the farm now
owned by Thomas Carnes, in Center Township.
Thus Mr. Mitts was a pioneer settler of both
Illinois and Iowa, moving with teams from Ken-
tucky to Illinois, and in the same year from there
to Iowa. He made a fine farm of his first settle-
ment, which he sold, and then bought 158 acres
in Marion Township, which is now owned by
David Harper. Mr. Mitts was of a retiring dis-
position, but a man who won the hearts of all with
whom became in contact. His death occurred Julj'
13, 1884, and that of his wife Jan. 10, 1865. They
were both earnest and devoted members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, he being a member
for forty-five years, and she for thirtj'. Thej' were
ver3' active in both churcli and .Sunday-school work,
and instructing their children in the teachings of
the Bible, and were always read3' to help along any
enterprise of worth.

James M. Mitts, Jr., spent his early life at home
on the farm, getting his education in the common
schools of early days in Henry County-. His home
has been in this countj- for over fift}' years, and he
has seen the county pass from a state of wildness
to the condition when a church and school-house
grace each hilltop, and fine farmhouses and well-
filled barns have taken the place of the log cabin
and straw shed. At the breaking out of the Rebel-
lion Mr. Mitts did not stop to debate as to what
was his duty, but at once offered his services to his
country, and enlisted in Company K, 4th Iowa Cav-
alry, for three years. His first four engagements
were at the siege of Vicksburg; he was in both en-
gagements at Jackson, Miss., also at Black River,
and was in the campaign in Missouri when tlicy
drove Price out of the State; was with Grant
and Sherman in their campaign through Louisiana
and Mississippi and at Mechanicsburg, also in the
chase after the rebel General, Forrest. He was with
•^

fl

A

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312

•> ■-

HENRY COUNTY.

'the regiment in all its engagements, except for four
months, during which time he was in the hospital at
Keokuk, with a low grade of fever. After serving
three 3-ears and two months he was mustered out at
Memphis, Tenn., and received his discharge at
Cairo, 111.

After returning home he again turned his atten-
tion to farming. On the 23d of March, 18G5, he
was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Mus-
grove, who was born in Clark County, HI., June
18, 1837. .She is a daughter of Henr}' and Eliza-
beth (Croy) Musgrove. Her father was from Vir-
ginia, and her mother from Ohio. Mr. and Mrs.
Mitts' union has been blessed with seven children :
James H. was born July 3, 186fi; Mary F., born
Sept. 12, 18G7; Martha L., born April 18, 1870;
Anna A., born Oct. 29, 1871, and died Aug. 14,
1873; one died in inf.ancy; William A., born May
23, 1882, .and Nellie May, Oct. 24, 1883.

Mr. Mitts owns a farm of 132 acres, where he
has lived since February, 186G. He and his wife
are both active members of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, and he is also a member of the Tren-
ton Lodge No. 55, 1. O. O. F., and of McFarland
Post No. 20, G. A. R., of Mt. Pleasant. In politics
he is a Republican, and takes an active interest in
church and political matters.

ENRY MUSGROVE, deceased, a minister
of the Christian Church, was born May 23,
1800, and w.as united in marriage to Eliza-
(^) bclh Croy Nov. 1, 1820. He was a native
of Virginia and his wife was a native of Ohio. By
this union there were born unto them seven children :
John, born April 21, 1823, who enlisted in the 25tli
Iowa Volunteer Infantry', and died in the service of
his country; Keziah, widow of W. M. R. Forbes,
was born Sept. 5, 1825; Henjamin B., born Feb. 5,
1827, died March 6, 185G; Henry, born March 20,
1829, died in 1876; Tabitha, born April 27, 1832,
died in 1881 ; Christopher, born March 3,1834,
died May 2, 1847; .Elizabeth, born June 18, 1837.
Mr. ]\Iusgrove and family moved to Illinois in
1836, where they remained until 1855, when they

removed to Henry County, Iowa, where the}* m.ade
their home until the time of their death. They
resided in Mt. Pleasant until a few 3-ears before
their death, when they went to live with their
daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. James
Mitts, of Marion Township. Mr. Musgrove de-
parted this life in September, 1869, and his wife in
April, 1870. He devoted manj' years of his life
to the preaching of the Gospel as taught by the
Apostles, in its primitive truth and holiness, and
under his teachings many were led to seek that
better way which leads to life eternal.

1 OB MESSER, a prominent farmer of Trenton
I Township, Henry Co., Iowa, was burn Nov.
IG, 1847, in the township where he now re-
sides, and is the son of John and Rhoda
(Miller) Messer, both of whom are natives of
Guernsey County, Ohio. They had a family of
fourteen children, two of whom died in infancy :
Josephus married Rebecca J. Huffman; John mai--
ried Cornelia Hollowell; Mary married James
Scarff; Job is our subject; Simon married Jane
Henthorn ; Alfred married Maria Hemsler for his
first wife, who died in 1877 ; he was married again, to
Rebecca Richards; Jane married George Allen-
der; Calvin married Lizzie Smith; Alvin; Hiram
Lincoln ; Rebecca Ann married Isaac Shook. They
came to Iowa in an early day. John Messer was
a soldier in the Graybeard regiment, but w.as dis-
charged for disability. He died Feb. 7, 18G5, at
the age of seventy years. He w.as a farmer all his
life, and at his death owned a fine place of eighty
acres. Politically', he was a Rcjjublican.

Our subject was reared on a farm, and received
such education as the district schools at that time
afforded. On the 4th of July, 1871, he was united
in marriage with Martha Jane Smith, who was also
;i native of this county, and a daughter of Jacob
and Margaret Smith. B^' their union three chil-
dren were born — Margaret Ann, John Alvin and
Frank Melviu. His wife died in 1877, and Mr.
Messer was again married, his second wife being
Susanna Harmon, a native of Indiana, who came to
Henry County when a child with her parents, where

i

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HENRY COUNTY.

313

she has resided nearly all of the time siiife. Five
children have graced this second union — Reason,
Carrie, Charles, Mary Jane and Milford. Mr.
Messer is an energetic and enterprising man. Every-
thing on his farm, a fine one of 100 acres, denotes
thrift and good management. He commenced life
without .1 dollar in his pocket, but bj' his own earn-
est and honest labor has gained a competency,
and the respect and esteem of bis fellowmen.

I

T

RA MITCHELL, Sr., is one of the best known
men of his age residing in Salem, Iowa, and
since his coming has grown grey in years and
rich in purse. He was born in Tioga County, Pa.,
.July 3, 1803, and is a son of Ensign and Lucj^
(Hubbard) Blitehell, both of whom were born,
reared and married in Massachusetts. Ensign
Mitchell w.as a soldier in the Revolutionarj' War,
enlisting as a drummer boy when fifteen years of
age. His father, also named Ensign, served at the
same time, and both spent five years in that war,
experiencing all its hardships, which are well known
to readers of history. After the marriage of Ensign,
Jr., they removed first to New York State, and later
to Tioga County, Pa. Our subject was six years of
age when his parents removed to Ohio, the journey
being made down the Ohio River from Pittsburgh
to Cincinnati. A permanent location was made in
Cliamijaign County, Ohio, near Mechanicsburg, and
for many years our subject was a resident of Darby
Plains, that county, where he was married, Dec. 12,
1826, to Miss Jane Rhodes, daughter of John and
Sarah (Brittin) Rhodes, of Welsh origin, who were
early settlers of that county, and were residents
there before Ohio was a State. They were married
in Ross Count}', and there Mrs. Mitchell was born.
Her father was the first man who invented a mowing-
machine, and to obtain a patent on it rode on horse-
back from Ohio to Washington and back. Her old
home was the first one in Champaign County, cov-
ered with boards put on with iron nails, and was
painted by her father.

There were eleven children of the Mitchell
family, all of whom reached maturity, married and
reared families, and some of them reached the

remarkable .age of almost one hundred years. Onl}'
two of the children are living to-daj', our subject
and his brother Abizar, who resides in Madison
County, Ohio, u farmer and stock -raiser, and one of
the oldest citizens of that county. He was born in
1807, and has lived in that neighborhood since he
was a mere lad.

Our subject and his wife removed to Miami
County, Ind., in 1834, where a tract of 500 acres of
land was entered in the Pottawatomie reservation.
This was covered with heavy timber, and only
those familiar with making homes in the dense
woods can appreciate the Labor incident to clear-
ing and getting into successful cultivation a large
body of land of such a character. Mr. Mitchell was
a great lover of stock in his day, and raised and
dealt largely in cattle. His prosperity was greatly
due to his enterprising habits, and indefatigable
labor. Three children were born in Ohio: S.arah,
who died when nine years of age; Abigail, who
wedded Welcome W.ilker, a resident of Salem ; and
Ovid H., husband of Amanda Sittin, living in
Springfield, Mo.; in Indiana Ira R., Jr., was born;
he is a farmer of S.alem Township, and was during
her lifetime the husband of Lida Green. His birth
was followed bj' that of Lucy M., now deceased,
who wedded H. H. Hess; Elizabeth, .another d.iugh-
ter, after the death of her sister, wedded Mi'.
Hess, a well-known farmer of S.alem Township;
John E., a resident of Salem, is the patentee of
the w.asher bearing his name, and is married to
Elma Henderson ; Francis M. is the husband of
Annie Kittle, daughter of William Kittle, a well-
known hotel man in that part of the county;
Leonard M., the youngest child, was .also a resident
of Salem, and the husband of Ella Murphy, and
died in Salem, Oct. 23, 1887; the last of the family
was Claudius, who was also born in Indiana, and
died when two and a half years old.

After clearing up his original purchase in Indiana,
and adding other lands, Mr. Mitchell decided to
come to this State. In 18.53 the removal was made,
and one year later the family became residents of
Henry County, purchasing over half a section
one mile west of Salem, where they resided until
the spring of 1884, when the farm was disposed of,
and the aged couple became residents of the pleas-

:?^r#^

ii

-4.

.314

HENRY COUNTY.

ant village of Salem. The children were well mar-
ried and settled, and the old folks, who are now in
their sixty-second year of wedded life, have grown
old together, and their love for each other has
been strengthened as their life's journey has been
made. Their sons, Ira and John, were both mem-
bers of Company I, 14th Iowa, of which Ira was
Sergeant, being promoted from the ranks. Thej'
were both taken prisoners at the battle of Shiloh,
and confined first at Memphis, then at Mobile, and
Macon, Ga. ; and lastly Ira was an inmate of Libby
Prison, the horrors of which have been told thous-
ands of times. Ira, who weighed when captured
15.5 pounds, was only the ghost of a man when
released, weighing at that time only seventy pounds.
John was paroled at Macon, Ga., and escaped the
prison walls of Libby. TLey have been residents
of the West since returning to the pursuits of peace.
John was only nineteen when he enlisted, but he
left his college and became a soldier from pure pat-
riotism. The sketch of this family who from Revo-
lutionary times have been patriots and estimable
citizens, lends interest to this volume, and among
the old settlers and honored families of the county
we gladly give it a |)lace.

-*' ^-^^ ''^

"\f?OHN D. SMITH, one of the farmers and
extensive stock-raisers residing on section
7, Marion Township, was born in Richland
^11 County, Ohio, April 21, 1830, and is the
son of Thomas and Elizabeth (McCready) Smith,
both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania.
Robert McCre.ady, grandfather of our subject, was
one of those brave men who fought so gallantly
for the freedom of his country during the Revolu-
tionary War. Nine children blessed the union of
Thomas Smith and Elizabeth McCready: Nancy,
widow of Alexander Lawthers, now resides in
Washington County, Pa., on a farm adjoining the
old home farm ; Jane, wife of J. B. Hart, a resident
of Mt. Pleasant; Robert M., whodied Jan. 1, 1886,
in Davis County, Iowa; Joseph, a farmer of Van
Buren County, Iowa; Thon)as V. died near Mt.
Pleasant in 1846; Elizabeth died on the home farm
in Henry County, where H. C. Weir now lives; our

•■■-4«

i

subject is the seventh child in the order of birth;
William McCready Smith was Ch.iplain in a Penn-
sj'lvania regiment during the late war, and died in
the service in 1864; E. J. died in Henry County in
1 855 ; Anna M. is the deceased wife of P. M. Ogan, a
resident of St. Louis.

Thomas Smith brought his family to Iowa in
1840, settling on the farm now owned by H. C.
Weir, on which he made the first improvements,
and at the time of his death he had one of the best
farms in the countj*. He was an active church
worker, and organized the first temperance society
in Richland County, Ohio, and was also one of the
first farmers who dared to lay aside the use of
whisky in the harvest fields and in public gather-
ings. He was a man of great moral convictions,
always upholding that which was right, and in
politics was an old-line Whig and a strong Aboli-
tionist. In his younger days Mr. Smith was a teacher,
and for several terms held the office of Justice of
the Peace of the count}'. He ended this life in
April, 1848, and was highlj' respected by all who
knew him. His wife died in 1866, and with her
husband was a member of the Congregational
Church.

Our subject's earl}- life was spent in attending
the district school until the age of twent^'-one,
when, in the spring of 1852, he decided to goto
California. Crossing the plains with an ox-team
he landed in Placcrville, and from there went to
Scott's Vallejs Siskiyou Co., Cal., where he engaged
to work on a farm. The first year he received
§1,000, the second and third jear ijl,200 each, and
the last two years he received $180 per month,
from all of which he saved §6,000. Returning to
Henry County, he purchased 125 acres of land, of
which he took possession in the spring of 1858,
when he was united in marriage with Miss Isabel
Paine, a native of Virginia, being born in Berkeley
County in 18;52. She came to Hour}' County with
her parents in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the
parents of five children: Nevada, born June 25,
1859, died March 20, 1861, in infancy: Charles,
born Oct. .30, 1861 ; Clara A., born May II, 1864;
Walter E., born Jan. 23, 1867, died April 10, 1874,
and Elbert E., born June 5, 1870, now in college
at Mt, Pleasant.

-^-

HENRY COUNTY.

4

315 1^

Mr. Smith has kept adding to his first purchase
until he now owns 525 acres of the best cultivated
land in the county. Starting in life with a capital
of 854, he lias b^' his own honest labor become one
of the well-to-do farmers of Henry Count}', and is
an extensive stock-raiser. He imported the first
fine imported Norman horse into the county in
1873, for which lie paid *;2,500. Politically Mr.
Smith is a Republican, and lias held many township
offices. He is always read}' to push forward any
public interest, and is, with his wife, an earnest
worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

'^'^^•-is-^ j^^ .^5«^ .^itf-

y^ILLIAM ARCHIBALD, a farmer of Balti-
more Township, residing on section 20i
\^^ was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, and
is a son of Edmund and Belinda (Calhoun) Archi-
bald. The sire was a native of Massachusetts, and
Belinda Calhoun was a relative of the noted John
C. Calhoun. In Indiana the parents of our sub-
ject were married, and their eldest child, Alva, was
born in that State. Later the family removed to
Hamilton Count}', Ohio, where Mr. Archibald
worked at his trade, that of wagon-making, in con-
nection with farming. While residing there Laura,
now deceased, was born, as was also our subject.
In the autumn of 1837 the Archibald famil}' emi-
grated to Iowa, and settled on Skunk River, where
Edmund took a claim adjoining the present village
of Lowell on fhe west. He entered this land later,
improved it, and upon this spot both himself and
wife lived and died.

William Archibald was born in 1834, and was
only a little past three years of age at the time his
father located here, and the Black Hawk tribe yet
had their village located upon his father's claim,
and their old wigwams were still standing, and the
same were used when sugar-making time came in
the spring. But little of the Indian language was
learned by our subject, but he remembers well the
band of Indians who passed through on their way-
east, in 1838, for the chief's son, John Black Hawk,
made a speech, in which he denounced bitterly the
building of the dam across the river. He said: " I
am mad at this thing, the dam is mad; hear it

roar." The homes which the Indians knew are
now peopled bj' white men, and their choice hunt-
ing-grounds have brought back large returns of
wealth to the white man who settled in this fertile
valley. After all the other Indians had gone, one
lone savage was loath to leave the forests where he
had passed so many happ}- tlays. By name he was
known as Dr. Jim, and for a long time he brought
in lead or ore and sold to the settlers, who would
make him drunk and trj' to learn the place where
it was obtained, but Dr. Jim was too shrewd for
them, and to this da\' no trace of the ore has
ever been discovered, although he would bring in
supplies two hours after he had found a customer.
He went to the second purchase near the Osage
Agency, and it is currently reported that his own
tribe killed him.

After Mr. Archibald settled here one other child
was born, Sarah E., now the wife of John W.
Grigg, of Lowell, Iowa. Edmund Archibald
studied medicine after he came to this county,
and became one of the most successful men of his
profession in his day, and enjo^'ed a reputation, both
far and near, which was truly an enviable one. He
amassed a large fortune during his life, and left his
children wealthy. He died at the age of sevent\'-
three, respected alike by rich and poor, old and
young. His wife died in her sixty-eighth year.

Our subject was married when twenty years of
age, to Miss Sarah A. Hufstedler, the daughter of
Martin and Mary Hufstedler, who came from Indi-
ana in 1852, and settled in Van Buren County, Iowa,
and in 1857 became residents of Henry County.
Her father died near Hillsboro, and her mother now
resides in Osceola, Clarke County, at the age of
eighty -four. Mr. and Mrs. Archibald are the par-
ents of eight children, some of whom are deceased.
They are named: William M., the husband of Kate
Flenor, resides near Clarinda, Page County ; George
W. is engaged in railroading: Mary F. is the wife of
Howard Root, of Marion County ; Ola, Albert,
Harry and Ernest are unmarried. William Archi-
bald has been a resident of this count}' for half a
century, and during his business life has been a suc-
cessful farmer. Declining all official positions, his
time has been given to the furtherance of his busi-
ness, and almost within sight of his boyhood home

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u

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316

HENRY COUNTY.

he has lived and roared his family, and the name
of Archibald is as widely known in Henry County
as any of the many names which have given her a
desired prominence.

-w^ ^/\«i2j2a/©'^«<

*^^^^0oo*^'\/\y^^

r

y" ILLIAM H. JACKMAN is the proprietor
of the City Hotel and livery stable, New
London, Iowa, and carrier of mail and
passengers between New London and Lowell. He
was born in Washington County, Pa., Aug. 12,
1832, and is the son of Nathan and Catherine
(IloUman) Jackman. His father was born in Wash-
ington County, Fa. The family were residents of
Pennsylvania for several generations, and were of
Irish descent. His mother was born near Hagers-
tow n, Md., of German descent, and went to Wash-
ington County, Pa., with her parents when but
twelve years of age. In the spring of 1844 the
family moved to Ft. Madison, Iowa, and a few
weeks later (in July) to Henry County, locating in,
Jackson Township. They si)ent one year in thiit
localit}', and then removed to Marion Township,
Lee County, where Mr. Jackman engaged in farm-
ing (nominally only) as he was a ship carpenter,
miller and millwright by trade. He devoted his
time principally to mechanical pursuits, while the
care of the farm devolved on his sons. There
were eleven children in the f.amily, nine sons and
two daughters, all of whom are now living except
two, all remarkably rugged and healthy, as befitted
emigrants to a new country : Benson II. wedded
Mary Lynch, and resides in Lee County, on the old
homestead ; Clarkson, whose iionie is in Baltimore
Tovvnship, was twice married, his first wife being'
Martha (Smith, and his second Addic Wheatley;
Addison II. married Rebecca Abraham, .nud lives
in Southwestern Nebraska, at Ft. Robinson; Hen-
rietta, deceased, was the w^fe of Silas P. Blair, of
Grant County, Wis.; Melissa is the wife of Robert
P. Jackman, of Pilot Grove, Lee Co., Iowa; Will-
iam H. married Eliza M. Stephenson, and resides in
New London, Iowa; Nathan married Lucy Logan
for his first wife, and Lulilia Stockdale for his
second, and lives near Moundville, Mo.; John Q.
married Elizabeth Brown, and is a fanner of Balti-

more Township; Van Buren married Martha Han-
nah, and resides in Crawford, Neb. ; Joseph H. has
been twice married, bis first wife being Lydia J.
De Wilt; Robert A. died at the age of nineteen,
while in service during the late war.

Mr. Jackman, Sr., was an earnest Democrat in his
political sentiment, and his sons have all followed
his example. His death occurred in Lee Count}',
in February, 1874, his wife surviving him, and
dying Oct. 6, 188.5.

William H. Jackman was married, Nov. 25, 1858,
in Lowell, Iowa, to Miss Eliza M. Stephenson,
daughter of John and Elizabeth Stephenson, whose
historj' appears on another page. Mrs. Jackman was
born at Hardscrabble farm, Jiickson Township,
Henry Co., Iowa, Oct. 2, 1841. Three children were
born of their union, two sons and a daughter : Willie
S. was born March 30, 18(J0, and died at the age of
one year; Clarence H. was born Nov. 12, 1861, and
died when two .ind a half years of age; Lucy E.,
born Nov. 6, 1864, is now the wife of Homer E.
Lyman, of New London. Mr. Jackman settled in
Lowell at the time of his marriage, and resided
there till March, 1886, when he moved to New
Lo^idon, and engaged in his present business.
While a resident of Lowell he was engaged in farm-
ing and teaming. In politics, Mr. Jackman and
his entire family are most uncompromising Demo-
crats. He is a man of modest pretensions, but of
sound judgment and unquestioned integritj'. The
City Hotel, under the able management of '"mine
host " Jackman and his amiable and kind-hearted
wife, is one of the most home-like hotels in the
countv.

j^ ANIEL PRICE was born in Wales, in
March, 1804, and was the son of John
and Mary (Jones) Price, who were also
natives of that country, where his father
was a large land-owner. While a young man, he
worked as a foreman on the railroad and in the
mines, for twenty j'ears. He left his native land
and emigrated to America in 1851, first locating at
Philadelphia, Pa., but remained there only three
weeks, and then went to the State of New Jersey,
residing there one winter, engaged in chopping

^

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nVo"""

i

HENRY COUNTY.

319

wood. He then removed to Franklin County, Ind.,
remaining there three years, engaged as a common
laborer. He then emigrated to Henry Count}^
Iowa, locating in the village of Trenton, remaining
one winter, and on the 1st of April, 1856, he re-
moved to section 22 of Trenton Township, where
he purchased ten acres of timber land. Here he
lived until his death, which occurred Oct. 19, 1887.
He added to his possessions until he had a fine farm
of 12C acres at the time of his decease. He was so
poor when he bought his first ten acres that he had
to go in debt for it, but by hard labor and good
management, he gained a competence. Mr. Price
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and a sincere, earnest Christian. In politics he was
a Democrat. He was a self-educated man, and
always kept well informed upon public affairs,
whetlier political or otherwise. His wife still sur-
vives him, and resides on the home farm, at the age
of sixty-four. She also belongs to the Methodist
Episcopal Church. This worthj^ couple were the
parents of four children : William Penn, a farmer
residing in Mills County, Iowa; Mary EUen; Mar-
garet Jane, wife of George Dies, of Brighton,
Iowa; and John M., who has charge of the home
farm, and was married. Dee. 21, 1887, to Miss Sally
Wood, daughter of Clark and Catherine Wood.
Among the pioneers and prominent men of Henry
County, Iowa, none more truly deserved the respect
and confidence of all than Daniel Price.

^ AMES M. KIBBEN, deceased, was born in
Culpeper County, Va., near Harper's Ferry.
He was left an ori)han at the tender age of
nine yeai'S, without fortune or friends, and
began the battle of life as an apprentice to a wagon-
maker. His early years were such as often fell to
the lot of the destitute orphan. Hard work and
abuse were rewarded with a pittance. Possessed
of a strong will and superior intelligence, he fought
his way tlirough to manhood, and then went to Co-
lumbus, Ohio, where he worked at his trade a short
time only, when he removed to Faj'ette County,
Ind., and there engaged in farming. He was mar-
ried in Fayette County, Oct. 3, 1833, to Miss Jane

Sample, by whom he had one child, a son, Marcus,
who died in infancy'. His wife survived but a few
years, and died Sept. 23, 1836. Mr. Kibben was
again married, Nov. 22, 1839, in the same county,
to Miss Rebecca Farmer, daughter of William
Farmer. She was born near Dayton, Ohio, Nov. 2,
1810. Her father was born in South Carolina, and
her mother in Georgia. They were members of the
Society of Friends, and were earnestly opposed to
slavery, so much so that they would not own ne-
groes, or reside in a slave State; therefore they
wended their w.iy northward to the free State of
Indiana. Separated from those of like faith, and
living in a sparsely settled country, they attended
the Methodist Episcopal Church as that the nearest
in sympathy with them. Mr. Farmer united with
the Methodist Episcopal Church, but his wife clung
to the Quaker faith. Their daughter, now Mrs.
Kibben, united with the Methodist Episcopal
Church when fifteen years of age, and has now been
a member of that society for sixty-two years.

Mr. and Mrs. Kibben had five children born to
them, of whom three are now living: Mary, widow
of Rev. P. P. Ingels, a prominent minister of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, who resides at Des
Moines, Iowa; Walter S. and Oliver P. were tw.'us;
Walter was drowned at the age of tvventy years ;
Oliver P. married Miss Delia Gamage, of Mt. Pleas-
ant, and resides at Curtis, Neb., where he is en-
gaged in the cattle-raising business ; Prudence M.
is the wife of Rev. S. S. Murphy, a well-known
minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of
Burlington, Kan. ; Virginia, the youngest, died in
infancy.

Mr. Kibben removed with his family from Indi-
ana to Will County, 111., in 184G, and engaged ex-
tensively' in farming and stock-growing at Twelve-
Mile Grove. He continued to reside in Illinois for
ten years, and in 1856 came to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
At this time he was possessed of liberal means, and
soon bought an interest in the Saunders' bank. He
was instrumental in the organization of the First
National Bank of Mt. Pleasant, and for many j^ears
served as a Director of that institution. In his
political views he was an earnest Democrat, and be-
lieved in maintaining the constitution and union of
the States, regardless of the institution of slavery.

■••*rf"

320

HENRY COUNTY.

He was fearless and outspoken in his views, and
on the breaking out of the late war he found him-
self placed in a false position. While he contended
that a failure on the part of the free States to prop-
erly observe the Constitution precipitated the con-
flict he did not sj'mpathize with or apologize for
armed opposition to the Government. He was true
to the Union and the principles of the Constitution.
His death occurred Sept. 9, 1874.

Mr. Kibben w.as a consistent member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, with which he had been
connected since his 3'outh. He was a warm-hearted,
upright gentleman, who commanded the respect
and esteem of even those who were bitterly op-
posed to him in political opinion, and was eminently
a self-made man. Starting in life an orphan and
penniless, by industry, strong wiU and fine business
ability, he won his way to wealth and independence.
His widow, an estimable lady, survives him, and
still resides in Mt. Pleasant. While her life now
numbers seventy-seven years, and she has witnessed
all the wonderful discoveries in science and
mechanics, and the great march of improvement of
the present centurj', her eyes are still bright, her
form erect, while a genial, kindly intelligence en-
dears her to all who are so fortunate as to be classed
among her friends.

The many friends of IMr. Kibben will be pleased
that we have secured an excellent portrait of the
gentleman, which is presented on an accompanying
page to the readers of this volume.

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i

s^^ B. WYSE, the senior member of the firm of
Wyse & Schantz, is a well-known resident
of Wayland, who for several years has
made Jefferson Township his home, and has
become an important factor in its business interests.
He was born in Fulton County, Oiiio, in 1815, and
is the son of Peter and Catherine (Brandt) Wyse,
both of whom were natives of the Canton of Berne,
Switzerland. The parents of I'eter W^'se lived
and died in that country, and Peter came to America
when a young man, and was married to Catherine
Brandt in Ohio. Iler f.athcr emigrated to Americi
in 1817, bringing his family with liini. Only his
-<•

second and third daughters are now living: Eliza-
beth, widow of Jacob Gyman, resides in Fulton
County, Ohio, and Catherine, mother of Mr. Wyse,
now a widow in her eighty-first year, and at present
an inmate of his home in Wayland. Two other
daughters, Annie and Barbara, are now deceased.

Our subject was reared upon a farm in Fulton
County, Ohio, and secured a practical education,
fitting him for conducting a successful business.
His first experience away from the homestead began
in his twentieth year, when he went to Butler
County, Ohio, and engaged in farm work. A few
months later he returned home, and remained until
1867, when his first visit was made to Henry County,
Iowa, and he was pleased with the prospects of the
future, which was rapidly developing. He for a
time engaged in farm work, threshing, etc., and
after a two years' residence, he returned to the home
of his boyhood. The acquaintance having been
formed while here of Miss Hannah Conrad, he
returned to Henry County in 1870, and they were
married and began life for themselves in this county.
Her parents were Daniel and Maria (Klopfenstine)
Conrad, who were among the early settlers in this
part of the State, locating about 1840, but after a
long lifetime of usefulness both were gathered to
"that bourne from which no traveler returns." Their
memory is dear to those of the old pioneers who
yet remain.

After his marriage, Mr. Wyse taught several
terms of school in this county, two at Prospect
school-house. In 1883 he engaged in company
with Mr. Jacobs in the mercantile business at
AVayland, the firm opening a new stock of gen-
eral merchandise. In February, 1886, IMr. Jacobs
retired from the firm, Mr. C. C. Schantz purchas-
ing his interest, and the two gentlemen, Wyse and
Schantz, who were reared together in the Buckeye
State, receiving their lesson in the school-boy d.aj's
within two miles of each other, are now men of ma-
ture years, and arc jiaituers in a splendid retail store,
doing a successful business. In January, 1888, Mr.
Wyse was appointed Poslm.asler of Wayland, under
President Cleveland's administration, in rccogniticju
of his life-long devotion to the creed of the Demo-
cratic party, of which he has always been a hearty
supporter. The wife of Mr. W3'se became the mother

f

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HENRY COUNTY.

321

of five children — Ella, Emma, Frank, Lester and
an infant. The joy of the parents was greatly en-
hanced by their births, but the "silent reaper"
marked the loving wife and tender mother' for his
own. Christmas Eve of 1885, the births of Lester
and a twin brother occurred, the latter dying at
birth, and the life of their mother ended one week
later. Sorrow and joy come to all, but the merry
peals of the church bells ringing in the glad New
Year, found the bereaved husband full of grief
and care for his motherless children, but in him
they have found an affectionate father, who sup-
plies their every want.

Side by side in the village churchyard the re-
mains of mother and child repose. Both herself
and husband were faithful members of the Ornish
Meunonite Church, and Christians in the fullest
sense.

v

(^ I^ILLIAM MELTON, one of the prominent
and representative farmers of this county,
was born in Warren County, Ind., and in
that county his boyhood days were spent. He
received iiis early education in the common schools
of his native State, and in the year 1858 came
West, locating in Henry County, where he resided
a short time with his uncle. In the meantime he
became acquainted with Miss Sarah Wilson, the
acquaintance ripened into love, and in October,
1859, he led her to the marriage altar. Her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson, were among the very
earliest settlers of the county. On the 29th of Feb-
ruary, 183G, at the home of Mr. John Wilson, on
Brush Creek, Ky., Mrs. Melton, the first white child
of Henry County, was born. Mrs. Melton has a
most wonderful head of hair, being at the present
time long enough to drag upon the floor, and at
one time before being cut off it measured seven
feet and three inches. Mrs. Melton is a woman of
good address and fine intellect. The hospitable
door of the home always stands open, and both
husband and wife are always ready to welcome the
weary traveler. In their home love for each other
and their fellowman reigns supreme, and those
simple but powerful gifts, a kind word and a cheery
smile, are ready for all. Soon after their marriage

Mr. and Mrs. Melton went to Warren County, Ind.,
where they remained for twenty-five years, until
hearing of Mr. Wilson's sickness, when thej' re-
turned home, staying with him until his death.

T^^EWTON McCLINTIC, a farmer residing on
I j) section 8, Jefferson Township, Henry Co.,
\V\M-i Iowa, was born in Bartholomew County, Ind.,
June 11, 1836, and is the son of Alex and Anca
(Bates) McClintic. They were married in Ken-
tucky, but Alex was born in Pennsylvania, his wife
being a native of the former State. The father of
Ales McClintic was also named Alex McClintic,
and Thomas Bates was the father of Anca Bates.
On the paternal side the ancestors came from Ire-
land, and on the maternal side from Germany. The
father of our subject, Alex McClintic, was a soldier
in the War of 1812 and drew a land warrant for
160 acres of land from the Government. But lit-
tle history of either family can be given, as the
father of our subject died when Alex was a small
boy, and Anca Bates came to Indiana from her na-
tive State with relatives, and as both are now
deceased, the early history of the family died with
them. They came to this State about 1839, enter-
ing a claim of one section of land, but later pur-
chased several hundred acres more, amounting to
about 1,100 acres in the whole farm, a part of which
original entry adjoins thatof our subject on the north.
Daniel Eicher now owns the original tract upon which
Alex McClintic settled, and the homestead site is
within easy view of where Newton now lives. Dur-
ing his lifetime Alex and his sons improved at least
400 acres. Mrs. McClintic died about five years
after she came to this count}'. She was a most
estimable lady, and the mother of nine children :
John, who wedded Elizabeth Barclow, resides in
Washington County, Iowa; Jane, who married
Lucas Covert, and remained in Indiana; Alex, de-
ceased, wedded for his first wife May A. Lloyd, and
for his second wife Harriet Pangborue, who after
his death married Henry Neff, of this county, but
now resides in Missouri; Abigail, deceased, married
Henry Cohee, a resident physician of Rome, Iowa;
she died at Mt. Pleasant in 1881. Olive A. became

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k

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322

HENRY COUNTY.

the wife of Robert Scott, a farmer of Plymouth
Count}', Iowa; Robert, deceased, wedded Martha
A. Custer, who after his death married Amos Moore,
of Washington County, where they reside; Mitchell,
deceased, married Hester Ann Custer, who now
resides in Jefferson Township.

Our subject was the youngest of the family. > In
Henry County he was reared, educated, married
and resides. He early learned to clear the brushy
lands, and many broad acres has he grubbed and
plowed in making ready for the first crop. He has
witnessed since boyhood the building of the towns
and cities, the railroads, and the deyelopment of
almost the entire county has been accomplished in
his day. He remembers distinctly when a boy the
Indian tribes that for many years had hunted over
the ])rairies and through the woods, fished in the
streams, and, though dispossessed by the whites, yet
gave the new-comers a fairly cordial welcome and
never molested their property.

Newton McClintic was wedded to Miss Ann R.
Kurtz, Oct. 13, 1800. Her parents were natives of
Maryland, from whence they came after marriage
and settled near Lebanon, Ohio. They emigrated
to Iowa in 1841 and settled on Skunk River, in
Henry Count}', where the parents both died. Six
children were born to them in Ohio, and one was
born in this count}'. Their names and location are
individually given. Peter died unmarried; John
wedded Martha Mason, and is a resident farmer of
Jefferson Township; Henry married Hannah Pang-
borne, and resides in Washington County; jMary
wedded Nimrod Leece, a merchant of Crawfords-
ville, Iowa; Susan became the wife of W. R. Mason,
also a resident of Jefferson Township; Ann R., wife
of Mr. McClintic, and Martha became the wife of
Nimrod Long, who is a merchant and also Post-
master of Crawfordsvillo, Iowa. These children
are well known in this county, and their names
should properly appear in her history. Since his
marri.age Mr. McClintic has resided upon a farm.
A handsome country residence was erected in 1871).
and the family circle is made happy by several chil-
dren, all of whom were born in this township. The
eldest daughter, Margaret, is the wife of Isaac Van
Wagenen, a mechanic of Washington County; they
have three children — James, Alva N. and Anna.
-^

The other children of our subject are: Marietta,
Anna M., Susie, Abbie, Angeline, Eva J., deceased,
and John N., twins.

One hundred acres of land bring Mr. McClintic
a comfortable income, and they live in the cosy
style which delights those of taste and culture. Mr.
McClintic has long been connected with the School
Board and is greatly interested in the cause of edu-
cation. To such families much praise is due, they
having done much to elevate the moral and social
world in which they live.

-#^^

^ OHN MELTON, one of the early and hon-
ored settlers of Henry County, was born in
Virginia, and was a son of Allen Melton.
His mother died when he was only five years
old. He was reared upon a farm, being bound out
to a farmer until he grew to manhood. When about
twenty-one years of age, John Melton led to the
marriage altar Miss Phoebe Heston, who w.is born
in Pennsylvania, and was a daughter of Phineasaud
Sarah Heston. Shortly after his marriage, he with
his young wife emigrated to Ohio, where they lived
for a number of years. Thence he went to Warren
County, Ind., where he staid several years. In 1839
Mr. Melton removed to Henry County, which place
he made his home until his death. He took up his
residence on a farm in Center Township, remaining
there until 1853, when he removed to section 36,
Tippecanoe Township. Twelve children graced the
union of John Melton and l'h(ebe Heston, only three
of whom are yet living: John, a miner, residing in
California; Mrs. Alfred Doan;and Isaac, a farmer,
now living in Republic County, Kan. When the
Republican party came into existence, Mr. Melton
found the principles enunciated by its leaders were
in accordance with those he had held, and therefore
acted with it until he departed this life in October,
1870, his wife also dying in the same month of the
same year. She was a member of the Society of
Friends, and though Mr. Melton was not a church
member, his integrity and uprightness were un-
doubted. He was a large land-holder in this county,
and one of its best citizens. Having a heart over-
flowing with love for humanity, to the poor he was

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J^^^i^

4

HENEY COUNTY.

323

ever kind and considerate, and no man ever stood
higher in the community than Mr. Melton, his high
char.icter and many good deeds endearing him to
all classes.

-^ W -^ «2j2j2/®-^*

»^^^ STUf— ~>/w

^^EORGE C. BELL, a blacksmith of Rome,
III (— , Henry Co., Iowa, and a prominent citizen
^^jj of that village, was born in Greene County,
Ohio, June 7, 1825, and is a son of Joshua and
Mary (Bales) Bell, the former a native of Mary-
land, and the latter of Ohio. Joshua Bell was of
Scotch-Irish descent, and was born on the 13th of
February, 1776, and departed this life in Henry
County, July 12, 1856. All his life was spent
upon a farm. He took great interest in local
politics, always voting with the Whig party. He
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and a sincere, earnest Christian. Nathaniel D. Bell,
the grandfather of our subject, emigrated from the
North of Ireland to America. He was a soldier in
the Revolutionary War. Mary Bell, the mother of
George, was of German descent. She was also a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
is now deceased.

In 1829, when George was a lad of four years,
his parents removed to Tippecanoe County, Ind.,
where they remained until the fall of 1841. Com-
ing to Henry County they located in Tippecanoe
Township. George was reared upon the farm until
his seventeenth year. He then learned the black-
smith trade, which he has followed ever since. On
the 7th of August, 1846, the marriage of George
C. Bell and Delila Grant was celebrated. She was
a native of Indiana, being born in Harrison County,
Nov. 3, 1827. Her parents were Thomas and
Christiana (Davis) Grant. Eight children have
gathered round the hearthstone of Mr. and Mrs.
Bell: Malinda, now the wife of William Fry:
William, an engineer, residing in Rome; John D.,
who died when five years of age; Naomi J., widow
of Reiley Lloyd, residing in Fremont County, Iowa:
Thomas I., a resident of Rome ; Martha, wife of
Charles H. Huston, a resident of McLean Count}',
Dak. ; Charlotte, at home ; and -Mary Rebecca, wife
of James Phillips, of Dakota. The mother of these
•^•^

children died Sept. 16, 1886, at the age of fifty-nine,
and great indeed was the grief felt at her death. She
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church
for many years, and an earnest worker for her
Master.

At the breaking out of the Rebellion our subject
responded to his country's call for troops, and
enlisted Sept. 25, 1863, in the 9th Iowa Volunteer
Cavalry, serving two years and seven months. He
was engaged in many skirmishes, and was mustered
out Feb. 28, 1866, at Little Rock, Ark. After
returning home he resumed blacksmithing in Jeffer-
son County, where he resided until 1872. He then
came to Rome, at which village he has since made
his home. Here he built a blacksmith-shop, and
has ever since continued to work at his trade. Mr.
Bell served as ]Ma3'or of Rome, and as Marshal for
a year each, and as Constable for three years. He
is a stalwart Republican, and never swerves in his
allegiance to that party.

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-€-*-i

ICHAEL CLARK is a farmer and stock-
raiser, residing upon section 1, Jackson
Township. He was born in County Cavan,
Ireland, in 1833, and is a son of Thomas
and Ellen (Smith) Clark. The family emigrated to
America in 1845, settling in Sullivan County, N.
Y. In 1848 they came to Chicago, but returned
the same year to New York. At that time there
w.as but one hotel in that now prosperous city, and
the swampy location offered but little inducement
for the family to remain. They remained three
years in New York, then went to New Haven,
Conn., and remained until about the year 1854,
when they came to this county. Here the parents
lived and died, and were Ijuricd in the pioneer
cemetery at Mt. Pleasant. They were pious Catho-
lics, and were the parents of three children, two of
whom died in New York .State, leaving our subject
the only one to represent a family whose name has
been a familiar one in this county for more than a
quarter of a century. He was married in this
county to Miss Annie, daughter of John and Mary
(Cassidy) Courtney, Jan. 4, 1871, Rev. Father
Welch, of Mt. Pleasant, performing the ceremony.

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I

324

t

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HENRY COUNTY.

Our subject had earned by hard labor with his own
hands every dollar that he paid for his nice farm,
whicli was |)urchased before the marriage, and the
young bride came immediately to the cosy little
cabin which her husband bad built in anticipation
of her coming. From the beginning they have
prospered, and their pastures are dotted with herds
of cattle, and his well-tilled fields bring abundant
crops. A new frame iiouse took the place of the
cabin in which their married life was begun, and
the union has been blessed with several promising
children. The sons are stalwart young men, and
the daughters resemble their mother in both intellect
and features. They were named in order of their
birth : James, John, Ellen, Pearl, Mary, Rose, Kate
and Sylvester. The family have ever been reck-
oned by their neighbors as one whom they can
value as people of intelligence and thrift. As a
self-made man Michael Clark is entitled to credit,
and his good wife is an honor to her sex, and the
faithful mother of her happy family' of children,
all of whom were born on the farm in Jackson
Township.

At the breaking out of the late war our subject
joined Company D, 4th Iowa Cavalry, and for four
years braved the shot and shell along with his com-
rades under Capt. Spearman. He was in every
engagement in which his regiment participated, and
was only in the hospital two weeks during his four
years of service. All honor is due our gallant men
who fought to preserve the Union, and we are pleased
to make honorable mention of them. By his gal-
lantry as a soldier, his integrity of character, and
his honorable record as a good citizen, Mr. Clark
is entitled to a place among the best people of
Henry County.

JONATHAN rilELl'S, farmer in Jackson
Township, section 36, was born in Randolph
County, N. C, July .5, 1823, and is tlie son
of Samuel and Sarah (Newby) I'helps, wlio
owned a plantation in that State, but never owned
a slave. They emigrated to Henry County, Ind.,
in 1842, and jjurchased a farm, where both died.
Their children were all born in North Carolina ex-

cept Marj', Joseph and Jabez, whose births took
place in Indiana. Jane was the wife of Joseph Small,
a farmer of Hendricks, Ind., and both she and
her husband are deceased: Elias. who is married to
Anna Hill, and is a resident farmer of Henry Count3',
Ind. ; Eleanor, deceased, who became first the wife
of John Hodson, and after his death married Will-
iam Stanley ; Frederick, who wedded Dorcas Boone,
and botii died, he in Indiana and she in Poweshiek
County, Iowa; prior to his death he was married
to Sarah Newby. Bethany married Robert Cross,
and formerly resided in Boone County-, this State,
but both are deceased ; Maiy, also deceased, was
wedded to Abner Ratliffe, who is again married,
and resides in Henry County, Ind. ; Ezekiel married
Sarah Hoover, and also resides in Henry County,
Ind.; Joseph died unmarried while a young man;
Jabez married Miss Hodson, after whose death he
married again; Jonathan, the subject of this sketch,
is the second son, and was married in Henry County',
Ind., to Asenath J.ay, April 13, 1848. She was
born in Randolph County, Ind., Feb. I, 1825,
her parents being Joseph and Edith (Mills) Jay,
who were Friends. Thej^ were among the first
settlers of that count}', and came from Belmont
County, Ohio. The death of Mr. Jay occurred in
Randolph Countj'., Ind., his widow afterward mar-
rying Thomas Kirk, and l>oth dying in Henry
County, Ind. Three children were born to the
first marri.age: Ruth A., deceased, who wedded
Davis Grey; Hugh, who became the husband of
Mary J. Martin, both deceased, and the wife of our
subject, Asenath.

After his marriage, Joiiatiian Phelps farmed in
Indiana for five years, and in 1853 the young
couple came to Lee County, Iowa, and puix'hased
the farm now owned by Henry Minke, which they
disposed of in 1805, and became residents of
Henry County. When the war broke out he was
full of patriotism, and was one of the first to volun-
teer in the 100-days service. After his term was
served he returned home, was drafted, and this time
sent a substitute. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps have two
children, both born in Indiana — -Seth and Joseph J.
The first was educated at Burlington, and married
Rose Miller; Joseph J. became the husband of Ad-
die Lessinger, whose father has alwaj's been a

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HKNRY COUNTY.

325

pronlinent man in this county, and is now managei*
of the Henry County Infirmary. Joseph was a
teacher in this county for several years, but resides
upon the home farm, and is one of the enterprising
young men of Jaclison Township. He is the father
of four children : Rudoli)h, deceased ; Fred, Carl
and Maud. He is a prominent local politician, and
has held manj' offices within the gift of the people
of his township, having been Assessor, Township
Clerk, Trustee and Justice of the Peace, and for
years has been connected with the School Board.
He was educated in the public schools and is fitted
to fill any position of trust. Of the Phelps family
we are pleased to make mention, for the}' honor the
community in which they live. The father is
comfortablj' situated, and the sons possess his
characteristics.

For thirty-two years Mr. Phelps has been en-
gaged in the sheep business, in which he has made
a fortune, and no man in the county or State is
more widely known in business circles. He and his
good wife have no need for further labor, and their
home is ahva3's bright, but 3-cars of labor have so
imbued them with the spirit of enterprise that it is
impossible to refrain from work.- AVe find Mr.
Phelps holding the plow while this sketch is written,
and he is yet hale and hearty and as jovial as in his
boyhood days. In private and public life he bears
the repute of a man of uprightness and integrity.

m^^

L. WHITE is a merchant, and is also Post-
master of Swedesburg, and is now one of
the oldest business men in the northern
part of Henry County, being a resident
since 1846. His parents, Thomas H. and Elizabeth
(Kibler) White, were among the early and well-
known residents of the new State, but the death of
Thomas White occurred ton 3'ears after locating in
the county. His wife reached the ripe age of sev-
enty-two, and died in 1875. They were former
residents of Berkeley County, Va., where our sub-
ject was born. He was ten years of age when his
parents removed to this county. Here Mr. White
has grown from boj'hood to manhood, and here be
was married, and in this county his children were
■^»

born. He has seen the entire county transformed
from its virgin state to one of cultivation and
wealth, villages and cities have been created, and
the log cabins of early days have been replaced by
modern residences.

His brothers and sisters were : George H., now
deceased, who wedded Maria Tedrow; Mary E. be-
came the wife of Emanuel Ernst; Deborah wedded
J. W. Bird; the next was our subject; Sarah, who
died unmarried; Thomas W. married Rebecca
Tedrow; and Jacob L., who became the husband
of Phemia Perkins. Thomas W. was a member of
Company B, 25th Iowa Volunteers, and served
throughout the war.

Our subject was educated at the Iowa Wesleyan
University, and his attention was given to the pro-
fession of teaching for many years, his first term
being at the Union Schoof, in Wayne Township, in
1857. For sixteen consecutive winters he taught
school in this county, and among his scholars who
have become noted we mention: Wesley James,
now a student in the State University, J. E. Con-
nor, son of the County Recorder, and quite a well-
kndwn teacher; and many of the resident farmers,
who have grown to manhood in this county, were
members of his school. During the time Mr. White
was engaged in teaching, he was married to Miss
Drusilla Havens, who was a pupil in his school in
this township. The marriage was celebrated March
6, 1861, at the home of her father, Thomas Havens,
of this township. Her mother died in New Jersey,
and was the mother of George, Drusilla; Mary A.,
deceased ; Martin, deceased ; and Alexander. The
mother, Phcebe (Case) Havens, was a native of New
Jersey, of English origin. After her death Mr.
Havens svedded Mrs. Cordelia (Scoville) Jameson,
near Columbus, Ohio, where the Havens family at
that time resided. In 1853 they removed to this
county, and until 1866 they resided here. Mr.
Havens died in Crawford County, Kan., in 1876,
and his widow now resides in this county. One
child was the result of the second marriage, Carl-
ton, unmarried, and residing with his mother.

S. L. White, our subject, taught school in the win-
ter, and farmed in summer until 1866, when he
removed to Sedalia, Mo., and for six months was as-
sociated in business with the Hon. Samuel L. Steele,

t.

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••►

326

HENRY COUNTY.

now a member of the Iowa General Assembly for
Henry County. The same year he returned to
Wayne Township, and improved a tract of land
owned by him. and there made his home until 1875,
when Swedesburg was surveyed. He eame to the
new town, rented the store built by a company
known as the Prairie Hall Association, and for nine
years did business in the hall. In 1884 he erected
his present store building, and his residence was con-
pleted in 1882. From 1875 to this date, Mr. AVhite
has done an extensive business, and from a trade in
1875 of $13,000. the business has increased to over
$20,000 in 1887. Mr. White handles hardware in
connection with his genend stock of merchandise,
and a fair invoice will rate it above $8,000.

In September, 1876, Mr. White assumed the office
of Postmaster at Swedesburg. to which he was ap-
pointed in August of that year. He has served in
that capacity for eleven years, and is the present in-
cumbent. Five children have come to bless the
union of Mr. and Mrs. White, but two only are now
living — Edmund E. and Thomas L. Those de-
ceased are Mary, Anna and Elizabeth, all nearly
grown when summoned from earth. The loss
brought great grief, not only to the jDarents, but to
a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

As a business man, Mr. White is a fine representa-
tive of Henry County's sons, and his eldest son is
chief clerk in the store and office. His education
was received at the noted academy founded by
Prof. Howe, and in business he will receive a
practical education in the trade at Swedesburg.
We welcome our subject and family to a place
among those of the pioneers who remain, and are
among the reliable business men of the county.

-^.t^^Q^^i-^^i^-^

4Th

Jj'OHN WILSON, one (»f the pioneer settlers
I of Henry County, was l>orn in Clay County,
I Ky., July 10, 1809. He was reared in Clay
' County, receiving his education in a log
school-house. lie was married in that State to
Miss Mary Thomas, and in 1835 they left Kentucky
on horseback, bringing with them their three chil-
dren and all tlie worMly goods thej' possessed.
They first stopped for a short time on Brush Creek,

and shortly after they purchased a claim on section
2u, Center Township. Mr. Wilson building a log
cabin where they lived for four j^ears. At the end
of this time a fire destroyed their cabin, which was
their all. This was supposed to be the work of an
incendiary, the fire probabl}' being kindled bj' a
man who wanted the claim. Before leaving Ken-
tucky this same misfortune happpened to them, and
now for the second time a fire destroyed their
home, but a kind neighbor, Mrs. Maulding, gave
them shelter until Mr. Wilson could provide an-
other home for his family. A rude log cabin was
constructed and into this they moved before the
floor was laid. They had no bedstead, but putting
up poles on which they placed some straw, with a
free conscience they slept better than many a mil-
lionaire in his luxuriant home. Mr. Wilson was
taken sick about this time, and without mone}' the
future indeed looked dark, but Mr. Rea gave him
$75, which was truly a godsend to him, and in this
way he was enaliled to keep the wolf from the door.
At this time a little child was born to Mr. and Mrs.
Wilson, and their noble friend, Mrs. Willeford,
took the mother and her baby to her own home,
caring for them for seven weeks until they could
care for themselves. As the darkest hour is just
before the dawn, so in the case of Mr. and Mrs.
Wilson, the clouds now began to vanish and pros-
perity to smile upon them ; Mr. Wilson worked hard
and soon accumulated a corapetenc3'.

Nine children came to bless their union, seven
of whom yet live: iJavid, of Cirundy Center, Iowa;
Alford, of Page County, Iowa, enlisted in the 25th
Iowa Volunteer Infantrj-, serving as Second Lieu-
tenant of the company; Sarah, wife of William
Melton, and first white child born in this county,
residing on the old homestead; Philip is a lumber
dealer of Ft. Collins, Col.; Jemima J., wife of
Peter Perine, both deceased ; Jonathan and Elislia,
twins; the former now residing in Mt. Pleasant, en-
listed in the 25th Iowa Volunteer Infantr3', and
the latter resides in Baxter, Jasper Co., Iowa.
Rachel, wife of George Cooper, of Osborne County,
I Kan.; John, of Greene County, Iowa; Marj', wife
! of Gabriel Burton, of Henry County, Iowa.

In politics, .Mr. Wilson wjis a Democrat. He
I and his wife were earnest Christian people, and

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HENRY COUNTY.

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327

.t

were highly respected in the community where
the}' resided. Alwaj's honest and ni>right, Mr.
Wilsons' word was as good as his bond. The
mother departed this life Oct. 16, 1873, being
sixty-two years of age. She preceded her husband
to the home of the redeem"fed thirteen years, he
dying on the -iGth of January. 1887, at the age of
sevent3'-six.

-^ -^-^ "^

ON. JOHN S. WOO LSON, senior partner of
V^ the prominent law firm of Woolson & Babb,
of Mt. Pleas.-int, and a member of the Iowa
State Senate, was born at Tonawanda, Erie
Co., N. Y., Dec. 6, 1840. His father, Theron AV.
Woolson, was an earlj- settler of Henry County,
and a leading attorney (a sketch of his life and his
portrait will be found elsewhere in this work). His
mothers maiden name was Clarissa Simson. The
family on both sides are descended from patriotic
ancestry in the war of the Revolution. His pater-
nal grandfather particii)ated in the war of Inde-
pendence and in that of 1812, while his maternal
grandfather took an active part in the latter war.

Onr subject, as his histor\- shows, was true to the
patriotic instincts of his forefathers, and bore his
part in the War for the Union in 1861-65. He re-
ceived liis primar}- education in his native town,
and when sixteen yeai-s of age (June, 1856), he ac-
companied his parent* to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where
he entered the Iowa Wesleyau Universitj- as a
student and graduated with the honors of his class
in 1860. He at once engaged in the study of law
in his father's otlice, but the breaking out of the
war excited his patriotic ardor, and throwing aside
his I'.lackstone and Chitty, he forsook the peaceful
paths of the law for a position in the United Skites
Navj\ He was appointed Assistant P.aymaster of
the United States Navy in February, 1862, and
was assigned to the United States sloop-of-war
" Housatonic," of the South Atlantic squadron. He
continued to serve on the " Housatonic " till she
w:is sunk by a Confederate torpedo boat off Charles-
ton Harbor, Feb. 17, 1864. The sloop sank within
fifteen minutes after the torpedo w.as exploded.
Mr. Woolson succeeded in securing himself to a

floating spar which proved but a precarious support,
as it w.as overloaded and submerged bj^ the numbers
clinging to it. By the timely arrival of a l)oat from
another vessel of the squadron, he and his compan-
ions were rescued from their perilous position.

He was next assigned to the double turreted
monitor " Monadnock," then in service in the North
and South Atlantic squ.adron. He participated in
all the attacks on Ft. Sumter and both attacks on
Ft. Fisher. He served at different times .as signal
officer of the squadron, and during the attacks ou
Ft. Fisher had command of one of the pilot-houses
of the monitor. He was up the James River at the
taking of Crow's Nest and the capture of Richmond.
He was also at " Butler's Dutch Gap Canal," and
served till the surrender of the Confeder.ate army
and the close of the war. He was previously sent
with an expedition to Havana to capture a rebel
ram in those waters. The ram failed to accept the
challenge, but sought protection under the guns of
the Spanish forts. ^Ir. Woolson resigned his posi-
tion in the regular service in December, 1865, re-
turueil to Mt. Pleasant and resumed the studj' of
law with his father as preceptor, and was admitted
to the bar in Sei)tember. 1866. He at once formed
a law partnership with his father, under the firm
name of T. W. A- John S. Woolson, which connec-
tion continued till the death of his father, Nov. 8,
1872. In January, 1873, he formed the existing
partnership with lion. W. I. Babb.

Mr. Woolson has taken a prominent part in pub-
lic affairs, and has been chosen to fill various offices
of honor and trust. He has served several years as
a member and Secretary of the School Board of
Mt. Pleasant. He was appointed a member of the
Henry County Board of Commissioners of Insanity
in 1870, and was elected President of the Board,
and h.as held that position continuously" since. Mr.
Woolson was elected b}' the Republican party to
the State Sen.ate in 1875, was re-elected and served
six j-ears. He w.as appointed Chairman of the
Judiciary Committee, was chosen President pro
tem of the Senate, and had the honor of presiding
at the re-inauguration of Gov. J. H. Gear. He
was re-elected in 1885, and again elected President
pro tem, which position he still holds. In 1884 he
was the Republican candidate for Congress for the

I

^

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328

HENRY COUNTY.

First Iowa Congressional District. Mr. Woolson
had taken positive ground while in the State Sen-
ate in favor of the right of the State and (General
Government to control within constitutional limits
the estalilishnient of rates of passenger and freight
tratlic, and to protect tlie people against anj' extor-
tion ])y monopolies. Notwithstanding the fact that
he liad thus antagonized the powerful railvvay in-
fluence, and that his opi>oneut, the Hon. Benjamin
J. Hall, had the earnest and undivided support of
the railway corporations, in addition to the prestige
of an opposition majority of from 800 to 1,000,
which had been cast against the Republican ticket
in the two previous elections, Mr. Woolson was
defeated by but seventy-three votes, a high com-
pliment to his personal popularity.

Mr. Woolson w.as united in marriage at Mt. Pleas-
ant, April 9, 18G7, to Miss Mira T. Bird, daugliter
of Dr. W. Bird, a prominent physician and early
settler of that city, and whose iiistor}' is given on
another page. Mrs. Woolson was born at Freder-
ickstown, Knox Co., Ohio. Five children were
born of their union, four of whom are living: Paul
B., born May 13, 18C8; Ralph T., born May 25,
1871, died Nov. 8, 1886 ; Miriam, born May 19, 1873 ;
Grace S., born .July 17, 1875; Ruth S., born Oct.
18, 1880. Mr. Woolson, his wife and three elder
children, are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He is a member of the McFarland Post
No. 20, G. A. R., and of the Iowa Commandery of
the Loyal Legion. He is a Master Mason, and a
member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 8. He and his
wife are members of Betiilehem Chapter No. 38, of
the order of the Eiistern Stiu-.

Tiie sul>ject of this sketch is so well known that aii}--
tliing that might be said in a short sketch like this
would not add to or detract from his high stiniding
in the conmiunity with the present generation, but
as this work is designed as a standard reference for
coming generations, it is eminently proper to state
that Mr. Woolson stands in the front rank of his
profession in Henry County, and is among tlie
leading lawyers of the State. He is an indefatigable
worker and student, possessing qualities of mind
and a high order of talent that eminentlj' fit iiim for
the profession of the law and :\ foremost place
among the legislators of tlie country. As a lawyer

he is quick to analyze the subject matter of the
business in hand, careful and methodical in the prep-
aration of cases, eloquent and logical in his ad-
dresses to court and jury, and isalways to be relied
upon to present the claims of his clients in the best
possible light and to guard their interests with
ability, integrity and fidelit}'. As a legislator he
has always proved true to the interests of ills con-
stituents, consistent with his broad views of public
policy. He served on important committees, in the
discharge of whose duties he has alw.ays borne a
prominent part. As a speaker, he is fluent, logical
and eloquent. His well-known habit of thoroughly
investigating any subject on which he is to speak
adds force to his remarks and carries conviction to
the minds of his audience. Possessing these char-
acteristics, it is not strange that his people should
favor him with their choice for positions of public
iionor and trust, and that they are proud to ac-
knowledge him as a leader among them.

■^Z OHN MESSER, deceased, was a native of
Ohio, and his parents were Job and Sarah
(Green) Messer. He was among the earliest
pioneer settlers of Heiuy Count}', Iowa, hav-
ing come to this county in 1839, and settled in Tren-
ton Township, on section 8, where he lived until the
time of his death, which occurred Feb. 7, 18U5.
He was united in marriage with Rhoda Ann Miller,
and the}' were the parents of fourteen children, of
whom Michael and .Sarah died 3'ouug; Josephus
was the eldest; the next was John, of Trenton Town-
ship; Miir}', wife of James II. Scarff, of Trenton
Township; Job, also of Trenton Township; Simon,
also a farmer of Trenton Township; Alfred, who
died Aug. 27, 1885; Jane, wife of George Alexan-
der, of Trenton Township; Calvin, residing in Jef-
ferson Township; Alvin, who has charge of the
home farm for his mother; Hannah departed this
life in January, 1874; Lincoln; Becca Ann, wife
of Is:iiic Shuck, a resident of Trenton Township.
Jlr. Messer in early life alliliated with the Whig
party, and until the organization of the liepublican,
when he voted with the latter party. He served as
a soltlier in tlie late Hebellion, enlisting in what was

»» ■-

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HENRY COUNTY.

329

known as the old Graybeard regiment, from which
he was honorably discharged for disability. Mr.
Messer owned a fine farm of eighty acres of land
at the time of his death. Among the honored
names of the pioneer settlers, that of John Messer
ranks among the first.

Joseplms Messer was born and reared on tlie farm
in Trenton Township, on which his parents had set-
tled on coming to Henry Connty. He was among
the many brave boys in blue who fought so gal-
lantl}^ for their country, enlisting in the 4th Iowa
Cavalry, serving three years, and participating in
the many battles in which his regiment was engaged.
On the 9th of July, 18G4, he married Rebecca Jane
Hoffman, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of
Paul and Azuba (Washburn) Hoffman, the father a
native of Canada, and the mother of Ohio. Mr.
and Mrs. Hoffman are now residing in Decatur
County, Kan.

Mr. and Mrs. Messer have been the parents of ten
children: Zion, born Nov. 1, 1865; Marj* Florence,
born July 22, 1867, now the wife of Jesse F. Fields,
a resident of Trenton Township; Freeman, born
Nov. 26, 1868; Sheridan, Nov. 30, 1870; Alice,
born March 6, 1872, died Aug. 14, 1873; Emma
Jane, born Dec. 13, 1873; Joe, March 25, 1876;
Azuba Ann, Oct. 27, 1879; Lavina, Aug. 10, 1881 ;
Sarah Frances, Oct. 11, 1885; and Rhoda, May 26,
1 887 ; one died in infancj'. Mr. Messer owns a
farm of seventy -two acres of land, well cultivated.
Politically he is an adherent of the Republican
party. Mr. and Mrs. Messer are highly esteemed
both as citizens and neighbors.

AX E. WITTE, M. D., First Assistant
Ph^^sician at the Iowa State Hospital for
the Insane at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was born
in Berlin, Prussia, on the 31st of January,
His parents were G. W. and W. (Rakow)
Our subject came to America with them in
the autumn of 1864. The family located in Jack-
son County, Iowa. Max E. received his literary
education at Galena, 111., and then took a three-
years course at the State University of Iowa, grad-
uating from the medical department in the class of

1859.
Witte,

1881. He read medicine with Prof. W. D. Middle-
ton, M. D., and began the practice of his profession
at Davenport, Iowa. He was appointed to his
present responsible position, and entered upon his
duties as First Assistant Physician at the Iowa State
Hospital in November, 1881. He is a member of
the Lutheran Church, and Republican in politics.
Dr. Witte has proved an able assistant to Dr. Gil-
man, being well skilled in his profession, and
earnest and conscientious in the discharge of the
responsible duties of his offlee.

-^*> o^.-(C)^><^..o*o <<—

"jp ACOB TRAXLER, residing on section 25,
Trenton Township, Henry Co., Iowa, is a na-
tive of Cumberland County, Pa., born Sept.
(^// i), 1831, and is of German ancestry. Our
subject learned the trade of brick-making, which he
has followed most of his life. He came to this
county in 1854 with iiis father, settling in Marion
Township, where he purchased 266 acres of land,
which he afterward sold, buying a farm of 120
acres on section 9 of the same township. He re-
sided upon that farm from 1859 until 1884, and
during that time made many improvements, but
sold in that year, and rented a farm in Trenton
Township, where he has since made his home.

In the fall of 1855 Jacob Traxler was united in
marriage with Eliza J. Hume. She was born Dec.
18, 1838, in Ohio, and is the daughter of James
Hume, a native of Virginia. B}' that marriage five
children were born, namely: James B., who was
born Sept. 21, 1856, w.asfor four j'ears School Super-
intendent of Henr^- County, and is now teaching in
Grenada, Col. ; an infant, born May 6, 1859, was
the second child; Elizabeth J., born Aug. 5, 1860,
who was a teacher in the public schools, became the
wife of J. Wallace Miller, a farmer of Marion Town-
ship; Grezelle A., born April 6, 1869, died in Ma^',
1883; George C, born Ma}' 5, 1866, died in in-
fancy. Eliza J. Traxler died Aug. 5, 1866. She
was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.

Mr. Traxler was again married, Jan. 16, 1867, to
Ruth E. Carpenter, who was the widow of John F.
Gould, of Jones County, Iowa, who died Feb. 28,
»^

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330

HENRY COUNTY.

1865, and by that marriage Mrs. Traxler had one
child, Hiram E. Gould, now living in Nebraska.
B}'' Mr. Traxler's second marriage ten children were
born: Viola C, born Oct. 25, 1867; John E., Nov.
15, 1869; Clarence C, J.an. 13, 1872; William L.,
April 29, 1874; Rosa Belle, Dec. .3, 1875; Mary A.,
April 5, 1877; Minnie B., born Feb. 25, 1879, died
March 20, 1882; Alvin J., born Nov. 24, 1880,
died Feb. 26, 1882; Louis E., l)Orn July 31, 1883;
and Catherine, March 5, 1885. Polilicall}', Mr.
Traxler is a Democrat, though he is liberal in his
views. Mr. and Mrs. Traxler are among the highly
respected people of Trenton Township, and we wel-
come them to a place in the history of Hein-y
County.

,,.,, LEX. .S. PERRY is a farmer and stock-
!0| raiser, residing on section 15, Center Town-
Ill ship. He was born in Washington County,
Pa., Jan. 12, 1826, and is the son of T.
J. R. and Margaret (Gaston) Perry, the former a
native of Maryland, and the latter of Pennsylvania.
They were the parents of nine children: John G.,
decea.sed ; Alex. S., the subject of this sketch ; Char-
ity A., wife of Wesley Howard, of Des Moines;
Samuel G., who enlisted in Company C, 30th Iowa
Volunteer Infantry, was killed May 22, 1836, dur-
ing the siege of Vicksburg; Hon. Thomas, Jr., en-
listed in the 1st Iowa Cavah-y, served nearly four
years, and now resides in Western Kansas; William
P. enlisted in Company C, 30th Iowa Volunteer In-
fantry, serving out his time, re-enlisted and was trans-
ferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, being stationed
at Indianapolis, Ind., where he was engaged guard-
ing prisoners; he now resides on the old home-
stead. Margaret married Jerome Turner, and is
now deceased ; Mathew M. enlisted in the 45th Iowa
Volunteer Infantry, served out his time, and now
resides in Chariton, lovva; Rebecca is the wife of
W. W. I'crry, of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. In
11S45 the family emigrated to Des Moines County,
Iowa, where the father located a large tract of land
where he resided untd death. I'olitically, he was
an old-lino Whig in his early life, but became a
Republican on the organization of that party. He

was elected a member of the House of Representa-
tives of the General Assembly of Iowa, and served
[ with credit to himself and constituents. A man of
more than ordinary ability, he was a frieud to edu-
cation, and everything calculated for the public
good, was a strict temperance man and did much
for that cause.

The subject of this sketch remained in his native
kState until nineteen j-ears of age, when he came to
Iowa with his parents, and settled in Des Moines
County. The educational advantages enjoj'ed by
him were those of the common school, but the in-
formation obtained therein has been supplemented
b3' extensive reading since that day. On coming to
Iowa he helped his father improve his farm, and for
some time was engaged in breaking the wild prairie
land.

In 1855 Mr. Perry was united in marriage with
Miss Catherine Baumguardner, a native of Eastern
Pennsylvania and daughter of John Baumguard-
ner, who settled in Des Moines County in 1849.
After his m:u-riage, Mr. Perr^- engaged in farming
until 1862, when, in response to the call of Presi-
dent Lincoln for 300,000 more men to put down the
Rebellion, he enlisted in Company C, 30th Iowa
Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into United
States service at Keokuk. From Keokuk the regi-
ment was seht to Benton Barracks, near .St. Louis,
where it remained a short time, and was sent from
there to Helena, Ark., and then to Chickasaw
Bayou, where it was engaged, and where Mr. Perr3'
was wounded in the hand. From the field, he was
sent to the hospital at Paducah, K}'., where he re-
mained three months, and was then discharged, re-
turning to his home in Des Moines County, where
he remained until 1868, when he moved to Ml.
Pleasant, where he continued to reside until the
spring of 1888, when he removed to his farm on
section 13, Center Township, where he now lives.
In politics, Mr. Perry is a Republican, and has allili-
ated with that party since its organization. In 1 SIli;,
while a resident of Des Moines Count}', he was
elected Sheriff, and served one term. Mr. and Mrs.
Perry have no natural heirs, but have reared three
children, one of whom, Maria C. Wennick, is now
the wife of William AL VanVleet, of New London.
Mr. I'erry is a member of McFarland Post No. 20,

i

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HENRY COUNTY.

-•►

331

G. A. R. Mrs. Perry is a member of the Christian
Church of Mt. Pleasant. Both are highly respected
citizens of the county.

P^^=tREDERICK L. WIEGAND, merchant, was
)j born in Saxe-Meinigen, Germany, in 1837,
and is the sou of Andrus and Margaret
(Chocher) Wiegand, both of whom were natives of
Germany. By trade Andrus Wiegand was a cabi-
net-maker, and carried on business in Badlevein-
stein, a noted watering place, where he lived and
died. They had only two sons, Charles F. and our
subject. When ten years of age Frederick left his
native land, his mother having married after the
death of her first husband, Matthias Glotzbach,
who preceded the family to America, settling in
Philadelphia, where his wife with her two sons
landed in 1846. At the age of eleven years Fred-
erick went to work for a cotton manufacturer of
that citj', and at twelve was apprenticad to a shoe-
maker for five years, but his mother took him away
when she, with her husband, left Philadelphia the
next j'ear. In 1850 they started for Iowa but
stopped to visit relatives in Indiana, afterward
resuming their journey via the Ohio River, but when
Louisville, Ky., was reached, the mother was taken
violently ill, and after stopping in that city for
some time, they returned to Madison, Ind. Later
the illness of Mrs. Glotzljach grew more serious,
and she was taken back to Louisville, and died in
the hospital intliatcity in 1850. Charles remained
in Philadelphia, being bound to a barber, and after
serving out his apprenticeship, in 1863 went to Cal-
ifornia, and for several j-ears had a shop on board
a vessel plying between San Francisco and Panama.
In 1858 he quit that business, having saved con-
siderable money, and started east to look for his
brother, knowing of his mother's death. After
advertising largely in the papers without learning
of the whereabouts of Frederick, he returned to
Europe, thinking perhaps the orphan lad had gone
back to his fatherland. Getting no tidings of him,
however, he returned to America and located in
Portland, Ore., married Rosina Wilhelm, and con-
ducted a lar^e business. His death occurred twelve

V

years later, and his widow and five children yet
reside in that city.

After the death of his mother our subject was set
adrift by his step-father who refused to have any
further care for him, and a young lad but fourteen
years of age he started out alone in the world to
seek his fortune, and for twenty-two years he neither
saw nor heard of any of his relatives. He found
employment first on a steamer running on the Ohio,
lie found it hard to get a place, everyone thinking
that a lad of his j'ears had run away from home,
but by chance a gentleman having charge of a
steamer kindly kept him over night, gave him his
breakfast and ten cents in money, the first casli that
he ever had of his own, and he found a situation
the next daj^ as cabin boy on an Ohio steamer. He
only staid a short time with this man, as he was a
drinking and blasphemous fellow, but he found em-
ployment in the same capacity on another boat
running between Cincinnati and St. Louis, and in the
former city met a boy who was an old acquaintance.
Wishing to see the South they engaged on a boat
bound for New Orleans, and while in that city the
trunk containing the clothes of our subject was
stolen, and he was left penniless. They tried for
some time to obtain passage North, but had no
monej' and could not obtain work. Finall^'^ they
became stowaways on the steamer "United States,"
and for their provisions depended on the scraps
left by the deck hands. Before the boys had jour-
neyed three days the clerk spied them, and Fred-
erick made a plain statement of the facts and was
told by the clerk to remain, at least until the Cap-
tain found them out, who it seems learned the same
day that they were aboard. He put them off in
Mississippi, where they remained until the next
steamer came along. They were given shelter and
something to eat by the negroes, and then boarded
a boat with the consent of the Captain and were
taken to Louisville. The cold weather was at hand
and their clothes were getting thin. They walked
to Madison, Ind., begging food en route. The
other boy, John Yeager, had relatives living at
Indianapolis, but at North Madison they became sep-
arated, but Frederick being determined to find his
companion, st-arted on foot and reached Indianapo-
lis after .all kinds of adventures, where he discovered

f

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4

t

332

HENRY COUNTY.

his boy friend who had found liis relatives, but
tliere was no place for Frederick. A few d.nys later
he obtained employment with Mr. Shirner, a farmer
four miles east of the citj', only getting the place by
persistent begging, as they feared he was a runa-
way. They kindlj' cared for him during the win-
ter, giving hira clothes, and during the next summer
he engaged with a son, William Shirner, until the
following spring. He remained in that vicinity-
seven years working on farms. His education was
very limited, less than six months including all his
sciiooling in America. His wages were carefully
saved, but at 15 and $10 per month his bank .ac-
count was not very large when he left for Kansas
in the spring of 1857, where he pre-empted a quarter
section of land near Ossawatomie. His home was
made with a Quaker, Richard Mendenhall, where
old John Brown m.ade his headquarters, and Fred-
erick was personally acquainted with that noted
man. Mr. Wiegand improved his land and for
eighteen years remained a farmer. In the spring
of 1862 he enlisted in the Missouri State Slilitia,
later enlisted in Company T), 15tli Kansas Cavahy,
serving during the remainder of the war in the
western army. At West Point, Mo., he was
wounded and yet carries the ball which, however,
causes him little inconvenience. After the war he
returned to his farm, and in 18G7 was married to
Miss Sarali ,]., daughter of Eli and INIartha (llun-
nicut) White. INIiss White came into the neighbor-
hood to teach school, and the acquaintance was
then formed which resulted in marriage. In 1874
Mr. Wiegand sold his Kansas farm and removed to
Mokena, Will Co., 111., where for some time he
operated a fruit farm and was subsequently elected
Justice of the Peace, serving two years. The resi-
dence in Mokena lasted nine years, and in July,
188.'!, he disposed of the Illinois property and
started to Oregon, but stopping in Salem to visit
relatives of Mrs. Wiegand. and a business invest-
ment offering .'it Hillsboro, he purchased the store
and goods of William INIickelwaite, and has con-
ducted the business to this date, having a large
stock of general merchandise and a fine trade. He
was api)ointed Justice of the Pe.'ice after coming to
the village, but at present attends solely to his
mercantile business, being aided by his wife and

their only son, Charles F., born in Kansas in 1868.
Mr. Wiegand is a successful business man and
has accumulated a fine property, educated himself
in language and business methods, and intends hav-
ing his son graduate in a commercial college. Mr.
Wiegand is a member of John L. Jordan Post 246,
G. A. R., and is at present Post Quartermaster.
He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the
Baptist Church. Mrs. Wiegand is a member of the
Society of Friends.

-^ ^^ ^

If^ ILLER MESSER is a farmer and stock-
raiser of Henry County, Iowa, residing on
section 17, Trenton Township, wiiere he
owns 120 acres of land, all under a fine
state of cultivation. He is a son of Hiram Messer,
and was born in this county in 1848. His father
came to Henry County in 18.39, locating on the
farm where Miller now lives. The bojhood days
of our subject were spent upon the farm on which
he now resides. He received his education at the
district school, and in 1870 was united in marriage
with Miss Adeline Miller. She is the daughter
of William Miller, and is a native of Ohio. Mr.
and Mrs. Messer have been the parents of two chil-
dren : Henry, who was taken from them by death at
the age of three; and Layura May. He is one of
the stalwart supporters of the Republican party,
and has never swerved in his allegiance to the same.
His business is that of general farming and stock-
raising, and among the young business men of the
county, Mr. Messer ranks with the first.

^^^*hH^

JOHN T. MESSER, residing on section 17,
Trenton Townshij), w;is born in Guernsey
County, Ohio, Jan. 21, 1834, and is the son
of Hiram .and Barbara (Miller) Messer. His
father was a native of F.aj'ette County, Pa., and
was the son of Job and Sarah (Green) Messer. He
was one of a family of eight children, five boys and
three girls — Israel, Hiram, James, John, Re.ason,
Mariam, Harriet and Jane, and was reared on a
farm. With the exceplii)n of a few 3'ears, when he

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HENRY COUNTY.

333

was engaged in running a still for Andy Craig in
his native State, he spent his entire life in farm-
ing. In 1839 he emigrated with his family to
Henry County, Iowa, settling on section 17, Tren-
ton Township, where he resided till his death, which
occurred April 12, 1871. His farm originally con-
sisted of 371 acres.

John T. Messer was reared on the farm on which
he now resides. He was married, Jan. 28, 1855, to
Senith Black, a native of Champaign, Ohio. Her
father was Samuel Black, one of the pioneers of
Henry County. By this union six children have
been bom: Samuel Hiram, a farmer of Trenton
Township; Albert Mitchell, also a farmer residing
in Trenton Township; Anna Bell married George
Black and lives in Trenton Township; James W.,
at home; Geneva Frances, born July 8, 1871, died
at the age of three ; and an infant. Assisted by
his good wife Mr. Messer has made all he possesses.
By good management and close attention to busi-
ness he has gained a competence, and now owns
200 acres of finely improved land. He is a practi-
cal farmer, and everything on the farm denotes
thrift and enterprise. Mrs. Messer's father, Samuel
Black, departed this life July 22, 18G5.

-W/V -vtajl2£7g^g/»>-<

•^^gyZTTT?!?^ -UW-

<JY|OSEPH T. PATCH, attorney-at-law, has
been a resident of Mt. Pleasant since De-
cember, 18G9, and has been engaged in prac-

tice since February, 1876. He was born in

Rutland County, Yt., Sept. 25, 1838, and is a son of
Abram and Lydia (Tucker) Patch. His father was
born in Groton, now a suburb of Boston, Mass.
His mother was a native of Rutland County, Vt.
On the paternal side, the family had been residents
of New England since the advent of the "May-
flower," on which historic vessel the first Patch came
to the New World. His mother was also a descend-
ant of one of the old Colonial families of Mass.achu-
setts. In his father's family there were two sons
and three daughters. His brother is Joel V. D.
Patch, a portrait painter living at Monroe, Iowa;
the oldest sister was Lydia J., who died at the age
of seventeen; Arethusia is the wife of Hon. E. C.
Calkins, a prominent attorney of Kearney, Neb.;
M*

the youngest, Orvilla, died aged sixteen; the sub-
ject of this sketch was the eldest of the family.
When he was seven j'ears of age his parents removed
to Erie Countj^, N. Y. He attended the Ellington
Academy, in Chautauqua County, N. Y., for two
years when he entered Union College at Schenectady,
N. Y., then under the presidency of the celebrated
Dr. Nott. After completing his junior year he left
college and engaged in teaching school, following
the profession for several years in the States of New
York and Ohio. In 1863 Mr. Patch entered the
law department of Michigan University at Ann
Arbor, and graduated thence in 1865. That sum-
mer he went to Polk County, Mo., and was for one
year Principal of the academy at Bolivar, in that
county. The following year he practiced law in
Hickory County, Mo., and in 1867 took a trip
which led to his settling in Mt. Pleasant. In 1869
Mr. Patch began working at carpentering, at which
he continued until 1876, when he resumed the
practice of his profession in Mt. Pleasant, following
it to the present time and also making a specialty
of Government claims, at which he has been very
successful.

September 28, 1869, Mr. Patch was married at Mt.
Pleasant to Miss Mary E. Vernon, only daughter
of Rev. J. B. Vernon, a pioneer of Henry County.
She was bt)rn in Montgomery County, Ind. They
have three children living, one boy and two girls,
and have lost a daughter, Olivia M., who died at
the age of seven j'ears. The other children are:
Mary Edna, aged thirteen; Leroy Vernon, twelve;
and Alline L., four. Mr. and Mrs. Patch are
members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church
in Mt. Pleasant. In politics he is a Republican, and
socially is a worthy and estimable gentleman.

yENGER BROS., gener.al merchants. The
most enterprising firm of young men in the
village of Wayland are the brothers, Joseph
and Christian C. AVenger, both born in Washington
County, Iowa, and are the two eldest sons of Chris-
tian and Elizabeth (Goldsmith) Wenger. Christian
was born in Switzerland and is a son of Christian
and Mary (Roth) Wenger, who emigrated from

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334

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HENRY COUNTY.

r

Germany to Hamburg, Canada, and thence to
\V^ashington Count}', Iowa, making the jourueywith
a team, passing through Chicago when that now
great city was a village but a trifle larger tlian
Wayland. Settling in 1832, in Marion Township,
Washington Co., Iowa, the grandsire of our subject
purchased a claim, upon which stood a small cabin
and later entered the lands. This family were
among the first settlers in that county, and both
lived and died upon the farm which the}' had put
in fine cultivation. His wife reached sixtj', and
Christian Wenger, Sr., the ripe age of eighty-three
years. All their children but the three eldest were
born in Canada, and came with them to Iowa, and
perhaps no better family has ever settled in her
boundary. We are pleased to make separate men-
tion of each: John married Mary Ernst; Christian,
father of our subject, wedded Elizabeth Goldsmith;
Nicholas died unmarried; Joseph wedded Elizabeth
Roth; Benjamin became the husband of Lena Gen-
gerich ; Annie married Cliristian Eicher; Mary wed-
ded Joseph Rich; Lena wedded Christian Ernst, a
brother of John's wife; Katie became the wife of
John Miller, of Davis County; and Barbara became
the wife of Christian Schlatter, the proprietor of
the Wayland sawmills. Under the name of Chris-
tian Wenger the further history of the family is
given. His five eldest children were born in Wash-
ington County and are: Joseph, Christian, Samuel,
Jacob and Lizzie, the latter the wife of Jacob Kabel.
On the farm in Henry County, John, Daniel, Henry,
Ella and Levi, were born. Samuel was educated at
Howe's Academy, and has taught in the public
schools of this county. The two eldest sons were
educated in the schools of the township, but are
brilliant business men, and their retail trade is suc-
cessfully managed.

In 1881 Christian C. left the farm and in 1882,
in company with Benjamin Gardiner, engaged in
the mercantile trade. Their new store building
was erected in 1883, but prior to its completion
Joseph purchased the interest of Mr. Gardiner, and
tlie firm was changed to Wenger Bros. The firm
carry a full line of general merchandise and the
largest stock in the Miorthern part of the county,
their stock invoicing over *G,000. Everything is
of the best, and selling goods at the lowest living

profit has given these young men a trade of over
§10,000 per annum, and located as thcj' are in the
midst of an excellent agricultural region, their trade
is constantly increasing. They are an honor to their
parents, their village and their countr}'. and to men
of such business enterprise the growth and pros-
peritj' of Henr}' County is due.

The wedding of Joseph, the elder member of this
firm, w.TS a brilliant affair, and was celebrated on
Thursday, Oct. 27, 1887, the bride being Miss
Katie, the handsome d.-iughter .of Mr. and Mrs.
William Henss. the veteran wugon-maker, and one
of the wealthy men of Wayland. The young couple
took a pleasant bridal tour, and are now cosily set-
tled in Wayland. the birthplace of the bride, who
has one of the best of husbands and a man in whom
the public repose confidence.

Christian C. the younger member of the firm.
but the original partner of ilr. Gardiner, is also
happilj' married, having, on Dec. 8, 1887. been
united to ^liss Ella, daughter of Isaac and Keziah
Allen, of Wayhmd, of which jilaee she is a native.
She was educated in the schools of the village, .md
has always been regarded as one of the brightest
and best of its daughters, as her husband is known
as one of its most honorable and enterprising mer-
ch;mts.

1^^ ENRY CLAY AVEIR, residing on section
29, Marion Township, was born in Wash-
ington County, Pa., June 24, 1835. His
parents, Adam and Marj' (Carter) Weir,
were natives of Pennsylvania, though of Scotch
descent. They were the parents of ten children :
Elizabeth, the deceased wife of Abel Evans, resided
in Washington Count}', Pa.; Sarah, wife of George
McKanna, neither of whom are now living; Jane,
the widow of J. N. Ringlaud, resides in Keokuk,
Iowa; Maria, deceased ; Charlotte, deceased, w.as the
wife of Daniel F. Humphrey, who still resides at
Saginaw, Mich.; John B. is living at Wymore, Neb.,
and is engaged quite extensively in the grain and
stock business at that place; William C deceased;
Henry Clay, subject of this sketch; Caleb B., who
when his country called for men to defend her,
enlisted in the 1 1 th Iowa Infantry, and was First

. v'

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(.no

^s-.o"Voo«°^"

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HENRY COUNTY.

337

f

Lieutenant of Company G-, but acted as aide to
Gen. McPhersou. Returning home on a sick fur-
lough he was seriously injured in a railroad acci-
dent at Chattanooga, Tenn., which, together with
his impaired health, caused his death in August,
18G4; James P. and family live in Marion Town-
ship.

Adam Weir, with his family, moved to Lee
County, Iowa, in 1851, and settled near Pilot
Grove. In 1854 he bought eighty acres of land
in that township, and added to it from time until he
owned 120 acres of splendid land_and in a good
state of cultivation. He died Dec. 1, 1874, at the
advanced age of eighty-four years, having been born
in 1790; his wife died in 1868. They were both
members of the Presbyterian Church, of which be
was an Elder, and always took an active part in
matters pertaining to the church, and those of gen-
eral interest to the community. They were highly
respected by the citizens of both AVashington
County, Pa., and Lee County, Iowa, where they
resided.

Henry Clay Weir, the subject of this sketch,
continued at home with his parents, working on the
farm and attending the district school. On the 12th
of June, 1802, he was married to Maggie Potter,
who was a daughter of Andrew and Katharine
Potter, being born in Cleveland, Ohio, Feb. 18,
1842. Her father was a native of Ireland, and died
about the year 1881, at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. His
wife is still living in Mt. Pleasant.

Mr. and Mrs. Weir are the parents of live chil-
dren: William, who died in infancy; Edward, May,
Charles F. and Adam. After the marriage of Mr.
and Mrs. Weir, they still remained at the old home-
stead until 1866, when he bought 130 acres in Ma-
rion Township, Lee Co., Iowa, and moved on to
it. He added to his first purchase until he owned
280 acres. In the fall of 1875 he sold his farm in
Lee County, and bought 262 acres in Marion
Township, Henrj' County, where he now resides, and
has from time to time added to his original pur-
chase until he now owns 500 acres, and it is not
only one of the largest and finest but it is also one
of the best cultivated farms in the count}', and he
has the satisfaction of knowing that he has made it
all by his own industry. In politics he is a Repub-

lican, and was elected, in 1886, by the party as a
member of the Board of Supervisors. Although
a man of reserved habits, he is always willing to
lend a helping hand to promote all public enter-
prises.

0^9*>l-

• i^itf^'

IP^-^ EV. EBER CRANE, deceased, was a well-
\l^ known and highly respected mission minis-
1 ter of the Baptist Church, and a resident of
i^Henry County from 1853 to the time of his
death, which occurred at Mt. Pleasant in 1884.
The subject of this memoir was bom in Clinton,
Conn., near Long Island, May 3, 1808. His ances-
tors on his father's side were among the earliest
colonists of New England. The histoi'y of the
family dates back to earlj' in the seventeenth cen-
tury, soon after the establishment of the Plj'mouth
Colony of ^lassachusetts. Two brothers, Benjamin
and Henry Crane, emigrated from England and
settled in Southeastern Connecticut, and were the
founders of the family in America. One of their
descendants, Col. John Crane, was a prominent
officer of the war of the Revolution. A meeting
of representatives of the Crane family was held at
the Elliott House, New Haven, Conn., Sept. 8,
1880, to consider the advisability of compiling a
genealogical record of the family. An association
for that purpose was organized, which held a second
meeting in New York City, Oct. 5, 1881. The
President was Zenas M. Crane, of Dalton, Mass. ;
Vice Presidents, Gen. Nerom M. Crane, of Horuells-
ville, N. Y., and Phineas ^I. Crane, of East Boston.
Plans were perfected for the work in hand.

The parents of our subject removed to Ohio
when he was but four j^ears old. Both died within
a week of each other when Eber was in his sixteenth
year, and this sudden double bereavement turned
his thoughts to religious matters, and he was sin-
cerely converted, and resolved to devote his life to
the ministry of the Gospel. Returning East he
began his studies in Newton Theological Seminary,
in Massachusetts. Love for his fcllowmen, espec-
ially for the poor and afflicted, which became such
a marked characteristic in later life, developed
early in him. While still a student, and before his

i

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338

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HENRY COUNTY.

•►■-^

ordination, he gave much of his time to the poor
and the destitute. His heart overflowed with love
for suffering humanity, and in imitation of the
Divine ^Master he had elected to follow, he sought
out the lowly and despised and "them who were in
bonds," visiting almshouses and prisons, ministering
to their inmates with love for their immortal souls
and sympathy for their ufBictions, trying earnestly
to guide them into leading better lives.

Mr. Crane was an earnest thinker and a strong
advocate of human liberty. He was one of the
original Abolitionists, and while still a student was
a member of William Llo^'d Garrison's little band.
When he offered to join the society Mr. Garrison
happened to have just received a very threatening
letter (nothing unusual), in which he was advised
to cease his agitation of the anti-slavery question
or suffer the consequences, which it was plainly as-
serted woidd be the loss of his life. He asked Mr.
Crane if he knew what he was .about to do, and the
probable consequences, at the same time giving
him the letter spoken of. Mr. Crane assured liim
that he liad given the matter due consideration
and was ready to take all risks in a cause so holy.
He became one of the most earnest workers in the
then unpopular cause of abolition.

After his ordination as a minister of the Baptist
Church, Mr. Crane w;is engaged in the home mis-
sion work of the cliurch in tlie then AVestern State
of Ohio. While engaged in this field he became
convinced of the great evils of intemperance, and
with characteristic zeal espoused the cause of total
abstinence, at a time when it required great courage
and indomitable will to join in the crusade against
liquor, which in that day was in universal use,
among church members and the clergy almost as
much as among others. In this cause he was an
earnest laborer until his death. His labors in Ohio
were productive of much good, and he filled man}'
lmi)ortant pastorates in that State, remaining there
until 1853, when in consequence of impaired hc.allii
he came to Iowa, settling with his family in Mt.
Pleasant. He pursued his hoi}' calling in this
county and vicinity until the inexorable reaper.
Death, closed his useful career on April 4, 1884,
at the ripe .age of seventy-live j'ears, eleven months
and one day.

Mr. Crane's S3'mpathies were alw.ays witli the op-
pressed and in favor of human freedom. During
the border war in Kansas begun under President
Pierce's administration, he took an active part in
favor of the free State men, making many eloquent
speeches, .and doing much to mold public ojiinidn.
On the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he
was of course a chami)ion of the cause of the Union,
:nid freel}' gave to the ranks of his country's de-
fenders the two of his sons who were of sufficient age
to become soldiers. True to his anti-slaver}' prin-
ciples and instincts, he was from the first a believer
in the truth that the war could never be ended un-
til the curse of human slavery was wiped from the
country. He was an early and earnest advocate of
the public school system, and was a member of the
School Board of Mt. Pleasant when it w.as adopted,
and it was by this bo.ard the new scliool buildings
were erected, which marked such an important ad-
vance in public education.

Mr. Crane w.as twice mai-ried, first in INIethuen,
Mass., to Caroline Nevins, wlio died at Akron,
Ohio, leaving no issue, her only child being buried
with her. He was .again married, at Kent, Ohio,
Dec. G, 1837, to Nancy A., daughter of Deacon
William Kuowlton. Mrs. Crane was born in Bran-
don, Vt., Jan. 5, 1817. They were blessed with
eight children, five sons and three daughters: Baron
H. is a merchant in Mt. Pleasant (see sketch) ;
Ilervey N. married Ellen M.ay, dauglitcr of INIaj.
Lyman, of Muscatine. Iowa, and is also a merchant
at Mt. Pleasant; Carrie E. is the wife of Josiah P.
Brenholtz, of Mt. Pleasant; .Tubus A. is a pr.actic-
ing physician at Santa Ana, Cal.. and is married to
Minnie, daughter of Hon. O. H. Sehenck, of Bur-
lington, Iowa; Klla AV., Mrs. Leib, died in 18S4,
aged thirty-four; Mary F. met a tragic death b\-
drowning at Marengo, Iowa, July 2y, 1875, at the
.age of twenty-four: Eber K. is ra.arried to Nettie,
daughter of Gen. George A. Stone, of Mt. Pleas-
ant, and resides at Humboldt, Neb.; Willie K., the
youngest, lives with his mother in Mt. Plea.sant.

The life of Mr. Crane was until its close one of
usefulness and honor. In liis .age, as in his youth,
he was the fiiend of the poor and the afflicted, and
the miserable and neglected ever found in him a
true friend and consoler. It might truly be said of

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HENRY COUNTY.

339

him as of Abou Ben Adhem, of old, he was "one
who loved his fellowmen," and death found him
ready to meet that Master to whose service his life
had been consecrated, and the upright man was
laid to his last rest amid the tears and prayers of a,
large concourse of sorrowing friends, who yet do
not mourn " as those without hope," knowing he is
but gone to meet the reward promised by Him who
said : "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright,
for the end of that man is peace."

The portrait of Mr. Crane on a preceding page is
one eminently fitted to grace the pages of this
volume. He was truly a representative of one of
the highest types of humanity, and our readers will
thank us for preserving his lineaments to future
generations.

lARON H. CRANE, dealer in hardware,
stoves and tinware, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the
eldest child of Rev. Eber and Nancy A.
^^^ (Knowltun) Crane, was born in Kent, Port-
age Co., Ohio, Nov. 20, 1838. His father was born
at Clinton, Conn., near Long Island Sound, May 3,
1808. He was descended from one of the oldest
families of New England (see sketch). Baron H.
spent his boyhood in his native State, and in 1853
came with his parents to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where
he completed his schooling. He was engaged in
farn)ing until he enlisted, in August, 1802, as a
private of Company B, 25tli Iowa Volunteer In-
fanti'y. He was regularlj^ promoted through all the
non-commissioned officers of his compan}', and was
commissioned Second Lieutenant and detailed as
aide-de-camp at headquarters 3d Brigade, 1st Divis-
ion, ISth Army Corps, where he served till the
close of the war, and was mustered out after three
years' service, in June, 1865. He participated
in twenty-seven distinct engagements, and was
wounded at the battle of Chattanooga by a gunshot.
He participated in the capture of Columbia, S. C,
and received honorable mention in the offlei.-il re-
port of his Colonel (Stone) for gallant conduct on
that occasion. After his return from the war he
spent the succeeding four years in farming, at the
end of which time he engaged in the hardware busi-

ness in Mt. Pleasant, in 1869, and has carried it on
continuously since that time. He was married at
Quiney, 111., Jan. 2, 1866, to Miss Abbie E. Mellen,
daughter of Wilder J. and Al)igail K. (VanDoorn)
Mellen, of that city. Mrs. Crane was born at
Quiney, 111., July 18, 1843. Her father .and pater-
nal grandfather were both born in Massachusetts,
and were of Scotch-Irish descent. On her mother's
side she is descended from the Ingrams, her
forefather, Timothy Ingram, having married a lady
who was the only heir to the great estates of Joseph
Wilson, of Leeds, England, and which were entailed
to the fourth generation, which is the present in the
history of the family. The Ingrams and their kin
have arranged to prosecute this claim to the estate,
which is very extensive and valuable. Mr. and
Mrs. Crane have nine children, five sons and four
daughters, all born in Mt. Pleasant, and in the fol-
lowing order — Anna M., Herbert W., Laura E.,
Frederick B., George E., Julius H., Ralph K.,
Helen Van D. and Edith Allison. Mr. and Mrs.
Crane are members of the First Baptist Church.
Mr. Crane is a Republican in politics, and is a mem-
ber of McFarland Post No. 20, G. A. R.

Mr. Crane has been a resident of Ilenrj^ County
for nearly thirty-five years, and an active business
m.an of Mt. Pleasant for more than eighteen years.
He has proved himself an upright, honorable citizen,
a patriotic, brave and gallant soldier, and kind hus-
band and father. He has an elegant home in the
eastern part of the city, where he passes mueth of
his time in the genial company of his wife and
children.

o

Since the above was written the silent reaper Death
has invaded this happy home, and the family circle
has been broken by the loss of its honored head,
who passed from this life Dec. 20, 1887. Mr.
Crane's health was somewhat impaired by hard-
ships endured while in the service of his country,
and he w.is never afterward very robust, but did
not consider himself an invalid until about five
years since, when it became evident that an incur-
able disease had fastened itself upon him. Since
that time he had gradually failed, but though
knowing he could never recover, he attended
cheerfully to his business until a week before his

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340

HENRY COUNTY.

death. The end, though not unlocked for either
by himself or friends, came rather suddenly, as he
was not confined to his bed until less than twenty-
four hours before his death. His remains were fol-
lowed to their last resting-place by a large con-
course of sorrowing friends, by his comrades of
McFarland Post, and by tiie members of James A.
Harlan Post No. 34, Sons of Veterans. In his death
society lost a useful and honored member, his com-
rades a brave and generous associate, and his family
a loving husband and devoted parent.

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f

^i OL CAVENEE, farmer, also importer and
breeder of thoroughbred Norman horses.
Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs,
residing on section 5, New London Town-
ship, is the only importer in that township of
blooded horses. His post-ofHce address is Mt.
Pleasant. The subject of this sketch was born in
the town of New Lexington, Perry Co., Ohio, Maj'
20, 1841, and is the son of Patrick and Jane
(Montgomery) Cavenee. His father was liorn in
Bedford County, Pa., in LSI 2, and was of Irish
descent. His mother was born in North Carolina,
Dec. 2, 1811. The family emigrated to Henry
County, Iowa, in 185G, and settled in Center Town-
ship, where the father purchased a farm and con-
tinued to reside until the time of his death, whicli
occurred Aug. 28, 1855. The mother survived her
husband and resides at Mt. Pleasant.

Our subject was reared on his father's farm, and
when twenty years of age enlisted, in September,
1861, as a member of Company K, 4th Iowa Cav-
alrj', and served four years, or until the close of
the war, and was mustered out Aug. 10, 1865.
Mr. Cavenee's regiment was assigned to the loth
Army Corps, and took part in most of the prin-
cipal battles in the Southwest. In the battle of
Guntown, Tenn., his company' lost half their number
in killed and wounded. He was detailed as Orderly
on the staff of Gen. Thomas, and served in that
capacity several months. On his return from the
army he resumed farming, and was married at
Trenton, Iowa, Nov. .'5, 1868, to Miss J.anc Will-
iams, daughter of Hopkin Williams. Mrs. Cavenee

was born in Marshall (now Wayland). Henry Co.,
Iowa, May 19, 1840. Her people were from Wales,
and emigrated to Henry Count}' in 18.34, being
among the verj' earliest pioneers (see sketch of
Evan Davies). Mr. and Mrs. Cavenee have four
children, one son and three daughters: Georgiana,
born Oct. 27, 1869; Nellie Winnie, born Sept. 2,
1872; Mary Jane, born July 12, 1876; Clark M.
was born on the fifth Sunday in Fel)ruary, 1880,
which was the 29th, and he will be forty yeai-s old
before his birthday .again falls on Sunday.

Mr. (;;avenee purchased his present farm in 1865,
where he has made his home continuously since,
and has 220 acres of well-improved prairie land.
He has been largely engaged in importing and
breeding thoroughbred Norman and English Shire
horses. On his last trip to Europe he imported ten
fine horses, and has now in his stables two of the
finest specimens of Norman and one of English Shire
stallions that can be found in the West. He also
breeds full-blood Siiort-horn cattle and Poland
China hogs. Mr. Cavenee has devoted much time
to the study of the best methods of improving the
stock best .adapted to this region, and his travels
and investigations of the various breeds in the
gre.at stock-growing centers of Europe, have enabled
him to mature his judgment and select the best. He
is widelj- and favorably known as a successful
stockman, and his horses have a reputation secorid
to none in the State. He has held various local
ollicos, and has been a consistent Kopuhlican since
the organization of tiiat party. Both Mr. and .Mrs.
Cavenee are members of the INIethodist Episcopal
Church.

.m.^^—^ 0.,W1.1.

■O ^^-{.^B.

VH. WISE, of the firm of W. 11. Wisest Co.,
hardware dealers, of Winfield, Iowa, estab-
lished a hardware store in 1887. It is one
of the neatest stores in that part of the county.
They carry a full and complete line of shelf hard-
ware, and the l)usincss cannot help but be a success
when conducted l)y the gonial proprietors, W. H.
and C. I. Wise. In comicction with hardware they
also carry a full line of machinery, including thrash-
ers manuf.actured b^' the Springfield Engine and
Thi'ashing Company, of Springfield, Ohio, and also

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HENRY COUNTY.

4

34r'

D. M. Osborne & Co.'s harvesters anrl mowers,
both of which are leading machines. They also
carry first-class buggies, received from Washington,
Iowa. The members of the firm are both young
men, and by tlieir fair dealing have gained a lib-
eral share of patronage.

W. H. Wise was born in Greene County, Pa.,
April 13, 1856. He is a son of Morgan Wise, now
a resident of this county. While yet an infant, his
parents removed to La Salle. 111., where Mr. Wise
grew to manhood. He was educated in the com-
mon schools <jf Illinois, and also attended school in
Winfield, to which place they removed in 1872,
and subsequently he took a partial course at the
University of Mt. Pleasant, in the fall of 1874. In
1879 Mr. Wise began business for himself; he
purchased an interest in the grocery and restaurant
business, and the firm was known as Glass & Wise.
The following spring the business was sold out and
he began work in a clothing store. In the spring
of 1885 he purchased a half interest in the store
and the firm name was again Glass & Wise. In the
fall of 1886 he sold his interest to Mr. Glass, and
engaged in the hardware and implement business,
as before stated. In 1878 W. H. Wise led to the
marriage altar Ellie L. Farr, daughter of Herman
H. and Almira Farr. Mrs. Wise is a native of Ver-
mont. One child was born of this union, Lorena
Myrtle. Mr. Wise is a member of the Masonic
fraternity. In politics he affiliates with the Demo-
cratic party.

yll. TAYLOR, Sr., residing on section IG,
Center Township, Henry Co., Iowa, was
born in Providence, R. I., Sept. 10, 1816,
and is a son of Horace and Hannah (Ballon) T.iylor.
A shoemaker by trade, his father had a contract
for making army shoes during the War of 1812.
In 1818 he removed to Lewis County, N. Y., where
he secured Government land, residing there for
some years, engaged in farming during the summer
and shoemaking during the winter. Horace and
Hannah Taylor were the parents of nine children,
five sons and four daughters, six of whom are now
living. Later, in 1828, the family removed to Mid-

«^^

d-lebm-y, Vt., where the children found employment
in the cotton factory.

William Taylor, in 1829, was apprenticed to a
harness-maker, Walter R. Gilkey, in Middlebury,
Vt., receiving no compensation during the five
years of his apprenticeship except his board and
clothes, and at the age of tvventy he emigrated with
his brother Horace and others in an emigrant c.inal-
boat on LakeChamplain to Whitehall, .and was three
weeks making the journey to Buffalo, N. Y. . Re-
maining in that city but a short time, he went to
Cleveland, Ohio, working there for six months, and
then proceeded to Athens, Ohio, where he had a
half-sister living, and remained there for a year.
Subsequently going to Marietta, that State, he there
became acquainted with Susan H. Talbot, daughter
of William and Jemima J. Talbot, and their mar-
riage was celebrated Oct. 28, 1838, the ceremony
being performed by the Rev. Mr. Petty. Carrying
on harness-making until 1856 in Marietta, he, with
his family, removed to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and
again embarked in the same business. Eight chil-
dren grace their union: Sarah E., wife of Dr. T. L.
Andrews, resides in Wichita, Kan.; B. Franklin
enlisted in Company B, 25th Iowa Volunteer In-
fantry, under Capt. Smith, participating in the battle
of Arkansas Post, and during the siege of Vicks-
burg contracted a disease from which he never
recovered, dying in the general hospital at St.
Louis, Mo., and was buried in Forest Home Ceme-
tery, Mt. Pleasant; W. H., Jr., a resident of Wichita,
Kan., enlisted in the 100-days regiment, and served
on guard duty near Memphis, Temi. ; Mary S. is in
business in Bloomfleld, Davis Co., Iowa; Anna
T., wife of Clinton !M. .Shultz, commercial editor of
the Pioneer Press, at St Paul, Minn., where they
reside; Laura J., wife of Will Van Benthuysen,
who is night editor of the Chicago Tribune, having
the general make-up of the paper, and the son of
Judge Van Benthuysen, of Bloomfield, lovva; Nellie
L., wife of Nelson Culver, a carpenter of Chicago;
RoUie, the youngest child, is at home.

Among those who so gallantly defended their
country during the late Civil War, besides his two
sons, Mr. Taylor had two brothers and five nephews.
One brother, Hor.ace, was taken prisoner during the
Kilpatrick raid on Richmond, suffering all thecruel-

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HENRY COUNTY.

ties and miseries of the rebel treatment of prisoners
of war, and at last starved to death on Belle Isle. In
early life Mr. Taylor was a Whig, casting his first
vote for "the log cabin candidate," William Henry
Harrison, and since the organization of the Repub-
lic.in party he has been one of its stanch supporters.
Nearly half a century has elapsed since Mr. and Mrs.
Taylor were married, and we gladly welcome this
worthy couple to a place in the history of Henr3'
County.

^ HARLES G. WILLITS, one of the prom-
inent citizens of Henr^' County, Iowa, re-
siding on section 34, Marion Township, was
born Jan. 12, 1821, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and
is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Gossage)
Willits, the former a native of Penns3'lvania and
the latter of Maryland. Samuel Willits was mar-
ried three times. His first wife was Miss Mary
Harrison, by whom he had one daughter, Sarah A.,
now living in Montgomery Count}-, Iowa, at the
advanced age of seventy 3'ears. His second wife
was Elizabeth Gossage, by whom he had seven chil-
dren, four sons and three daughters : Charles G. ;
Jesse married Mary Ann Shields, resides in fier-
cer County, 111. ; George died in 1851, in New
Boston, III. ; Tabitha, deceased wife of Samuel
Sheriff, who is a resident of Geneseo, 111. ; Elizabeth
J. died at the age of twelve; Mary R. died in
infancy'; Job died in Chicago in April, 1887, where
his wife and children yet live. IMrs. Willits de-
parted this life in March, 1831, in Fairfield County,
Ohio. She was a devoted Christian. Mr. Willits
was again married, in 1836, to Miss Nancy Hall,
a native of Vii-ginia. In the fall of 1837 thej'
removed to Mercer County, III., settling upon a farm,
where the children grew to manhood and woman-
hood. Mr. Willits' third wife died in August,
1874.

Our subject was united in marriage, in Mercer
County, 111., with Miss Rachel Thornton, a native
of Peinisylvania, a daughter of Eli Tliorntoii. Mr.
and Mrs. Willits were the parents of four children,
who were born in Mercer County, 111. : Charlotte,
wife of William Hendricl<s, a farmer in Musca-
tine County, Iowa; Sarah married Jolni Litzeu-

burg, a farmer of Hamilton County, Neb. ; Alice,
the wife of Orville Campbell, a farmer in Wano,
Kan. ; Thornton married IMiss Marj' Carrons, the
only daughter of Robert Carrons, a large land-
owner in Henry Count}-, residing in Center Town-
ship. In the spring of 1855 Mr. Willits emigrated
to Henrj' County, Iowa, where he bought 320 acres
of land partially improved on sections 35, 34, 2U
and 27. In this county three other children were
born to them: Samuel died at the age of sixteen;
Ledru married Miss Nancy Lee, a native of Iowa;
Novello is the widow of Leander Shields. The
mother departed this life in March, 1862; she was a
devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, and
a noble wife and mother, and was buried in the
Ebenezer Cemetery.

]\Ir. Willits, in 1803, married Miss Ellen Cozier,
a daughter of John and Hannah (Carter) Cozier,
both of whom were natives of Clarke Count}',
Ohio; the former born Dec. 21, 1810, died June 7,
1863, and the latter born Oct. 9, 1811, died May
25, 1857. They were the parents of thirteen chil-
dren— Benjamin, Ellen, Sophronia, Minerva, Sarah
A., Hugh, Ilenr}', Lisset, Martha Jane, Mary
Frances, John C, William H. and Harriet ^'. Of
these four are dead — Sarah- A., Minerva, William
H. and Henry. Mrs. Willits was born in Clarke
County, Ohio, and attended school in her native
State, completing her education in Springfield,
Ohio. She is a fine scholar, taking an active interest
in all educational work, and had seven sisters who
were teachers, and a brotlier wlio had charge of the
schools of Mt. I'lcasant for thirteen years. To Mr.
and Mrs. Willits liavc been born two children:
John C, now in Boston, Mass., finishing his educa-
tion for the ministry: Wilniot Charles is attending
school in Ml. Pleasant. Mr. Willits has taken great
pride in educating his children. aii<l all arc well
qualified to hold any position they are called upon
to fill. Teaching was alwa3's Mrs. Willits' favorite
occupation, and she spared no pains to prepare her-
self for her work, and withheld no energy that w.as
necessary to success. Mr. and Mrs. Willits have
truly a model famil}', none of them having used
tobacco and liquor in any waj*. Mr. Willits is
one (>{ the pioneer settlers of Henry County, and
is entirely a self-maile man. Wiliiout a cent in his

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HENRY COUNTY.

343

pocket he began life working by the month, saving
his earnings, and in this way got a start. He bought
eight acres of land which he improved, afterward
buying a farm of eighty acres, adding to this until
he had at one time a fine farm of 400 acres, but
has sold and given to his son Thornton until he now
has 287 acres. He sold his farm of 400 acres in
Mercer County, 111., and came to Henry County,
/purchasing the land as above stated, and all this he
has made by his own industry and economy. An
honorable, upright man, always ready to advance
any public enterprise, he has the respect of the
whole community. The family are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Willits is a zeal-
ous Republican, and is always working for the
advancement of his party.

— s--

••ofo-g^^-Y®-"*""

AMES HARVEY PHILPOTT, M. D., a

pioneer physician and surgeon of New
London, Henr}' County, and a resident of
(^g// Iowa since 1837, was born in Barren County,
Ky., Nov. 7, 1828. His p.arents, Jonathan and
Sarah (Frazier) Philpott, were also pioneers of Iowa.
Jonathan Philpott was born in Barren County, Ky.,
Aug. 27, 1806, cametoDes Moines County in 1837,
and to Henry County in 1854. His death occurred
in New London Township, April 2'J, 1857. His
wife, Sarah Frazier, was born in Tennessee, Nov. 12,
1801>, and died in Des Moines County, Iowa, July
4, 184L

Dr. Philpott emigrated from Kentucky to Des
Moines County, Iowa, with his parents in 1837.
He attended a select school at Burlington and the
Wesleyan University at Mt. Pleasant, where he re-
ceived his literary education. On the completion
of his college course he entered upon the study of
medicine at Burlington, with Dr. pj. D, Ransom as
preceptor. He attended botii medical colleges of
St. Louis, tiie Missouri Medical and the State
Medical, but did not com|)lete a course in either.
He then attended the American Medical College at
Cincinnati, then a regular medical school, later
eclectic in its system of instruction, and graduated
in the class of 1854. He entered upon the practice
of his profession at New London, Iowa, July G,

1854, and has pursued it with marked success con-
tinuousljr since, covering a period of over thirty
years. Studious in his habits and a close observer,
Dr. Philpott has kept well up with the times, and
is thurougiily skilled in his profession, both as a
physician and surgeon. His practice has extended
through Henry and adjoining counties, and has
proved eminently successful. The fact that his
books show that he has attended 2,683 obstetric
cases should convey something of an idea of the
extent of his practice in that direction, while his
general practice, both as a physician and surgeon,
has been extensive. The Doctor is the oldest, both .
in years and experience, of the local physicians of
New London, and justly ranks as one of the lead-
ing members of the profession in Henry County.

He was united in marriage at New London, Iowa,
Aug. 15, 1854, with Miss Louisa M. Farrar, daugh-
ter of Philetus and Calista (Farrell) Farrar. Mrs.
Philpott was born in Rupert, Bennington Co., Vt.,
April 26, 1 831. Her father was born in New Hamp-
shire, and her mother in Vermont. Four children
were born of their union, two sons and two daugh-
ters: Sarah Calista was born Aug. 23, 1855, and
died Sept. 11, 1856; John William was born Dec.
24, 1856. He began the study of medicine with
his father and is a graduate of the Keokuk College
of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa, of
the class of 1878, and also of the medical depart-
ment of the University of Vermont, of the class of
1884. He is .at present the local surgeon, at Ft.
Madison, Iowa, of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa
Fc Railroad, and enjoys an extensive and lucrative
practice. He is thoroughly skilled in the science
of medicine .and surgery, and has won a place in
the foremiist ranks of the profession. Dr. J. W.
Philpott married Miss Lucy L. Bollinger, daughter
of Alexander Bollinger, and has one child, Austin
Flint, born Feb. 15, 1882. The Doctor is a Knight
Templar Mason, belonging to the Lodge, Chapter
and Commandery in Ft. Madison. Charles Harvey,
the second son, was born at New London, Iowa,
May 22, 1860. He, too, entered upon the study of
medicine with his father, and is a graduate of the
medical department of the State University of
Iowa, of the cla.ss of 1882. Soon after his gradu-
ation he located at Omaha and engaged in practice,

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HENRY COUNTY.

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and was admitted to membership in the Nebraska
State Medical Association, which he had the honor
to represent in the American Medical Association
at Chicago in the session of 1887. He is also a
member of the Iowa State Medical Association, and
a member of the Des Moines Valley Medical Asso-
ciation, and is engaged in practice at Burlington.
Four years since, he was appointed local surgeon of
the Iowa Central and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroads, which position he still holds. He has
built up an extensive practice and stands at the
head of his profession. As a skillful surgeon his
services are sought far and near, in difficult and
dangerous cases, and his reputation is already
assured. He was united in marriage with Miss Eva
E. Smith, daughter of the Rev. U. B. Smith, of
Danville, Iowa. Dr. C. H. Philpott and wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
he, like his brother, is also a Knight Templar Mason,
a member of Malta Commander}' No. 31, of
Ottumwa. Dr. J. II. Philpott's daughter, Mary
Ellen, or "Minnie," as her friends call her, was born
at New London, Jan. 23, 1862, and is the wife of
E. A. Lyman, editor and publisher of the New
London Eclipse, to whom she was married Sept. 4,
1883.

The Doctor is a Master Mason, and a member of
New London Lodge No. 28, A. F. & A. M. He
and his wife are members of the Presliytcrian
Church, and politically the Doctor and both his
sons are Republicans.

/^ IIARLKS D. WOOD, residing on section 21,
((( n ^*''"'''^'' 'I'ownship, Henry Co., Iowa, was
^^J l>orn in Quincy, 111., Dec. 12, 1837, and is
the youngest son of Daniel and Kdith Wood, the
former a native of Long Island. N. Y., and the lat-
ter, whose maiden name was Edith Athens, of North
Carolin.a. When young people, they came to Hamil-
ton County, Ohio, with tlioir parents, where they be-
came acquainted and united in marriage. After a
few years' residence in Ohio, they removed to Law-
renceburg, Ind., where they remained for three
years, and securing some forest land, they hewed
down the trees and develope"d a line farm. Bcconi-

ing dissatisfied with the country on account of ill-
health, they returned to Ohio, remaining there but
a short time, next taking up their residence in
Quincj% 111. At the expiration of two j'ears, they
left that city, crossed the "Father of Waters" into
Iowa, locating near Lowell, Henry Count}', and
after a residence of six months, removed for the
last time to the homestead which was occupied by
them until, by the hand of death, they were called
hence, the father departing this life Sept. 10, 1881,
in the eighty-fifth year of his age, the mother June
8, 1866, aged sixty-two j'ears. Both were con-
sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church
for over forty years. Mr. Wood was an earnest
advocate of every charitable and noble cause, con-
tending fearlessly for the rights of his fellowmen of
whatever race, color or condition, and for many
years was proud to be a member of that heroic lit-
tle band of Abolitionists, who so nobly battled and
suffered in the cause of human rights, .and later,
when the war cloud that for years had been gather-
ing, burst, and Ft. Sumter was fired upon, at the
appeal from the National Government aX Washing-
ton for money to .arm and equip the soldiers in the
field, he proved his patriotic faith bj- cheerfully
tendering all his available means to his countrj-, re-
ceiving from the Government jiromise to pa\-, and
continued to do this from time to time, until the
war was ended, and the country saved. During the
darkest days of the Rebellion, when the armies for
the Union were beaten back, the country seemed to
be trembling in the balance, and the hope of many
had wellnigh given w.ay to despair, he was admon-
ished that there was great risk in placing so much
of his h.ard-earned savings in the Government. To
this, he promptly replied, "tliat if tlie Governnient
went to pieces, it would probably be upcm that
theory, and th.at if we should all act on that sup-
position the Government would surely not be main-
tained. Slavery cannot alwaj's exist, or the slave
power nuich longer rule, and in the justness of our
cause, and with honest Abe at the head, we are sure
to win."

Mr. and Airs. Wood were the parents of seven
children, four of whom are still living: ,Tohn F., of
San Bern.ardino, Cal. ; Theodoeia B., wife of John
Dawson, of Henry County, Iowa; Daniel C, also

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HENRY COUNTY.

345

of Henry Countj'. Charles D. Wood, our subject,
received his education in the primitive schools of
the time, and in 1838 came to Henrj' County with
his parents, remaining on the farm until 185G, when
he went to Kansas, then a Territory, engaging in
the border rutfian war under old Jim Lane, and
using [lis vote and influence in maliing that State a
home for free men. In the fall of 1860, having con-
ceived a desire to visit the place of his birth, he bad
adieu to Kansas, the land of the cayote and border
rutlian, and turning his face toward the rising sun,
he st.arted in a private conveyance, in due time
hailed the ferryman at Nauvoo, and crossed into
the land of his e.arly childhood, remaining there till
July 13, 1861. He enlisted in Company K, 2d Illi-
nois Cavalry, being mustered in at Camp Butler,
near Springfield, where the regiment was encamped,
and then went to Paducah, Ky., the regiment re-
maining there for a year. During this time Mr.
Wood was taken sick with measles, and was dis-
charged April 30, 1802. Like the prodigal, he then
returned home, and on the 12th of February, 1863,
was married to Miss Addie E. Willeford, daughter
of Samuel and Rhoda Willefonl. formerly of Ken-
tucky, but pioneers of this county. She w.as born
May 8, 1844, iu Henry County, Iowa, and five chil-
dren graced their union — Florence H., Edith A.,
Ada B., Viola May and Charles R. R.

Shortly after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wood lo-
cated on a farm three miles south of Mt. Pleasant,
residing there until the spring of 1873, when they
removed to the vicinity of Weaverville. Trinity
Co., Cal., purchasing a farm in the Golden State,
located on the banks of Trinity River, from whence
could be seen the snow-capped mountains all the
year. Two very prosperous years were passed, but
owing to the rough state of society, and the lack of
educational advantages for their growing family,
the parents determined to sell and return to Iowa.
Carrying out this purpose, they purchased the farm
where they reside one and a half miles south of the
city of Mt. Pleasant, and again became residents of
Henry County.

Mr. Wood's belief is in the Right, having no
special preference for sects or creeds. A stanch
Republican in politics, he believes that the great
evil of intemperance can be so surely suppressed in

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no other way then through the policy of Prohibi-
tion advocated by that party. Believing that the
protective policy of the Republican party to Ameri-
can industries will be most beneficial to the Ameri-
can laborer, and will more rapidly develop our
latent resources, bringing prosperity to all indus-
trious classes of society; believing that through the
Republican partj' we may hope to see the ballot ex-
tended to the noble women of our land, bringing in
its wake a higher state of refinement, more humane
and better laws ; believing that no other party is so
willing to accord to the LTuion soldier the justice
and honor he is entitled to for the grand achieve-
ment wrought on the many bloody battle-fields of
the South for the maintenance of the LTnion, and
the suffering endured in hospital and prison pen ;
he sincerely hopes, and confidently expects, if he
should live to a ripe old age, to see these policies
maintained, and in consequence, to witness the
brightest, most prosperous and happy era that ever
dawned on the American people.

<^ jp 'R- MASON, residing on section 5, Jeffer-
\rJ/i son Township, is a prominent farmer of
W^ Henry County. The only male represent-
ative of the Mason family in tliis county is our
subject, who was born in Monroe County, Tenn.,
Aug. 18, 1830. His parents and their respective
children are severally' mentioned in the historj' of
John Kurtz, and we therefore confine the history of
this gentleman to his own personal record. He was
twelve years of age when his parents came to Henry
County, and minutely he lias watched the progress
of the county as it has developed year by year.
He was not twenty-one years of age when the
desire was formed to see the far western country,
and also to engage in gold mining, at that time
causing such an exodus of young men from the
States. On the 21st of April, 1851, in company
with his older brother, James N. Mason, and two of
the Moore brothers, an ox-team was rigged out, and
with covered wagon the party joined others who
were en route from this part of the State. Every-
thing progressed finely, and with the exception of
one little skirmish at Ft. Hall, on Snake River, they

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346

HENRY COUNTY.

had no trouble with Indians or otherwise. The
boys enjoyed the trip; the bracing air, their great
game supplies cooked in a huge pot suspended by a
crane over the fire, brought with them the best of
appetites and perfect digestion. Only a few of the
men wiio made the overland journey to Oregon and
California in 1850, or even later, are living, but
when one is found the stories of buffalo hunting,
the seeniingl}' endless journe}', and the graphic way
they have of telling the story, make it sound almost
like a romance, yet all is true and vouched for by
many men of the highest repute. Their first house
in Oregon was made Sept. 21, 1851. The brothers
sold their oxen when the mountains were reached,
and hired to a man at ^'2 per day to drive cattle
over the Cascade Range. This seemed to the boys
like big wages, but they were well used to such
before their return to Iowa. After footing it over
the mountains, they reached Portland, and decided
to take a trip on the steamer "Columbia," plying
between that city and San Francisco. Both stopped
at Jlilwaukee, Ore., and commenced work on a dam
in process of construction, and when tliat was com-
pleted made a trip to Sacramento, and from there
went into the mining country, both securing work
with tlie "Bear River Water Company," which
furnished water to the miners. Three months later
they went further uj) the mountains and began
mining, but after trying it one sunuuer concluded
that more money coidd be made b^' farming, and
purchasing teams took a claim in the Sacramento
Valley, in Yolo County, twenty-five miles from the
city. After farming two years, during wliicii time
they did well, the brothers again decided to try
milling, and selling their claim and teams, made
their way back to tlie mountains, and in partner-
ship with Messrs. Ball and Leathers, opened amine
known tiien as the "Scent Diggings," whicli paid
them handsomelj'. 'I'iiis was operated six 3'ears,
when William Mason sold his interest for ^3,000,
and hired to another company at 5=1 per da}', working
for them two years, lie tlieii liegan farming again
in the Bodega \'a!ley, and for fourteen years re-
mained there in that business.

While engaged in mining the second time, .Mr.
Mason was married to .Aliss Adelia Clark, whose
death occurred soon afterward. He remained un-

married until after his return home, having been
absent for almost twenty-three years. Boj's had
become men of mature years, had married and
reared families; elegant farms and great houses
stood upon commanding sites, over which he had
hunted and phij'cd in childhood; villages dotted
the prairies, and in fact the transformation was
almost, to him, without a parallel. His father had
died, his brothers and sisters had married, and the
family circle was to him completely disorganized.
He purchased a farm, the old Kurtz homestead, but
the next year returned to California and disjiosed
of his property there, and in 187G came back to the
home of his boyhood. On the 13th of December,
1877, William Mason was married to Miss .Susanna
Kurtz, and upon the farm and in the same house
that had been for years her home, the}- began their
domestic life. They remained there three years,
and then purchased their present farm near the
vilKage of Wa_ylaud, where they live as contentedly
as if their married life had begun forty years .ago
instead of ten. ilr. and Mrs. Mason have no heirs,
but are rearing an orphan lad, Willie Woods, who
finds with thein a home, and in the household of
;\lr. and Airs. IMason feels no need of father or
mother, brother or sister.

JOSEPH A. TAGUE, a proniiiieiil farmer re-
siding on section 7, Scott Township, Henry
Co., Iowa, was born in Baltimore Township,
Sept. 12, 1842. His parents were Joseph
and Lucinda (Kees) Tague, the former a native of
Keiituckj', of Ocrinan and Scotch ancestry, and the
latter born in Pennsylvania, though of Welsh and
Dutch parentage. Joseph Tague, Sr., emigrated to
this county in 1S37, settling in Baltimore Township,
where he and his wife died, the mother when our
subject was but a child. His father died in Au-
gust, 1884, at the advanced age of sevenl}' years.
He was a life-long farmer, a member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, and had served his country'
during the War of 1812, and was a Democrat in
politics. He had been thrice married, his tirst wife
being Malinda Glassby. Four children were born
of this marriage, all of whom are living: George, a

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HENRY COUNTY,

347 ^}

farmer residing in Des Moines County, Iowa; John,
proprietor of a hotel in Fremont County ; William,
a resident of Mills County, Iowa, was a soldier in
the ICtli Iowa Volunteer Infantry ; and Nancy Jane,
wife of William Weater, of Missouri. Joseph is
the only living child of the second marriage.

Mr. Tague, after the death of his second wife,
was united in mai'riage with Eliza Gott, and by
their union four children were born : Martha and
Otis, who died in childhood; Lorenzo Dow and
Francis M., residents of Baltimore Township. At
the time of his death !\Ir. Tague owned a farm of
230 acres of land, on which his widow still resides.

Our subject was born and reared upon a farm,
and his whole life has been spent as a tiller of the
soil. He was one of the brave boys in blue, being
a member of Company A, 4th Iowa Cavalry. He
enlisted Dee. 3, 1863, and was discharged at the
close of the war, March 20, 1865. He participated
in the battles of Ripley and Memphis, Tenn., and
in numerous other slcirmishes. After his discharge
he returned to this county, remaining two years
engaged as farm hand, and then went to Mills
County. There he rented a farm for one year and
then purchased forty acres of land, upon which he
resided for three years. Selling his farm in Mills
County he bought eight3f acres in Fremont County,
but later removed to Baltimore Township, where
he rented a farm for two years. He then bought
eighty acres of land on section 7, of Scott Town-
ship, his present home. This farm was partially
improved, yet he has made manj' more improve-
ments. He has a nice home which was erected at a
cost of §1,200, and good out-buildings for the use
of his stock and grain. Everything about the place
denotes thrift and enterprise, showing that Mr.
Tague well understands the business of farming.

On the 11th of December, 1866, Joseph Tague
brought to his home his young bride, Deborali Kerr.
She is one of Henry County's daughters, and was
born in Baltimore Township. Her parents were
Bernard and Sarah (Dillingham) Kerr, her father a
native of England and her mother born in New
York. They were among the early settlers of
Henry County. ]Mr. Kerr was drowned in Skunk
River, June 1, 1851, when forty-five years and
eleven months old. His wife survived him sev-

eral years, dying at the age of sixty-three years, in
1862. Mrs. Tague was a member of the Society of
Friends. There are four of her father's family yet
living: Mary, widow of Joseph Bancer; AVilliam
R., a resident farmer of Grant County, Wis.; Ed-
ward, residing in Baltimore Township, engaged in
farming, and the honored wife of our subject.

Mr. and Mrs. Tague have no children of their
own, but have an adopted son, Festus, upon whom
they bestow all the love and care that would have
been given to their own children. Mr. and Mrs.
Tague are devoted members of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church of Winlield. He is lilieral in his
views, voting for the man whom he thiniis would
best fill the office. Having lived in this couutj- all
their lives, Mr. and Mrs. Tague are universally
known, and of such citizens Henr\' County is justly
proud.

AXTON FITCH, one of the prominent
farmers and stock-i-aisers of Henry County,
resides on section 20, Trenton Township.
He was born in Guernsey County, Ohi<j, in
1827, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Pax-
ton) Fitch, the father a native of Pennsylvania,
and the mother of Maryland. James Fitch came
to this county in 1854, and remained here until his
death, which occurred in 1857 at the age of sixty-
four, his wife dying in 1882 when ninety years of
age. They reared a family of nine children, two
only of whom are now living — Elizabeth, wife of
Samuel Sprouts, of Noble County, Ohio, and Pax-
ton. The latter learned the shoemaker's trade in
Ohio, and followed it for five 3'ears. In the spring
of 1852 he came to Henry County and settled in
Center Township, where he rented a farm and lived
for two years. He then purchased seventy acres
of land on section 20, of Trenton Township, where
he still resides, but has added to the original pur-
chase until he now owns a well-improved fai in of
103 acres.

In 1856 he was united in marri.age with Sarah
Messer, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Hiram
Messer, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.
Four children have been born to them : Hiram

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348

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HENRY COUNTY.

Oscar, a farmer residing in Trenton Township, was
married, Nov. 18, 188G, to Laura E. Scarff; Wil-
bert J., Margaret Ann and Dora Alice still reside
with their parents. Mr. Fitch is of Irish descent
on his father's side. Politically', he is a Republican,
and has held the office of Constable of the town-
ship. In connection with general farming Mr.
Fitch still works at his tr.ide of shoeraaking. He
is one of the men who have helped to build up
Henry County, is always ready to aid in any pub-
lic enterprise, and h.is the esteem and confidence
of all.

ALEXANDER RUTH, a prominent farmer
K-JI! residing on section 6, Scott Township,
Henry Co., Iowa, was born in Rockbridge
^ County, Va., Nov. 7, 1833. His father,

Daniel Ruth, was born in Berks County, Pa.,
in 1794. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and
participated in the battle of Baltimore. He formed
a matrimonial alliance with .Sarah E. Imboden, who
was born in Augusta County, Va., in 1800. The
marriage was celebrated in her native county at
Waynesboro. Eleven children blessed their union,
seven of whom grew to man and womanhood:
Henry, a resident of W.irren County, Iowa ; George
was a soldier in the Mexican War, and died from
disease contracted at Matamoras; Benjamin F.,
who has been a resident of Washington Territory,
residing near Puget Sound since 1855; Elizabeth is
the wife of John Webb, of Warren County, Iowa;
Alexander is our subject; Mary E., wife of John
Loring, of Cinciiuiati, Ohio, died in Iiidianola, low.i,
in 1858; David is a resident of Helena, Mont.;
Samuel and Daniel are deceased, while two died in
infancy'. In 1840 Daniel Ruth emigrated with his
family to McLean County, 111., settling near Bloom-
ington. The county was but sparsely settled, and
Bloomington was but a small village. Mr. Ruth
cast his last vote for William Henry Harrison while
on his way to Illinois. He died in the fall of 1841.
She kept the family together, and securing eighty
acres of land, made a home for herself and children.
In 1857 she came to Iowa, settling in Indianola,
where she died in 1884, at the advanced .age of
eighty-four years. She was a woman of more than

ordinary ability-, and much credit is due her for the
admirable management and energy shown in the
manner in which she provided for her large family.
She was a relative of Colonel and General Imboden.
She and her husband were both members of the
Presbyterian Church.

The subject of this sketch was but seven years
old when his parents removed to Illinois. There
he received his education in a log school-house. He
was united in marriage in 1862, in Scott Town-
ship, Henry Co., Iowa, with Miss Rilla J. Myers,
a daughter of George and Jane (Lynch) M^ers.
She is a native of Greenbrier County, W. Va., born
in 1844. Seven children have gathered round the
hearthstone of this worthy couple: Lois, the wife
of George Brown, of Louisa County, Iowa; Minnie
Ua, who wedded Harvey Beauchamp, of Scott Tomi-
ship; Sarah J., Mary E., Colin, Marie and Frank are
still inmates of the parental home.

;\Ir. Ruth was poor in this world's goods when he
came to Henrj- County, but by economy and enter-
prise, assisted by his good wife, he has accumulated
a comfortable property. He owns a farm of 115
acres, most of which is timber land, but sevent3'-five
are under cultivation. In politics Mr. Ruth is a
Greenb.ocker, though liberal in his views. Of the
good people of Henry County, none stand higher
or more truly deserve a place in her history' than
du Mr. Ruth and his interesting family.

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(il IfclLLIA.M WAUGII is a prominent farmer
\/sJ/l ''"^' stock-raiser of New London Township,
W^ :iiifl resides on section 30, where he has a
well-improved and valuable farm of 235 acres; his
post-oflice is Mt. Pleasant. His father, David B.
Waugh, a worthy citizen of Henrj' County' from
1864 until his death on M.ay 15, 1881, was born in
Washington County, Pa., Feb. 17, 1801, and was
the son of William and Sarah (Boyd) Waugh, his
ancestors being of Scotch-Irish descent, and resi-
dents of America from Colonial times.

David B. Waugh was married in his native
county, Feb. 18. 1830. to Miss Maria .Moore, daugh-
ter of William Moore. Mrs. Waugh was born in
the same county in which her husband was born.

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349

Eight children were born of this union, seven of
whom lived to be men and women : Jane was born
Dee. 6, 1830. and is now the widow of Thomas
Dodds, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; Sarah was born Oct.
1, 1832, and is the wife of O. H. P. Buchanan, of
Nebraska; John M. was born Aug. 20, 1834, mar-
ried Miss Jane Waugh, and resides in Shenandoah,
Page Co., Iowa; William is the subject of this
sketch; Robert, liorn March 3, 1838, married Eliza-
beth Shivelcy. and is a farmer of Center Township,
Henry County; Caroline, born JMay 14, 1840, in
Virginia, is the wife of A. AV. Shelton, of De Kalb
Count}', 111. ; Richard, born in Brooke County, Va.,
Oct. 3, 1842, married Anna McDonald, and resides
in Furnas County, Neb.; James R., born June 12,
184G, died in infanc}-. All of the children older
than Caroline were born in Washington County,
Pa.

Mr. Waugh moved to Brooke Countjs Va., now
West Virginia, in 1840, where his j'oungest children
were burn and where his wife died July 29. 184().
Mr. Waugh was married again, Oct. 2, 1849, to
Mrs. Jane B. Miller, nee Blair, and emigrated from
Virgina to Henry County, Iowa, and located
in Center Township, where he was engaged in
farming until his death. His oldest son, Robert,
served in the late war as a member of Compan}' B,
1st Virginia Volunteer Infantrj', U. S. A. In early
life 'Sir. Waugh voted with the Whig partj-, and on
the organization of the Republican part}' became a
warm supporter of that body, and his sons followed
his example. His two wives and himself were mem-
bers of the Presbyterian Church, as are several of
his children. Mr. Waugh was an upright, industri-
ous man of unquestioned integrity and morality.
His life was a bright example for his children, who
have profited well by his teachings,

AVilliara Waugh, the subject of this sketch, was
born in Washington County, Pa., Feb. 16, 183fi.
He received a liberal education and was reared to
the vocation of a farmer. He was united in mar-
riage in his native county in Pennsylvania, Oct. 2(i,
1865, to Miss Rebecca Hamilton, daughter of Alex-
ander and Matilda (Thompson) Hamilton. Mrs.
Waugh was also born in Washington Count}', Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. Waugh have four ciiildren, all sons,
born in New London Township, and named respect-
--^

ively: William Howard, born Dec. 6, 1866; Charles
Hamilton, born Dec. 26, 1868; Harry Buchanan,
born Aug. 8, 1871, and Herbert Tappan, born
Aug. 6, 1873. The parents and three sons belong
to the First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant.
Mr. Waugh hns been an earnest Republican since
the organization of that party. His first vole was
cast for Abraham Lincoln, and he has never wavered
in his allegi.ince to the party since. He is one of
the substantial farmers of Henry County, and does
an extensive business in stock-raising and dairying.
He is held in good repute as a neighbor and citizen,
and is eminently worthy of the highest res])ect and
confidence.

/^ REGORY BONNIFIELD, one of the pioneer
(f[ (==^ settlers of Henry County, residing on section
^^JI 1, Tippecanoe Township, was born in Ran-
dolph County, Va., Feb. 11, 1821, and is a son of
Rhodham and N.ancy (Menier) Bonnifield, both of
whom were also natives of Virginia. There were
thirteen in his father's family when they emigrated
to Iowa. They located in Jefferson County, in
the spring of 1836, and during the third winter fol-
lowing three of the children and also the father
and mother died, the father at the age of fifty-two
and the mother at the age of fifty. Both of the
parents were devoted memliers of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Three of the family have since
died and seven are now living: Samuel, engaged
in the mercantile business in Nevada; Gregory, our
subject; Wesley B., a banker residing in Ottumwa,
Iowa ; McCaska, a lawyer in Nevada ; Ellis, a farmer
residing in JMitchell County, Kan.; Martha, widow
ot V. Chandler, residing near Fairfield, Iowa, and
Catherine, wife of William Ross, a resident of Reno
County, Kan.

After his father's death, our subject managed
the home farm until the spring of 1852, when he
removed to Henry County, settling on section 1,
Tippecanoe Township. He purchased 380 acres
of partially improved land, which he has trans-
formed into a beautiful farm, and on this he still
resides, now owning 340 acres. He was united in
marriage, on the 9th of November, 1848, with Miss

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350

HENRY COUNTY.

Lydia Shuman, a native of Guernsey County,
Ohio, and a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Len-
ington) Shuman, the former a native of Ohio, and
the latter of New Jersey. Her parents settled in
Henry County in the fall of 1840, locating on the
farm now owned by Mr. Bonnifleld. Her father
died in June, 18.51, at the age of fortj^-nine, from
an attack of cholera; his wife departed this life in
April, 1864. They were both members of the
Presbyterian Church, and always ready to aid with
time or money in the Master's service. Mr. and
Mrs. Shuman were the parents of eleven children,
nine of whom are now living: Jane, widow of
Linens Fairchild, who was a farmer of Tippecanoe
Township, where she yet lives; Mrs. Bonnifleld;
Thomas died in Corning, Iowa, in 1884; Moses,
now a resident of Corning, Iowa; Elizabeth, wife
of Thomas Abies, now residing in Santa Maria,
Cal. ; John, also a resident of Santa Maria; Sarah,
wife of II. Davis, residing in Cheyenne County,
Kan.; Clarissa, wife of John Inglebright, residing
in Marion Township: William, now residing in the
State of Oregon ; Maggie, wife of Elias Ogg, of
Henry County, and Fhobe, who was the eldest of
the family, and was the wife of Thomas Jackson,
then of Tippecanoe Township, died of cholera at
the same time as her father. Mr. Bonnifleld is en-
tirely a self-made ni.an ; he commenced life a poor
boy, and all that lie has he has made b^- hard work,
good man.ageraent and fair dealing. The}' lived
in a little cabin in true pioneer stjde until 1869,
when he built a line and commodious dwelling at a
cost of ^3,000. His farm is under a fine state of
cultivation, and the out-bnildings are models of
convenience, the barn alone costing $1,000. Polit-
ically, Mr. Bonnifleld is a Democrat. Six children
have come to make glad their parents' hearts:
Mary, who was the wife of J. F. Kinney, of Tippe-
canoe Township, died Sept. 29, 1K81, at the .age of
thirty-two; Augustus died Dec. 7, 1S77, at tiie age
of twenty-five; Allen is a farmer of Tippecanoe
Townshij), and is niariied to Jliss Ellen D. Day:
Martha J. is at homo; Tlnjnias W. died June 9,
187.5, at the age of si.xteen, and Frank lives at
home. Mr. and Mr.^. Bonnifleld are earnest Chris-
tian people, and are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. They are alwa^'s ready to lend

a helping hand to the needy, and none more truly
deserve the respect of the community, which they
enjoy in a marked degree.

V

"S^DWIN G. VAN CISE, M. D. The late Dr.
fe) Van Cise, an eminent physician of the
/jjrr^ Eclectic school of practice, and a resident of
Mt. Pleas.ant since 1857, was born in York County,
Pa., Feb. 25, 1810. His f.ather. Daniel Van Cise,
was a native of Holland, but came to America in
early life and settled in York Count}-, Pa. His
mother was Elizabeth Griest, who was born in
Pennsylvania.

The advantages for an education were limited in
those primitive days, yet our subject acquired a
liljeral education and qnalifled himself for his pro-
fession of a teacher. He was a poor bo}' and had
his own way to make in the worlil, but he was
studious, and possessed a laudable ambition to per-
fect himself in his profession. He was eminently
successful as a teacher, and never lacked for a good
situation. Dnring an illness contracted while teach-
ing, he became impressed with the superior advan-
tages of the then new system of medical pr;ictice,
known as the " Reformed .School," and determined
to qualify himself for practice in that l)ranch of the
profession. With this end in view, he purchased
books an<l studied nights, saving in the meantime
money from his ein'nings to defray his expenses at
college. He also had to contend with the prejudice
of friends and acquaintances, who had only scorn,
or wh.at was harder to l)car, pity, for his supposed
folly in taking up with a system that was only an
experiment, and which was being persecuted and
ridiculed by the " Old School " practitioners and
their friends. He entered the Reform Medical
College of New York City, and after a regular
course of study, graduated in the cl.ass of 1835.
He at once established himself in practice in York
County, Pa., lU'ar his native place, and in spite of
the general truthfulness of tiie old adage that ".a
prophet is never without honor except in his own
country," he built u]) an extensive practice, in the
f.ace of mucii ojiposition and prejudice, and became
prominent in his profession. His success was so

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HENRY COUNTY.

351

marked that patients from a hundred miles distant
sought his services.

He was married in March, 1837, to Miss Maria
Martha Garretson, daughter of the Rev. Joel Gar-
retson, a popular Quaker minister. Mrs. Van Cise
was born in Adams County, Pa. They were the
parents of nine children, four sons and five d.augh-
ters: Elizabeth G. was the wife of Dr. W. Roberts,
and died March 29, 1873; Lavinia was the wife of
Isaac Phillips, and died Sept. 11, 1874; Edwin, a
prominent member of the Deadwood (Dak.) bar,
is married to Ada McBrine; Joel G., married to
Laura Marsii, resides at Summit, N. J., and is
Assistant Actuary of the Equitable Life Insurance
Society in New York City; Maria L. is single, and
resides at the old home in Mt. Pleasant; Orson F.
married Minnie Colby, and resides at Clear Lake,
Iowa; he has adopted tlie profession of civil en-
gineer, and is a graduate of the Iowa Wesleyan
University, and of the Canton Theological School,
of Canton, N. Y. He was ordained a minister of
the Universalist Church, and was engaged for
several years as pastor, till his health became im-
paired, and he temporarily took up the business in
which he is now engaged, in hopes of becoming
benefited. Isaac, the next younger, married Mary
E. Howard, and is engaged in the drug business at
Mt. Pleasant; Theresa is single, and resides at
home ; Martha P. is the wife of Frank W. Hamilton,
of Deadwood, Dak.

Dr. Van Cise took an active interest in the
cause of education, and his long experience as a
teacher led him to a knowledge of the defects of
the system and text-books then in use. He was
elected a member of the School Board in Adams
County, Pa., and naturally exercised a more than
usual influence. Under the old custom the line of
text-books consisted of the following: "Webster's
Speller, Mun-ay's Grammar, Pike's Arithmetic, and
the New Testament, the reading of the latter six
times a day being the principal exercise in reading.
Dr. Van Cise took the ground that the Testament
was not adapted for school exercises, and that a
graded set of readers should be substituted : that
the reading by the teacher of a chapter of the
Scriptures once a da}' would be suflicient relig-
ious instruction ; in fact, took advanced gi-ounds
-^

in the way of reform in school matters. He suc-
ceeded, in a measure, in having his views adopted,
and the efl'ect was to produce a marked improve-
ment : still there were those who clung to the old
waj\ and so much bitter feeling resulted that he
determined to seek a new home among people of
broader views and more advanced ideas. Acting
on that impulse, he came to Iowa in 1852, and
finding at 'Sit. Pleasant a field that promised good
educational advantages, he decided on making this
his future home. This he did in 1857, when here-
moved his familj' to that city, where he resided
until his death, and where for thirty -one years he
successfully pursued the practice of his profes-
sion. Some of his children were educated under
the direction of Prof. Samuel Howe, a gentleman
distingushed for his ability as an educator; the
others were educated in various schools.

Dr. Van Cise died in March. 1888, in his
seventj'-eighth j-ear. He continued in active prac-
tice, with mental powers unimpaired, up to the last
year of his long and useful life. An accident to
one of his feet, which happened recently, caused
him much annoyance and suffering.

While not professing to be a specialist, Dr. Van
Cise made the treatment of chronic diseases an im-
portant part of his practice. His reputation was
widespread as a skillful and successful physician,
and patients consulted him and were treated by
mail from hundreds of miles distant. As a citizen
he was highly esteemed, and he had the satisfaction
of seeing his children grown to be men and women
of superior intelligence, and good and respected
citizens. His estimable wife died April 5, 1886.

.^ ETER ROTH is the proprietor of a hotel
\] and liverj' stable in Wayland. The history
!^! ^ of Wayland would be incomplete without
I 1 a sketch of the genial landlord and land-
ladj- of the Central House, which under their com-
bined management h.is become one of the most
popular inns along the line of the Iowa Central
Railroad. In connection with the hotel is a barn
and livery stable, which furnishes accommodations
to commercial travelers, and brings a good income

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352

HENRY COUNTY.

to the proprietor. The table is well furnished, and
Mrs. Roth makes the house a model of neatness,
and guests find better accommodations than at
many houses of greater pretensions.

Peter Roth, the owner and proprietor, was born
near Mombelier, France, March 9, 1847, and is the
son of Christian and Catherine (Wittmer) Roth.
The father was bom in France and his wife in
Switzerland, and their seven children were also born
in France, three of them dying after coming to
America. As the family have been favorably
known to the people of Henry County since 1855,
we are pleased to make special mention of each
member. The fatlier, Christian, died Nov. 28,
1887, in his eighty-first j'ear, and the mother is now
living on the old homestead, near Wayland, in her
sixty-seventh year. Christian Roth, Sr., was an
enterprising farmer, and purchased on his arrival
in Henry C'ounty 160 acres of land, to which he
made large additions later in life. He erected a
brewery on the homestead the next year after
coming to the county, which was completed at a
cost of over $4,000, and until its closing by the
laws passed in the State of Iowa, in 1884, did a
prosperous business, and had a capacit}' for ten
barrels a day. In the distribution of his estate
among his children, I'eter, who was a practical
brewer, took the brewery in lieu of real estate, and
its closing has entailed upon him a severe loss.

Peter Roth vvas married, March 31, 1873, to Miss
Anna, daughter of John and ElizaV)cth (Sclmntz)
Frienberger, who were both liorn, reared and
mnrried in Alsace, France, now a jiart of the Ger-
man Empiie. Four children were Ixirn to them,
of whom only Anna, wife of Mr. Rotli, our subject,
is living. The others were ^lary, I5arl>ara and
JSIattie. Their mother was the second wife of John
Frienberger. who first wedded j;iizabeth Rupp, who
was the mother of several children, four of whom
are living: Josepii, wedded to INIary Slaughter;
Christian, married to Katie Fry; Elizabeth, who
became the wife of Christian Rupp; and Katie,
wedded to Jacob Rupp. The three latter reside on
farms in Fullon County, Oliici. All the children of
the Kolh family are liappily married, and well
settled on f;u-ms. with tiie exception of our subject,
who is a permanent resident of Wayland. Jacob

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married Barbara Yoder, and lives a retired life at
Louisville, Ohio. Fannie is now the widow of
Joseph !Mast, who died Nov. 29, 1887; her first
husband being Christian Wise. Christian married
Fannie Augsberger: Katie became the wife of
Peter AVise ; Joseph is the husband of Barbara, a
daughter of Christian Eicher; and Mary died un-
married.

Mr. and Mrs. Roth have no children of their
own, but are rearing a pretty and vivacious little
girl, Mamie AVhitman, born Dec. 31, 1876. To her
the}' give the love and care that parents could
bestow upon their own child, and she never feels
the lack of anything that affection can provide.
In the enterprising village of AVayland tlie Roths
are deservedly held in esteem.

ETP;R p. AVALZ, a prominent farmer of
Baltimore Township, was born in this
county, June 29, 1858, and is the S(m of
Dennis and Caroline (Herrmann) AValz.
Both parents came from Baden, Germany, where
they were schoolmates and friends from childhood.
Dennis AV.alz came alone to America in 1852, and
located in Canton, Ohio. He secured employment
in the coal mines there, and after working for two
j'ears his heart went out to the bonny girl whom he
learned to love in the German home across the sea,
to wliom his troth was plighted before he left his
native land. He had accumulated a few dollars,
and decided to send for his lu'lrotliod. Siic came,
and was met b}' her lover in Canton, where thej'
were married, and where for two j-ears the young
couple remained. Their hearts were gladdened
by the birth of a little daugliler, Julia A., born in
tlie Buckeye State. Two years after Caroline Herr-
mann came to America, tlu>y emigrated to the Far
West w itii their darling daughter and $G0 in cash.
They came direct to Des Moines County, .and the
husl)and engaged with Dennis Melcher, who gave
him work in llie woods at fifty cents per dii}'. INIr.
AValz worked early and late until he ;iccunui!ated a
small sum, and with that he purchased forty acres
of land, upon which iiis son I'eter P. now resides.

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355

t*

He erected a small cabin in the brush, which stands
a few rods from where the fine farmhouse is situ-
ated, and in this cabin the young wife with her
baby was duly installed as mistress. Mr. Walz
grubbed and otherwise improved his lands, and
prosperity came as the days went by. His first team
was a partnership one, he owning one steer, and his
neighbor, B. Kleinkopf, the other, and in turn their
lands were plowed and cultivated. Mr. Walz later
purchased Kleinkopf's ox, and then had a team
which was the beginning of his good fortune. Day
b}' day the gains increased, and other acres became
his. In the little cabin their first son, Peter P., was
born, and the delighted father blessed the day when
he first saw the light. While he was yet a baby
the good mother had to aid the husband in tilling
the land, and placing her baby in a secure place,
would lead the ox while he guided the plow. The
third birth gave them another daughter, Mary L.
The three children came near getting killed at one
time, being in the wagon when the oxen ran away,
but becoming entangled in the trees, the children
were rescued by their frightened parents, who be-
lieved they had met a hon-ible death.

Other acres were added to the first forty, and
when Dennis Walz and his wife left the old farm
he was owner of 250 acres of land, which arc hand-
somely improved, and upon which grand buQdings
stand. Tiiere never was a man of greater energy
than Dennis Walz, and as he became wealthy by
his own labor and that of his good wife, they are
entitled to much credit in the history of this county.

Their family is composed of the children men-
tioned and Mary, who married Frank X. Ferry, a mer-
chant of Rochester, N. Y. ; Frances, the wife of
John Walz, a business man in Burlington, and John,
who is a partner with his father in the grocery busi-
ness in Burlington.

Peter P. Walz was married to Miss Celestine M.
Widerspoch, Feb. 10, 1885, who takes the place of
her kind mother-in-law as mistress of the mansion.
Celestine was born in Washington County, Iowa,
Nov. 24, 18C5, and is the daughter of Charles and
Mary (Brum) Widerspoch, both of whom were
natives of France. Her father came to America a
single man, and his wife came when twelve years
of age. They were married in Des Moines County,

Iowa, and are the parents of six children, three of
whom are now living — Celestine, Louisa and Edna.
We'greet the young couple, who have taken the
place of the fine familj' who did so much to im-
prove and beautify this coimty, and ere their
heads become silvered with gray, they may be as
noted as were their ancestors.

♦ ^■»-

■^OHN M. HANSON, deceased, was one of the
pioneers of Henry Countj% and one of its
most esteemed citizens. He was born in
Deerfield, Franklin Co., Mass., July 25, 1807,
and died on his farm in Center Township, adjoin-
ing Mt. Pleasant, April 3, 1887, lacking but little of
having completed fourscore years, a long life, well
and worthily' spent. He left a sorrowing widow
and children, and a large circle of friends to mourn
their loss, but comforted with the knowledge that
he went to meet the reward earned by an upright
Christian life. He was one of a large family,
of whom but three are living at the present: Mrs.
P. H. P'isher, of Mt. Pleasant, and two younger
brothers, now residents of Mentor, Ohio. Like the
great majority of New England boys of his day, he
had his own way to make in the world, and received
but the limited education common in those times.
Early in life he was apprenticed to the trade of
cabinet-making at Shelburne, in his native county,
working there until his marriage on Jan. 8, 1 832, to
Miss Lauretta Smith, a native of Massachusetts.
Shortly after this event he removed to New York
State, but did not stay long there, being, like many
others,, attracted by the more brilli.nnt opportunities
in the West, and removing to Ohio. That phice
did not suit him, and he went still nearer to the
frontier, arriving in Chicago, 111., in 1836, whence
he started with a team to Joliet. There he traded
his team for wild land, and set out for Iowa, arriv-
ing in Henry County in September of that year,
and soon after settling on the farm where all his
subsequent life was passed, with the exception of
the time he spent in California. He was truly one
of that band of noble pioneers who opened the way
to the broad prairies of the State. When he located
on his farm, there was not a settler between him and

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356

HENRY COUNTY.

the Mississippi, whence all his sup]ilies had to be
procured. Nothing daunted, with unbounded en-
ergy and faith, he began the work of making a
home, and how well his confidence was founded is
shown by the results he achieved. Besides farming
he was for some years engaged in chair-making and
turning, and many specimens of his skill are yet to
be foiuid in the houses of the earlier settlers. He
was industrious and enterprising, and turned his
hand to anj'thing he found to do.

August 18, 1839, his wife died, leaving three chil-
dren, of whom but one is now living, a son, Will-
iam, in business in Mt. Pleasant. On the 10th of
February, 1841, Mr. Hanson was married to Miss
Laura A. Wood, by whom he had six children, of
whom four are now living: Charles A. and John
C, residents of C'hillicothe, Mo. ; Lauretta A., now
Mrs. Bayles, living in Nebraska; and Henry W., a
resident of this county. Leaving his family pro-
vided for, he started in 1852 for the gold fields of
California, with a company of friends and neigh-
bors, and accompanied by his eldest son, George.
Shortly after he left home his wife died, on Feb.
24, 1852, but the sad news did not reach him until
seven months afterward. He staid in California
for six years, most of the time engaged in mining.
In 1 858 he returned to his desc)late home in Iowa,
and gathered his children around him. In his ab-
sence two of them had found a home with tiuir
grandparents, Mr. and iAIrs. Wood, cared for and
attended by an older sister. The others had been
reared by other relatives and friends. Aug. 2(5,
1859, death again invaded the family, the eldest
son, George, who had remained in C'alifornia, dying
on that day, at Deer Creek.

.lune 10, l.S(;2. ]\Ir. Hanson was united in mar-
riage to Eliza, daughter of Joel and Eunice (Hig-
gins) Farr, the former a native of Vermont, and
the latter born at Cape Cod, M.ass. INlrs. Hanson
was born in Chittenden County, Vt., June 9, 1817,
and proved herself a worth3- and loving helpmeet
to her husband, whose memory she tcnderl}' reveres.

i\Ir. Hanson was a man of marked intc^lligenee,
energy, good judgment, and decisiim of ciiaracter,
and took an active part in all movements tending to
the interest of his adopted home. He was the first
President of tlie Ilenrj' County Agricultural Society,
M»

and cJiief promoter of its first fair. He held many
town and school offices, and in 1871 was chosen to
represent the county in the .State Legislature on an
independent fai-mer's ticket, and in every position
to which he was called fully justified the confidence
reposed in him. In his death the county lost one of
its most valued citizens, who had done much for its
advancement, and his many friends a counselor on
whose judgment they had been accustomed to relj';
his wife a noble and kind husband, and his children
a wise and faithful parent. Though his daj's were
prolonged to a decade beyond the Psalmist's three-
score years and ten. yet to the last he was an act-
ive and useful member of society. His life was a
model for all. Blessings and sorrows he accepted
as coming from Him who "doeth all things well,"
and his memory is revered by many who honored
his sterling integrilty of ch.aracter, his unswerving
honesty, industry, imvarjing cheerfulness and ready
charity. His death, which was preceded by a
severe illness, was not unexpected, but was not the
less mourned, and his mortal remains were followed
to their last resting-place by a large concourse of
friends assembled to honor the memory of a just
man, and were laid to rest to await the sounding of
that trumi)et which shall sununcMi both the quick
and the dead.

J'he portrait of IMr. Hanson, inserted l)y request
of his widow, is a fitting tribute to the worth of one
who was in every relation of life an ujjright man,
and a true representjitive of the best class of Henry
Country's early settlers.

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AVID O. WILSON, residing on section 3,
)Y Trenton Township, Henr}' County, was
born in llnckbridge County, Va., March
13, 1837. His parents, William and Ellen
(Orbisoii) Wilson, were also natives of Rockbridge
County, Va. They came to this county in 1857,
and seltled in Trenton Township, whore he was
emplo^'ed as a cabincl-mMker in Ticnton, which
trade he followed until liis death, whicii nccurred
Aug. 8, l,s77. He was a member of tlie Presby-
terian Church, and was Justice of the Peace for a
number of ye.ars in Trenton Tt)wnship. He was a

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HENRY COUNTY.

357 '^

Democrat In politics, and took an active interest in
all political affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were the
parents of seven children, of whom our subject
was the eldest. John C, the second child, died
while in the service of his country as a member of
the 1st Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, at Butler, Mo.,
Aug. G, 1862; James, also a soldier in the same
regiment, died at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Nov.
30, 1801 ; William now lives in Trenton, and is a
painter by trade; C. Giveus, a farmer of Marion
Township; Charles is a resident of Trenton; Nannie
M., wife of Oliver C.avenee, died March 21, 1878.
The mother of these children still resides in Tren-
ton, at the age of seventy-two, and is a member of
the Presbyterian Church.

David O. Wilson, our subject, was reared upon
a farm, and all his life has been spent in tilling the soil.
He was married, April 3, 1.S62, to Ann Morrison,
a native of the county, and a daughter of Joseph
Morrison, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this vol-
ume. Seven children have been born to this worthy
couple: Ada, born March 29, 18G3, died Jan. 20,
1881; Clarence, born Jan. 23, 186G, died Oct. 21,
1 887 ; he was a student at the Business College in
Burlington. May, born May 25, 1872, died Oct. 21,
1878; Harry, born Oct. 2,'), 1875, resides at home;
Nellie, born April 30, 1880, died April 21, 1881,
and James, born Nov. 14, 1884, completes the
family now living; one son died in infancy.

Mr. Wilson is a member of the Presbyterian
Church, and his wife of tlie Christian Church. His
business is tliatof general farming, and he owns 180
acres of fine land in Trenton Township. Politically'
he is a Republican, and was elected .Justice of the
Peace of the township. He is well known and
universally respected throughout the county.

^ IV.ILLIAM HENRY WHITNEY, architect,
\/iJ// ^'^''Penter and builder, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
V^^ was born in Ross County, Ohio, Feb. 7,
1840, and is the son of William and Mary A.
(Ressel) Whitney, the former a native of Connecti-
cut and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were
married in Ross County, Ohio, to which point their
respective families had moved at an early day.

William, who traces his ancestry back to nearly
1400 — is of English descent, and early in life
learned the trade of a blacksmith, at which trade
he worked for many years. In 184f) he moved
with his family to Indiana, locating first in Putnam
County, where he remained a short time, and then
moved to Montgomery, and later to Tippecanoe
County, in the same State. While in Indiana he
combined farming with blacksmithing. In 1854
he moved to Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa, where
he remained a short time, working at his trade, and
then moved to a farm in Marion Township, having
entered IGO acres of land. Later he sold sixty
acres, retaining the remainder till his removal to
Nebraska, in February, 18S8. To William and
Mary A. Whitney were born six children, of whom
five are yet living. Mrs. Whitney dying in 1859,
in 18G1 Mr. Whitney wedded Ann Eliza Miller,
by whom he had two children. For many years
William Whitney has been a devoted member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.

When the family came to Iowa, William H.
Whitney, of whom we write, was fourteen years of
age. He soon afterward engaged to learn the
carpenter's trade, which he mastered, and in 1860
married Miss Angelina Miller, daughter of Arthur
Miller. Two children were born of their union:
Mary F., born Nov. 15, 18G1, and William A.,
born June 21, 18G3. The former is now living in
Colorado, and the latter died July 15, 1872. Mrs.
Whitney died shortly' after the birth of her second
child, and Dec. G, 18G7, Mr. Whitney wedded Miss
Nancy A. Lamb, daughter of Jacob and Sidney
(Ferrell) Lamb. She was born March 10, 1848, in
F'ulton County, 111. Four children were born of
the latter marriage, all sons. Charles H. was born
Sept. 25, 1868; John L., Jan. 12, 1870; George W.,
July 17, 1871 ; Edwin, March 2, 1873.

Mr. Whitney has been engaged in his occupation
of contracting and building for upward of twenty-
five years, and in that time has erected many of the
best public and private buildings in Henry County,
among which may be mentioned the residences of
P. Summers, Walter Gamagc, James Harlan, Jacob
Housman, Le Grand Chandler, Wesley Greenfield,
Dangherty and Comick. The Catholic Church, at
Mt. Pleasant, destroyed by the c^'clone of July,

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358

HENRY COUNTY.

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1882, was rebuilt by him, and in the summer and
fall of 1887 he erected a handsome church building
for the Methodist Episcopal Society of New Lon-
don. He is a first-class mechanic and a fine
draughtsman.

Politically Mr. Whitney is a Democrat, and
socially a member of the K. of L. and the Good
Templars. In the latter body iMrs. Whitney is also
a member. Both are memljers of the Christian
Church, .at Mt. Plc.isant, in which they take a lively
Interest, generally being found in their accustomed
place during the hours of worship.

Wl OHN F. WYSE, residing on section 28, Tren-
ton Township, Henry Co., Iowa, was born
in France, Sept. 15, 1828. His parents,
(^7/ Christian and IMary (Eichcr) Wj'se, were also
natives of tlie same place. John received a good
common-school education, and at the .age of fifteen
was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker for a term of
tlu'ee ye.'irs, having to p.ay $40 for the privilege of
learning the trade. Christian Wyse was called from
this earth in 1840. His widow with her family,
leaving her native home, emigrated to America in
1850. For a time she m.ade Fulton County, Ohio,
her home. Our subject, being the eldest son, was
obliged to aid in the support of the family. He
purchased eighty acres of raw land in that county
and from this developed a farm. In that county
also he became acquainted with and wedded Mary
Gr.afft, a native of Switzerland, and a daughter of
Jacob .and Mary (Spangler) Grafft. The young
couple resided in Fulton County until 18G8. Mr.
Wyse, having added to his possessions, then
owned 120 acres of land, which he sold at $85 an
acre, and removed to Henry County, Iowa. Prior
to his coming to this county he operated a saw-
mill in Ohio for seven years, at which business he
was very successful. He also purchased a mill here
which he operated for a sliort time, but lias devoted
himself principality to farming and stock-raising.

Mr. and ISIrs. Wyse have been the parents of ten
children: Marj', wife of Oscar Swan, a resident of
New London; Christian, li.arbara; John, who died
Sept. 27, 1882, at the age of three years; Anna;
^

Solomon, who died Sept. 4, 1878; Benj.amin died
April 22, 1883; David died April 6, 1887, aged six
years and seven months; and Josephiue and IMartha.
On coming to this county, Mr. Wyse purchased
480 acres of land, mostlj' covered with brush and
timber, and h.is now a finely improved farm. He
has 250 acres under cultivation and the entire tract
is under fence. In August, 1882, a new house was
erected at a cost of $1,500. He has good barns and
out-buildings, and his farm is well stocked with the
best grades of cattle. Mr. Wjse has been very suc-
cessful through life, notwithstanding he has been a
cripple since boyhood. He came to this countr3'
poor, and had his widowed mother to support on a
salary of forty-five cents per d.ay. His home was
his mother's home until the time of her death, which
occurred in 1861. She w.as a devoted member of the
]\Iennonite Church. Of her six children five are
still living. Mr. AV^-se keeps well informed on all
questions of the d.ay, and is a friend of education
or .any other interest which is beneficial to the
people.

'vwj OHN F. LEECH, Mayor of the city of Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa, is a native of the State, born
I at Bloomfield, Davis County. July 9, 1848.
(^7/ His father, Hon. Andrew Leech, was born in
Washington County, Pa., in 1807. His mother,
Agnes (Bell) Leech, was born in Guernse}- County-,
Ohio, in 1811. They were married in the latter
county in 1833,. and emigrated to Van Buren Count3-,
Iowa, in the summer of 1840. A 3^ear later they
moved to Davis County and settled in Bloomfield,
which at that time contained about a dozen houses.
Here Andrew Leech purchased and developed a
large tr.act of land adjoining the town. He took
an active part in all ])ul)lic matters tending to the
development of his adopted home, and in 184G was
elected a member of the firet State Legislature at
Iowa Citj-, and voted for the first United States
Senators elected — Dodge and Jones. In 1855 he
was appointed Land Receiver of the land-oflice at
Sioux City, holding the office six j'ears. In 18G4
IVIr. Leech emigrated to Madison County, Mont.,
and while there was elected Treasurer of the countj\

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HENRY COUNTY.

359

After four j'eais he retiinied to Bloomfiekl, Iowa,
where he lived a retired life until liis death, which
occurred in 18H6. He was a self made man of more
than ordinary ability, and was an especially valu-
able citizen in a newl}' settled region, his enter-
prise, sagacity and foresight being of great benefit
to the coramunit}-, which rewarded him by placing
him in responsible positions, none of which he ever
sought. He and his wife were life-king members of
the Presbyterian Church. The latter, now a woman
of advanced age, is still living at Bloomtteld, where
she is regarded as an estimable Christian lady, and
is highly respected.

Andrevv Leech and wife were the parents of
eight children, namely: Mathew, a farmer in Cow-
ley County, Kan. ; Robert, a merchant at Omaha,
Neb. ; Andrew, an attorney-at-law. Palisade, Neb. ;
William, County Clerk for several terms of Davis
County, Iowa; John F., Mayor of Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa; Emma and Margaret, living in Bloomfield,
and Nannie, wife of Palmer Trimble, of Keokuk,
Iowa.

The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in
his native county, and spent four years in Montana
with his father, during which time he learned the
printing business. In 1868 he returned to his
native place and there worked at his trade. In
1870 he came to Mt. Pleasant, where he entered the
Iowa Wesleyan Uuiversit}', graduating in the class
of 1874, and during these four years also doing
work in a printing-office. Subsequently, for sev-
eral years he was connected with the Mt. Pleasant
Journal as one of its editors. He afterward
studied law and was admitted to the bar in the fall
of 1877, since which time, in connection with other
business, he has been in the continuous practice of
his profession. He is now Mayor "of the city of
Mt. Pleasant, his present term completing his fifth
3'ear in that position, that being good evidence of
the appreciation of his neighbors. His training has
been especiall}- valuable in teaching him the prac-
tical needs of a city, and the results are apparent in
the admirable manner in which he discharges the
duties of a responsible position. He takes a warm
interest in educational matters, and for six years
was Clerk of the School Board.

Mr. Leech was married, Sept. 28,1880, in Mt,

Pleasant, to Miss Belle Requa, a daughter of Joseph
Requa, one of the earl3' settlers of Henry County.
She was born in 1858 in Mt. Pleasant.

Indei)endent in politics, advocating always the
adoption of all measures designed for the good of
the community, and a man of undoubted probity,
Jlr. Leech has in a marked degree the respect of
all who know him.

ILLIAM H. FEHSE, tobacconist and news-
dealer, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was born in
that city Dec. 8, 185G. His parents, J.
Frederick and Marie (Schultz) Fehse, were born in
the Province of Saxony, Germany. His father is
the son of James Fehse, and was born Sept. 3, 1822.
He learned the w.agon and carriage maker's trade in
his n.ative country, performed the required military
duty due the Government, and emigrated to Amer-
ica in 1848, landing in Baltimore on the 16th of
October of that year. Remaining but a short time
in that city, he went to Indianapolis, Ind., where
he worked at his tr.ade till 1852, when he came to
Iowa and located at Burlington, where he worked
at the plow business four j'ears. In 1856 became
to Mt. Pleasant, where he has since resided, and has
since continued to work at his trade, of which he is
a master. For several years he was a silent partner
of William Schultz in the wagon and carriage mak-
ing business. He is now employed in the shop of
Mr. A. H. Zuhn. Mr. Fehse is a hard-working, in-
dustrious man, a good mechanic, and a very higiily
respected citizen. He was married in Indianapolis,
Ind., Nov. 9, 1849, to Miss Maria Schulz, a daughter
of James Schulz. Mrs. Fehse was born in Saxony,
German}'. Both are members of the Presbyterian
Church in Mt. Pleasant. They have had four
children — Fred, William H., Sarah and Frank.
Fred, the eldest, is a soldier in the regular armj^
serving as a musician; Sarah is living at home;
Frank is an upholsterer by trade, and lives .at
Omaha.

William H., the subject of this sketch, learned
the cigar-maker's trade with Dempsey & Heits-
meier, cigar manufacturers, of Burlington, Iowa.

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360

HENRY COUNTY.

He traveled as a, journej'man and salesman, and
worked at his trade through the Western States
until 1877, when he began Imsiness fitr himself at
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, since which time he has carried
it on continuousl3\ In 1884 he added the news
business, and has worked up a tine trade in that
branch. Mr. Kehse manufactures some of the
finest stock in his line in the cit3', and also carries a
full line of tobacco. He was married at Mt. Pleas-
ant, Dec. 17, 1879, to Miss Hattie E. Keefer,
daughter of Joshua Keefer. Mrs. Fehse was born
in Sargent, McKean Co., Pa., Dec. 8, 1862. Five
children were born of their marriage, four sons and
a daughter. Three died in infancy. Those living
are James Howard and Jeanette Marie. Their
youngest child. Josh R;ilph, died only a short time
since, aged seven months. Mr. Felise is a Knight
Templar Mason, a member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge
No. 8, A. F. ife A. M., of Henry Chapter No. 8, E.
A. M., and of Jerusalem Comandery No. 7, K. T.
Politically he is a Democrat.

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ss^ AMU EL M. TURNER, Postmaster and
merchant of Coppock, is a prominent citi-
zen of Henry Count}-. Among the earliest
families settling in Salem Township was his
father, Thomas N. Turner, who was born, reared
and married in Kentucky. The Turners were of
Scotch origin, but the early history of the famil}'
cannot be detailed. Thomas N. Turner was three
times married, his first wife being Miss Margaret
M. McKiiniey. After their marriage, in the au-
tumn of 1845, the next spring found them en route
for Iowa, and to this d;ite one of the best known
and most highly respected families in her bounda-
ries is the one under consideration. They were
parents of ten children, all sons, and all born in
this covnit3'. William L. married Cordelia Lane,
and resides in Polk County, Iowa; John F. wed-
ded Lydia Alired. and resides in Harrison County.
Mo.; Samuel M., our subject; Henry wedded
Aletha Jay, whose death occurred Nov. 15. 1847;
Perry .M. married Klizalietli (iraliam, and also lives
in Polk County; Benjamin II. and Martin .M. are
unmarried, and live with tiieir father on the farm;

Oscar, Zephania and David died in childhood.
The death of Mrs. Turner occurred Nov. 20, 1873,
and on Nov. 12, 1875, Mr. Turner was m.arried to
-Mrs. Nancy (Wright) Vorris, who died the follow-
ing August, and on May 6, 1877, Thomas Turner
married Mary M. (Long) Ridinger. She was the
widow of George Ridinger, who, by her lirst union,
had six children, named Samuel H., William T.,
John E.. Saiah C, Mary A. and George D.. all liv-
ing. The four youngest are married, .as follows:
George is the husband of Hettie !McDonough. and
resides in Corvallis, Ore. ; S.arah C. wedded Julius
Lippmon, now deceased. She makes her home
with Mr. Turner, and is the mother of Jules R.,
a bright boy four years of age. Mary A. mar-
ried William A. Smith, of Trenton; John E. wed-
ded Emma T. Kephart, and resides in this county.
The parents of Mrs. Turner, John and Mary M.
Long, came to Iowa from Franklin County. Pa., in
1842, settling in Jefferson County, and bringing
with them six children — John. William, Sarah.
David, Henrj- and Mar}- M. Only two are living,
the eldest and youngest. John married Barbara
Courtne}^ and resides in Chariton. Iowa. The
parents both died in Jefferson Count}-, the father
in his sixty-first and the mother in her sixty-third
year.

Our subject, Samuel M. Turner, was born ^la}-
7, 1854. on the farm in Fr.auklin Township, educated
in this county, and grew to manhood on the farm.
He w.is married, in 1872, to Miss Elizabeth C. Mason,
whose father, W. Mason, was an early settler, and
whose historj- will be found elsewhere. A few
months after his marriage 3Ir. Turner rented a
farm in Ilenr}- Count}', and three years later re-
moved to Montgomery County, where he staiil
three years, when, for a year, he maile Jeffer-
son County his home, and then farmed for another
year in Henry County. An accident to his right
hand dis.abled him for farm work, and he engaged
in huckstering for a year, and when the railroad
wa* graded he came to the village of Coppock, not
yet laid out, and erected a home, the first one built
upon what is now the town site. At once he
engaged in business, and from that day to this the
name of Turner has been associated with the busi-
ness prosperity of the new village. His was the

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HENRY COUNTY.

361

first family to settle in the village; his the first
business building, and he the first merchant and
Postmaster, the post-office being seemed through
his instrumentality. His commission bears the
signature of Timothy O. Howe, Postmaster Gen-
eral, and Frank Hatton, First Assistant, dated July
5, 1882. Since that date he has continuously filled
the office. Four children have blessed the union
of Mr. and Mrs. Turner: Martha L. and Harry O.,
who died within a few days of each other, in 1878,
one on October 18, and the other October 26;
Clayton O. and Elsie I\I. The latter is entitled to
the distinction of being the first child born in Cop-
pock, her birthday being Dec. 31, 1882. Mr. Turner
was also the first regular dealer in grain in the
town. His first stock was exclusively of groceries
and provisions, but to this was soon added
dry-goods and fancy articles. The stock of gen-
eral merchandise now carried will invoice $3,000 or
over, and his sales for 1887 were in advance of
$10,000. He was also the first who fed the waj'-
farer in the new town, and while not exactly keep-
ing a hotel, his was the first boarding-house. Like
others of his name, he possesses that genial disposi-
tion which makes his name so well known, and his
excellent business management is rapidly making him
well off. His is a front rank among the pioneers of
Coppock, and as a son of Henry County, and a
business man of integrity and enterprise, his name
is widelj' known.

■'>«e££/®-|g'«— *i|;-^

•^WU^m^

JOHN H. AYALLBANK, Postmaster of Mt.
Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa, is one of that
class of enterprising, energetic citizens who
, . do much to insure the prosperity and devel-
opment of the places where they make their homes,
as he has in Mt. Pleasant. He was born near Man-
chester, England, Nov. 7, 1838, and is a son of James
and Sophia (Hayhurst) Wallhank, both natives of
England, who followed their son to the New World,
emigi-ating in 1871, and settling in this county,
where both died, the former in 1878 and his widow
in 1884. They were people of excellent repute,
who enjoyed the respect of those who knew them.
<■

They were the parents of two sons, one of whom,
George, still lives in his native laud. The other,
John H., the subject of this sketch, received a good
education in England, and for six years was em-
ployed in the revenue service of Great Britain, in
the excise department. Leaving his native land
he went to Australia, and lived there and in New
Zealand between three and four years, and also
visited many of the South Pacific Islands. He re-
turned to England, and in 18G7 emigrated to Amer-
ica, and coming to the West, located in Henr3'
Count}-, which has ever since been his home. His
first business venture here was in Trenton, whence
he went to Marshall, now called Wayland, where he
staid until 1878, when he removed to Mt. Pleas-
ant and engaged in the boot and shoe trade, which
he carried on until Dec. 31, 1883, on which night
the building in which he was doing business burned
down, and Mr. Wallbank was a heavy loser. He
then sold out the balance of his stock, and in 1885
opened a clothing store, in which he carries not
only a full stock of clothing of all grades, but a
complete line of gentlemen's furnishing goods and
men's shoes. This is not Mr. Wallbank's only bus-
iness enterprise, as he has a fine branch store at
Winfield, known as Green & Wallbank, in this
county, and is the owner of a 200-acre farm in Jef-
ferson Township, all under cultivation.

He was married in England, in 1860, to Miss
Martha Whitman, a native of that country. They
are the happy parents of six children, now living,
namely: Sophia E., Eliza, Nellie, Anna, James and
Arthur.

Mr. Wallbank is a leading man in the Democratic
party in the county, and in August, 1886, was ajj-
pointed Postmaster of Mt. Pleasant, under President
Cleveland's administration. Since coming to the
country he has been one of the most efficient work-
ers in the party, and his appointment over a number
of competitors was "a well-merited recognition of
his zeal in the cause. Not only in political affairs
is Mr. Wallbank a leader. In business circles he
is recognized as an enterprising citizen, and is al-
ways to be found in the ranks of those who encour-
age all movements tending to the advancement and
prosperitj^ of the county and city, in whose affairs
he keeps thoroughly jjosted.

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HENRY COUNTY.

Mr. Wallbank belongs to the Masonic fraternity,
and is a member of Adoniram Lodge No. 120,
A. F. & A. M., of Wayland, and also of Henry
Lodge No. 10, L O. O. F., of Mt. Pleasant. His
wife and eldest daughter are members of the Pres-
bj-terian Church. He has proved himself an
enterprising, go-ahead and capable citizen, and
is justlj' entitled to representation in this volume.

-~H- ^^^^

♦ »— .*N^w-

ELVILLE C. LEACH, who is Postmaster
and agent of the American Jixpress Com-
pany, New London, Henry Co., Iowa, was
born in Allen County, Ind., Oct. 19, 1858.
He received a common-school education, and at the
age of thirteen left school and was employed as a
cash boy, and from there went to a wall-paper and
paint store, where he learned book-keeping. At
the age of sixteen he started out to see the world,
and "pulled up" at Cleveland, Ohio, where he was
employed as book-keeper in a wholesale paint and
paper house. After a year of that service he re-
turned to Ft. W.ayne, Ind., with the hope of im-
proving his health, which was delicate, and engaged
in the butchering business, continuing in that line
two and a half yeai's. Mr. Le.ach then went to St.
Joseph, Mo., where he was employed as assistant fore-
man of a large packing establishment. In 1880 he
left St. Joseph and came to New London, Iowa, where
he has since resided. P^or several years he was em-
ployed as salesman with James ]\IcClellan, merchant,
and was appointed Postmaster in December, 1885,
entering upon the duties of the odice Jan. 1, 1886.
Mr. Leach was married at New London, July
21, 1880, to Miss Emma McCIcllan, daughter uf
J.ames McClellan, who was an earl}' settler of Henry
County, and whose history is given elsewhere in
this volume. Mrs. Leach is a native of New Lon-
don, Iowa. Two ciiiklicn were born of their mar-
riage, a daughter and a son: Mamie E., born May
6. 1882, and Grover, July 30, 1885. both born at
New London. Mr. Leach is a Democrat, and took
an active part in the last Presidential election in sup-
port of his party's National and Congressional
candid.'ites. He is a Master ^Lason, and a member
of New London Lodge No. 28, A. F. & A. M. He
-<•—

was appointed agent of the American Express Com-
pany in 1882. In connection with the post-offlce
and exjn-ess oflice, ^Ir. Leach carries a stock of
fruits, vegetables and confectionery, in which he
has built up quite a fine trade, and he is regarded as
one of the enterprising and rising men of the vil-
lage.

>HOMAS B. LEE, farmer, residing at New
London, Henry Co., Iowa, a pioneer of 1836,
was born in Bond County. 111., June 25,
1835. His parents were John and Charity (Smith)
Lee, also pioneers of Henry County of 1836, of
whom a biographical sketch appears elsewhere in
this work. The subject of this sketch was reared
on his father's farm in the northern part of New
London Township, and i-eceived a common-school
education. He was engaged in farming until the
summer of 1862, when he enlisted on August 7 as a
private in Company K, 25th Regiment Iowa In-
fantry, and served until the close of the war. His
first service was at the beginning of the siege of
Vicksburg under Grant, next at the battle of Ar-
kans.as Post, Kennesaw Mountain and Chattanooga,
which included Missionary Ridge, Taylor's Ridge
and Lookout ^Mountain. Next at Nashville, Re-
s.aca, and Columbia. S. C, from there to Savannah.
Ga., where he was among the first to enter the city.
From there he wont to Beaufort and Columbia, S.
C, participating in those engagements. He made
the march to the sea under Gen. Sherman, fighting
his last battle at Ooldsboro, N. C. During his long
term of active service Mr. Lee was neither wounded
nor i)risoner. was never confined in a liosi)ital or in
an ambulance. On liis return from the war lie re-
sumed farming in lleiny County, and w.as married
in Des Moines County, Iowa, to Miss Elizabeth
Bridges, March !), 1873. Mrs. Lee was born in
Des Moines Count^^ and is the daughter of Napo-
leon and Sarah (llackelman) Bridges. Her i>areuts
emigrated from Illiiu)is to Iowa in 1836.

Mrs. Lee's father, Napoleon Bridges, was liorn in
Indiana, and lur i)aterual grandfather in \'irginia,
the family iieing of German descent. Her inollier,
Sarah llackelman, was born in Wabash County,
Ind., to which plaee her i)arents had reuiovinl from

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HENRY COUNTY.

4

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Ma.ysville, Ky. In 1835 the family removed to
Morgan (now Cass) County, III., but later returned
to Uii.sli County, Ind. Mrs. Lee lost her father
when he was thirty-cigiit years of age, and her
mother died at the age of twentjr. Her grandfather,
Abner Hackelnian, founded a colony in Oregon, in
1845. Mrs. Lee was reared in Des Moines County,
Iowa.

Mr. Lee continued to carry on his farin of 206
acres, which is well improved, and situated on sec-
tions '2 and 1 2 of New London Township, Henry
County, until aliout 1S81, when he moved to the vil-
lage of New London, wiicre lie now resides. He also
has eighteen acres of timber land in the same town-
ship. Mr. and Mrs. Lee arememliors of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Lee is a Kepuliiican
in politics, and has held various local offices. He
has sewed as a member of the Board of Trustees of
New London Township, and as one of the Council
of the village. He is a member of J. W. H.ardin
Post No. 384, G. A. R., of New London, and is
held in high esteem as a respected, honorable man,
and good citizen.

JAMES W. EVELAND, a farmer of Henry
Count}', Iow;i, resiiles on section 32, Wayne
Township. While our subject was not one
of the first settlers of the county, yet he
takes rank among the most prominent of his
township, and by virtue of long years spent here
is numbered as an old settler and one of Ilenr^'
County's best citizens. He was born in Warren
County, Va., Dec. 30, 1824, and is a son of John
and Frances (.McEarland) Eveland. Both were
natives of that State, he born in Loudoun and she
in Warren County. In Virginia seven children
were born : .Tames W. ; Mary J., who married Enoch
Leniasters for her second husband, resides in Whit-
sell County, W. Va. ; Sarah C, wife of George Mar-
shall; Frances R., and Harriet B., who wedded
Edward AVilliams, was one of a pair of twin sisters;
Elizabetli, Frances and Martlia Ann, who died
young. The parents removed to Ohio in 1846 and
located in Belmont County, where the mother died
later.

Our subject came to Iowa in September, 1 849,
and took up his residence in the home of Abraliam
Lane, one of the first families of the county, a
sketch of whom is given elsewhere. Mr. Eveland
was not well suited in lands, as at tiiat tinio all
claims near streams or timber were taken, lie
owned a land warrant and later took a claim in
Lucas County, also purchasing fifty-seven acres of
timber adjoining. He retm-ned to Mr. Lane's and
was united in marri.age witli the daugliter, Margaret
E., Feb. 14, 1850, and their first three years of
married life were passed upon the old George .Miller
farm in Trenton Townshiji. Mr. Eveland was a
poor man when he was married, and for several
years made but slow progress, especially as times
were hard and he owned not even a team. He
began life with the determination to sueceer). how-
ever, and tliis he has accomplished, although many
long and weary days were passetl before success
was attained. Before thej^ were finally settled the
wife of INIr. Eveland died, leaving three small
children — Helen, Jacob and Lois. Jacob is now
the husband of Emma Meeker, and resides near
Winlicld. In 1855 the death of Mrs. Eveland
occurred, and Mr. Eveland was married in 1857 to
Miss Martha J. Gholson. They began life upvu
the farm, and within a few rods from where they
now live. The old house in which so many happy
and prosperous days have been passed still stands,
and in it all tiie children, except the two last, were
born. The farm of to-day was then a broad grass.y
plain. The line house, the barn, the lofty trees, all
stand as monuments to the enterprise of Mr. Eve-
land and his wife, both of whom have given the
best years of their lives to making for themselves
and children a home, which is second to none in
the township. As the d.ays went by prosperity
came, and the hard times of their early mari-ied
life have been almost forgotten. Children :ind
grandchildren have nestled in their arms, and the
old house, ik>w comparatively deserted, is yet
thought of as the pl.ace in which their joys were
the most complete. Under its roof Iowa, wife of
George Uunn, of Baltimore Township; Jlary J.,
wife of Edward Scott, of Colorado, and David
Lewis, were born. AVilliam .and Joseph A. vvere
born in the brick home erected in 1868.

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366

HENRY COUNTY.

Thousands of dollars have been expended in im-
provements, all earned since Mr. Eveland became
a resident of Wayne Township. His home is one
of the finest, and his barns, that cover so many
feet, were erected for the accommodation of large
quantities of stock. Helen, the eldest daughter,
died in 1875. Her husband was Francis McFeron,
son of Wesley McFeron, of Trenton Township.
They were the parents of one daughter, Helen,
born a few days before her mother's death. For
years Mr. Evoland has been a member of the
School Board, and is one of the ardent advocates of
education in its fullest sense.

o

Since the above was written this well-known and
respected citizen has gone to his last home, having
departed this life aftera brief but severe illness, on
Feb. 10, 1888. His death was greatly regretted by
a wide circle of friends, to whom his manly and
upright character had endeared him. He was a
member of Star of Hope Lodge No. 34, 1. O. O. F.,
of Swedesburg, who attended his funeral in a body.
His remains were interred in Green Mount Ceme-
tery.

We are pleased to give un an adjoining page a
portrait of Mr. Eveland, as a tribute of respect to
the memory of a good man, and a token of the
filial respect and affection his children bear for his
memory.

C. BARKER resides upt)n section 13, Jack-
son Township, where he is engaged in gen-
eral farming and stock-raising. Among
\!iS3) t''® '"*'" of ^'^"^ township who are making
an enviable record as farmers and business men,
there ai'e none more worthy of mention than Mr.
Barker. He was born in Tioga County, Pa., Aug.
15, 1848, and is a son of Ambrose and Mary
A. (Terry) Barker, botli natives of Delaware
County', N. Y., in which State they were married.
They removed to Pennsylvania in 1845, and in
1865 emigrated to Iowa, settling in this county and
purchasing a farm in Jackson Township, and are
yet residents of the county. They were the parents
of seven children: Margaret, wedded to Alpheus

Dann; Betsy A. became the wife of John Irvin;
Mary C. married William M3'res; Henry C. is the
husband of Isabel Short, born Dec. 4, 1849;
Robert M. died in infancy'; Amelia died unmarried;
and Augusta wedded Charles Clark. The two
eldest are residents of Tioga County, Pa.; sill the
others being residents of Henry County. Our sub-
ject received a good education, and prior to his
marriage was a teacher in this county. He was
later employed by Harrison & AVarner, in county
and State atlas work in Iowa and Wisconsin, and
in this Mr. Barker became quite successful. This ex-
perience has been of much value to him in the form-
ation of recent business enterprises. His marriage
w.as celebrated on the 10th of April, 1873, his wife
being a daughter of Alex, and Mary (Arnold) Short,
who were well-known and wealthy residents of this
county. The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Barker
has been spent on a farm, and Mr. Barker has well
proved his adaptability- for the business, from the
fact that in ten years he has spent over §3,000 in
improvements, all of which has given their farm a
substantial appearance. Their new mansion was
completed in 1887, and it is the best farmhouse in
Jackson Township east of the river. His bank barn
was erected in 1882, and its commodious apart-
ments furnish all the conveniences .afforded by a
modern st3'le of .architecture. In fact we are
pleased to note such substantial improvements, as
thej' speak volumes for the enterprise of not only
our subject but of his township. Their home has
been graced bj^ the births of Charles A., Carrie,
L.aura, Penina, Orrin and Gladys. The household
has never known a sorrow and the circle is j'et
unbroken. In a social and political sense Mr.
Barker h.as no sujieriors. He is prominent in local
politics, and has been successivel}' a member of the
School Board, Township Supervisor, Justice of the
Peace, and in 1880 was appointed enumerator of
the United States census. In all the positions the
duties were well and faithfully performed.

The hospitalities of the Barker mansion are too
well known to need further memtion; there the
friend and the stranger alike find a cordial n'elcome
and ample accommodation. As a host Clay Barker
excels, and his good wife, who is hostess, wife and
mother, in it* fullest sense makes theirs a home in

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HENRY COUNTY.

367 i

all that the name implies. Both stand high in the
estimation of their friends and neighbors, who
appreciate their character and worth.

WILLI AIM A. CRABTREE is a prominent
farmer and stock-raiser of Henry County,
Iowa, residing upon section 3, Marion
Township. He was born in Monroe County, Ky.,
Jan. 24, 1827. His parents were Hiram and Mar-
t^arct (Johnson) Crabtree. They were natives of
Virginia, but were married in Kentucky, where
ten children were born to them, six of whom are
now living: Abraham married Jliss Lucinda
Murphy; they reside on a farm in Mercer County,
111., and have a family of seven children. John M.
was united in marriage with Melinda King; he is a
farmer in Tazewell County, 111. Elizabeth, who is
the widow of John S. Hamilton, resides in Scott
County, 111. ; Mary is the wife of S. H. Redman, a
nurseryman in Yillisca, Iowa, who for a number of
years ran a steam ferry at Keithsburg, 111.; Michael
died in 1862, in Scott County, 111.; Hiram died at
Nashville, Tenn., while fighting for his country;
Stephen is farming in Tazewell County, 111.; Cath-
erine, the widow of W. A. Kirkp.atrick, is residing
in Scott County, 111. ; our subject is tenth in order
of birth. In the year 1830 Mr. Crabtree emigrated
with his family to Illinois, locating in what was at
that time ISIorgan County, but which has since
been divided, they living in the part known as
Scott County. Here the children grew to man and
womanhood, except one child who died in infancy.
Here the parents both departed this life, the father
dying Sept. 13, 1844, at the age of seventy-one;
his wife following him to that home of the redeemed
on the 22d of June, 1868, at the age of eighty-
three. They were devoted members of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, Mr. Crabtree being a local
minister. He was one who did much to civilize
and christianize the new eommunitj' in which he
lived.

On account of the death of his father, our sub-
ject was compelled to take charge of the farm and
care for the farail^s and for one so young, he being
but seventeen, it was a great responsibility. His

education was received in such spare moments as
he could find from farm work. He remained in
charge of the farm until the age of twenty-two,
then going to Winchester he learned the trade of
plow stocking and carpentering. iSIaking Win-
chester his home, he followed that trade for twenty-
one 3'ears, or until the 3^ear 1870, when he came to
Henr3' Count\'. Buj'ing 360 acres of land on
sections 3 and 4, of Marion Township, he has since
given his attention to farming and stock-raising.
Mr. Crabtree w.as united in marriage with Miss
Eliza A. Martin, on the 6th of August, 1854, in
Scott County, 111. She is the daughter of Samuel
and Susan (Sisson) Martin, who were natives of
Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. C'ral)treo are the parents
of four children: Dora, who died in infiuicy; Net-
tie Belle, who was born in 18.')7, is the wife of
Winfield S. Hickman, a farmer of Frontier County,
Neb. ; they have one son, Frederick G. Charles L.
was united in marriage with Miss Estella Foster,
who is a native of Henrj' County, Iowa. They are
the happy parents of one child, Edmund C. These
three children were born in Scott Count}', 111. ;
William H., their fourth child, was lioru in Henrj'
County.

Mr. and Mrs. Crabtree are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, taking an active in-
terest in all church work. They are highly re-
spected in the community in which they reside, and
are always ready to advance an enterprise that is
for the public good. Mr. Crabtree has held various
township offices, both in Illinois and Iowa, and has
been Assessor for two j^ears. Politically he is a
Republican, but in favor of prohibition.

LFORD TRUEBLOOD, of Mt. Pleasant,
{(^fu\\ one of the pioneer settlers of Henry
Count}', Iowa, was born in AVashington
County, Ind., April 24, 1841, and is the
son of Phineasand Elizabeth (Overman) Trueblood,
natives of North Carolina. Mr. Phineas Trueblood
W'hen a lad of twelve removed with his father,
Abel Trueblood, to Washington County, Ind., in
1816. Our subject's father emigrated to Henrj-
County in 1847, settling on section 35, Tippecanoe

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368

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HENRY COUNTY.

Township, residing there until his death, which
occurred in March, 1877, at the age of seventy-
tlu'ee. His wife preceded liim four years to her
final home, departing this life in 1873. Tliey were
both members of the Society of Friends.

Alford, our subject, was but Ave years old when
his parents came to this county. He was reared on
the farm, and educated ;it the district school. On
the 1st of September, 18G4, he formed a matrimo-
nial alliance with Miss llosanna Smith, a native of
Indiana. By this union there are eight children —
William Foster, Nelson, Matilda, Alvan, Newton,
Eliza Ellen, Lena P^lorence and Le Roy. Mr. and
Mrs. Trueblood are members of the Society of
Friends, and are highly respected by all. In poli-
tics Mr. Trueblood is a Republican, and is at
present serving his township as Justice of the Peace.
He owns 194 acres of land in Ilenr}- County.

W

r;ILLIAM MULLEN, a farmer residing on
section 24, Scott Township, Henry Co.,
Iowa, was born in Ohio, perhaps in Adams
County, in 1832, and is a son of John and Elizabeth
J. (Ilarbaug) Mullen. John Mullen was born in
Pennsylvania of Irish parentage, and after attaining
manhood went to Hamilton Count}', Ind., where he
worked at his trade of mason. After a residence
of Some time in that county lie formed the acquaint-
ance t)f IMiss Ilarbaug, a daughter of Philip Ilar-
baug, a farmer of that county, and about 1S;50
their nuptials were celebrated. John was of a
rf)ving disposition, and being master of a good
tr:ide remained only a few months in any locality
until after tlie birth of his son, onr sulijcct, and
the death of his young wife a few months liiler. At
that time he resided iu Shawneetown, III., and one
year later removed to Ibimiltou Couuty, Ind., pur-
cliasiug a tract of woodland, which lie seltleil per-
manently upon, and after niMking it a farm in its
fullest sense, resided upon it during the remainder
of his life, reaching the ripe age of se\eiity-threc
3'ears. He married for his second «ife Rachel
Harbaug, a sister of his first wife, and ten children
were born — Philip, Elizabeth, John, i\I;iry A., Cor-
dilla, Thomas, Bernard, Martin, Sarah (deceased),

and Maggie. All have grown to man and woman-
hood since our subject left the home of his boy-
hood, and have since married. The second wife
and some of her children yet remain in Hamilton
County on the old homestead, which was hallowed
by their births, their marriages, and the prosperity
and happiness which followeil in the wake of a well-
spent life.

At the age of twenty our subject left his home
in Indiana, came direct to this State, .and made his
way later to W.ayne County, where he pre-empted
a half section of land, then returned to Des Moines
County and began work by the month. Mr. Mul-
len was united in marri.age, Feb. 15, 18.55, with
Catherine Brenuan, a daughter of Thomas and
Bridget (Donahue) Brennan. That couple were
nntives of Westmeath County, Ireland, emigrating
to America in 1845, settling iu Des Moines County
upon lands which Thomas had purchased. Eight
children were born in Ireland, all of wlioin came
to this county with them: Ester, wife of J.ames
Mullen; Mary, wife of Bernard Mullen; Adelia,
wife of Joseph Warren; Margaret, who wedded
Emanuel Daugherty; Catherine, wife of our sub-
ject; James wedded ^lay Murphy; Thomas, hus-
band of Annie Lyon; Mic^hael, also married, and
Patrick, who died in cliililliood. The jiarents lived
a long and useful life upon their Des Moines
Count}- farm, and died respected alike by the good
people who knew them, lioth were ardent Catho-
lics and wt're aids in orgnniziiig the first Catholic
Church in their neighborhood, the Dodgeville
Church.

After the wedding w,as celebr.ated by Father
Reffee and his blessing pronounced upon the young
couple, Mr. iMullcn :in(l his wife began their domes-
tic life iipt)n a farm in Louisa County, Later be
sold his Wayne County land, purchasing a farm
ill Des Moines County near the village of Y:u"-
niouth. Upon this they lived a nnml>er of ye;irs
and then came to Henry County, Mi-. Mullen hav-
ing purchased a line f;inii upon which lie now re-
sides. Here he has grown po|>ular and wealthy
and now lives at his case. Eight children have
gladdened their home, all living except one who
died in infancy: Fr;iiu-is, Charles, John, .M.iggie;
Mollic, now the wife of Fluke Con<len, a prominent

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HENRY COUNTY.

369

young farmer of Hemy County ; Justin and Will-
iam, and William deceased. All the children ex-
cept John are yet under the paternal roof, where
peace, plenty and happiness reign. Both tlie par-
ents are members of the Catholic Church at IMt.
Pleasant, and the children were reared in that faith.
Two hundred broad acres pay tribute to the good
management of ^Ir. JIullen, who is rightly consid-
ered one of tlie enterprising farmers of .Southeastern
Iowa, and his family enjoy a worth}' and enviable
place in the society in which they move. We "el-
come tlie histor}' of the Mullen family to these
pages and point to William ilullen as an example
of a self-made man.

-^ ^«*> —

ENRY AMBLER, who was for many years
a leading member of the bar of Henry-
County, has now retired from the active
practice of his profession, devoting his
time and attention mainly to his large real-estate
and other interests in Omaha, but retaining his resi-
dence in IMt. Pleasant, where he and his faniil}' are
highly esteemed. He is of English ancestry and
was born in 1821. Ilis early life was spent in Alle-
gheny Count}', Pa. ; he studied law and was admit-
ted to the bar in 1848, and practiced in Southeastern
Ohio, residing in Salem. He has been a resident
of Henry County since 18.56, and was actively
engaged in the practice of his profession until 1885.
In 1862 he was admitted to the bar of the Supreme
Court of the United States, and was as successful in
his practice before that court as in the State courts.
For a number of years he was Professor of Law in
the Towa Wesleyan University. His family consists
of his wife, Louisa P. Ambler (formerly Philliiis),
and their children — Nellie Ambler Campbell, Fan-
nie Ambler Higley, Jane Ambler, Pauline Ambler
(deceased), Glaucus S. Ambler and Louie Ambler
Janes.

*4— S^ o<s«-<iil)).5®.o *>— 5<?-

OHN A. THOMAS has been engineer at
the Iowa State Hospital for the Insane, Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa, since November, 1802, now
covering a period of twenty-five years. He
was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, Jan. 27, 1835,

and is the son of John and Mary (Baker) Thomas.
His father was born in Bedford County, Pa., in
1801, and was of Scotch and German descent. His
mother was also born in the same county, of Ger-
man parentage. His father was a merchant and
farmer, and politically was a Free-Soil Democrat
and an ardent Abolitionist. John A. lost his
mother when he was ten years of age. He learned
the machinist's trade at Shanesville, Tuscarawas
Co., Ohio, and in 1848, when only sixteen years of
age, started overland to California. He crossed the
plains, which at that time were infested by hostile
Indians, spent six years in California as a miner
and mechanic, then went to South America, where
he ran a flouring-mill for two years on a salary of
$2,000 a year. From there he sailed to the Sand-
wich Islands, spent some time at Honolulu and other
l)oints on the Islands, going from there to Puget
Sound, Vancouver's Island and Alaska. Return-
ing from British America to California, he helped to
organize the Republican party in that State in 1856,
and then returned to the States that year, via
Panama and New York. Coming direct to Iowa,
he located in Jefferson County, Lockridge Town-
ship, where he built and operated a flouring-mill.
He was there chosen Captain of Militia, and on the
breaking out of the late war was offered a Cap-
tain's commission by Attorney Gener.al Baker, of
Iowa. He entered the service with his company in
Missouri, under Gen. Fremont, in 1862, serving
directly under Col. Moore. He was b^ckand forth
to Missouri as he was required during the first year
of the war. Never formally accepting his commis-
sion, he served as Captain just tlie same. Capt.
Thomas came to the State Hospital at Mt. Pleasant,
as engineer, Dec. 18, 1863, and for nearlj' twenty-
five years has served in that capacity. He is a first-
class mechanic, understands his business thoroughly,
and possesses the perfect confidence of the State
Board of Managers and of his superior officers.
Under his judicious management the engines and
machinery have been operated with the greatest
economy and safety.

Mr. Thomas was married in Salem, Henry Count}',
June 2, 1850, to Miss Lettie Kendall. Mrs. Thomas
was but fifteen years of age at the time of her mar-
riage. She was born in Indiana and came with her

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370

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HENRY COUNTY.

parents to Henry County, Iowa, when but four
years of age. Four children were born to them,
two sons and two d:iughtcrs : Stephen, the eldest,
born March 2, 1800, died in infancy; INIartha
J. was born Sept. 30,1866, and is the wife of Louis
Schultz, a farmer of Trenton Township, Henry
Co., Iowa; she has a family of three children,
two boys and a girl — Lily, Jesse and Harry.
George W. was born at Mt. Pleasant, Nov. 5, 18G3;
he is an engineer at the Keteham Mills of this
place. Jesse P. is the foreman of the laundry
department of the Iowa State Hospital for the
Insane at Mt. Pleasant; he possesses marked artis-
tic talent which, if cultivated, may prove a source
of great pleasure to himself and friends. Mr.
Thomas and his wife are Methodists. He is liberal
ill his political views, and is a member in good
standing of Mystic Lodge No. 5r), I. O. O. r.,and
also a member of the K. of L.

<^ AMES A. THROOP, editor of the Mt. Pleas-
' ant F)-P(i Press, was born Dee. 7, 1835, in
Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y., of which vil-
(i^7/ lage his parents were also natives. His ances-
tors were of English origin, but for several genera-
tions had been natives of America, first residents of
Connecticut, but afterward of New York State. On
the paternal side they were of the Throop-Masons,
an<l on the matern.al of the Goldsmitli-Miners, all
well-known residents of the Eastern States. AVhen
James A. was an infant of three months old he was,
with Ins sister Cordelia, taken by his grandmother
to rear, his mother having died. His sister is now
Mrs. C. T. Cole, of Mt. Pleasant. His grandmother
afterward removed to Chenango County, N. Y.,
where James A. was reared and where he attended
the common schools until he was sixteen years old,
when he began a regular college course at Madison
University, in Hamilton, N. Y. He was designed
for the ministry, but on account of delicate health
that intention was abandoned, and he worked on a
farm, attended and taught school until 1855, when
at the earnest solicitation of his sister, then a popu-
lar teacher at Ilcmy, Marshall Co., 111., he came
West. His father had died six years before this,

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i

in 1849, at the then small city of Chicago. He was
with his sister at the time of her marriage to Rev.
W. R. Cole, in Henry, III., in December, 185G, and
came with them, at that time, to Mt. Pleasant, where
he has ever since lived. In 1857 Mr. Throop was
engaged by Messrs. J. W. & R. S. Cole as collector
and bonk-keeper. and in the fall of that year re-
turned to Chenango County, N. Y., and in the
spring of 1858 was married to Miss Rowena Beebe,
at McDonough, in that State. In Ma}' of that year
he brought his wife to Mt. Pleasant, and began
keeping house in the old "Octagon," well remem-
bered as one of the landmarks of that citj-, but after
one change finally settled down in his present home.

In 1859 Mr. Tliroop had an interest in the busi-
ness of Messrs. Cole Brothers, under the firm name
of Cole, Throop & Co., the firm establishing at
Greencastle, Ind., in 1802, a pump factory. These
they sold in this and other States in connection
with lightning rods. In the spring of 1865 Mr.
Throop sold his interest to Cole Brothers, and con-
tinued the business of selling lightning rods and
pumps, taking his uncle. D. D. W. C. Throop, as a
jiartner in 1868, and Solomon Wait in 1869, when
hardware was added to the business. In January,
1 872, Mr. Throop sold out his business, and in .June
of that year, in company with Edwin Van Cise,
bought the Mt. Pleasant Free Press, which was
conducted under their management until 1877,
since which time it has been conducted solely' hj'
him, Mr. Throop giving his entire time and ener-
gies to its business and man.agement. The result of
his care and excellent judgment in the conduct of its
affairs is apparent in the splendid propertj' into
which the concern has grown, and the wide influ-
ence it has acquired in the councils of the Demo-
cratic party in Henry and adjoining counties. He
has greatly extended the business of the oflice and
has established agents not only in manj^ parts of
Iowa, but in other of the Western States. Though
not taking personally' a ver}' active part in public
affairs, INIr. Throop has served seven years on the
School Board of Alt. Pleasant, and one term in its
City Council.

IMr. and Mrs Throop are the parents of eiglit
children, of whom five are now living, viz: Joseph
C, Horace L., Thomas D., Addison J. and Bessie

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HENRY COUNTY.

371

C. The three eldest are at present employed with
their father in the Free Press office. In his relig-
ions views Mr. Throop has from his yonth been
a believer in the doctrines of the Universalists. In
politics he was until 1872 a Republican, but in the
Greele}- campaign of that year joined the ranks of
the Democracy, with which party he h.as since been
identified. Personally he is a genial gentleman, an
upright man and a good citizen.

-wv -vtailC/®^^^-!

,/^^'^nRr»\~-v^/\^

'^ HARLES WHITE, residing on section 17,
/l( _ Center Townsliip, one of the pioneer set-
^^^ tiers of Henry County, was born in Ohio, in
1844, and when but an infant came with liis parents,
George and Mary (Kuany) White, to Henry County.
They were natives of Gernianj% but emigrated to
America in 1842. Herein this county the boyhood
days of Charles were passed, and here he received
his education in the common schools. He formed
a matrimonial alliance with Miss Lizzie Strawn, who
was a native of Connecticut. By this union there
were five children : Willie, Estella, Victor, Annie
and an infant. In the spring of 1880 Mr. White
located on his present farm in Center Township,
one mile west of Mt. Pleasant; on this farm he
built an elegant residence, which cost §1,300. His
farm of 113 acres is valued at $50 per acre. Mr.
White is a friend to education, and has given all
his cliildreu good educational advantages. He has
lived in this county all his life, and is a very suc-
cessful farmer .ind stock -raiser. Having lived here
from childhood he has been largely identified with
the interests of both township and county, and
many are the changes and improvements he has
witnessed and helped to bring about.

GEORGE OLINGER, Jr., is a farmer residing
on section 31, Wayne Township, Henrj'
Co., Iowa. One of the best known families
of this county was that of George Olinger, Sr., who
was a native of Tennessee. His father, Jacob
Olinger, was a native of Pennsylvania, was married
in that State, and removed to .Sullivan County,

Tenn. In that State the death of these grandpar-
ents probably occurred. George Olinger, Sr., went to
Hamilton County, 111., a single man, but was mar-
ried to Martha Taylor, in Wiiite Count}-, a daugh-
ter of Samuel and Sarah (Weaver) Taylor. The
death of Sar.ah Taylor, mother of Mrs. Martha
Olinger, occurred in Illinois, and her luisband mar-
ried for his second wife Miss Frankie Gohlson, and
in 1842 they came to this county, and yet reside in
Trenton Township. Samuel Taylor is in his eightj'-
fourth year. After Mr. Olinger was married, he en-
gaged in farming for some time in Hamilton County,
111., and there the two eldest children were born:
Henry, who wedded Elizabeth Lozier. and John, the
husband of Helen Miller. In 1841, with his family,
Mr. Olinger came overland to this county and pur-
chased the claim upon which our subject now lives,
and here, for many 3'ears, he and his wife resided,
growing wealthy and honored as time passed. The
first house was built of logs, and occupied the site
of the present farm residence. In an early d.ay the
clapboard roof and puncheon floor were common
and even a dirt floor was not uncommon. In the
first cabin were born: Samuel, now deceased; our
subject; Plirebe, wife of Milton Connor; Lincoln
and Lee, twins. Mary, Ellen and Amanda were
also born in Iowa, but in the city of Davenport, the
family ha\ing resided there for a few years prior
to their removal to this county. All of these chil-
dren grew to maturity in this county, and all except
Lincoln and Ellen were here married to well-known
citizens. Lincoln married Mabel Whitman, and
resides near Hastings, Neb.; Sarah wedded William
Palmer; Mary became the wife of James Richard-
son; Ellen died unmarried, and Amanda wedded
Simon Lozier.

Our subject is in charge of the original home-
stead. The father died Jan. 14, 1884, near Hast-
ings, Neb. The mother makes her home with
her children, who are all owners of good farms.
The wedding of George Olinger, Jr., was celebrated
March 22, 1877, Miss Belle Marshall becoming his
wife. Esquire McCIure, the oldest Justice of the
Peace of Henry County, performed the ceremony.
The parents of Mrs. Olinger, George and Sarah
(Eveland) Marshall, are yet living; the father is in
his seventy-sixth year, and the mother in her flfty-

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HENRY COUNTY.

seventh. To them were born eleven children :
John married Amanda Meeker; Mary is the wife
of Hiram Crow; .Jane, now deceased, was the wife
of Spencer Cox : Martha wedded William Tajlor;
Belle is the wife of our subject; Elizabeth is the
wife of "William Jones ; the others are Gritlilh D.,
Hattie L. and Ellsworth, all unmarried. The
deceased are Alaggie H. and James E.

Since their marriage, Mr. Olinger and his wife
have resided in both Kansas and Nebraska. They
have had four children, but one has been taken to
that better land above: James W. ; Fred E., de-
ceased; Don L., and Otis D., who was born upon
the grandfather's home in Wayne Township. The
family is a representative one of Wayne Township,
and a deserved place is given them in thisPoKTUvix
AND Biographical Album of Henry County.

^«HJH*^

^^ OURTLAND W. MILNER,one of the prom-

II „ ir

c

'

ill n '"'^'i'' ''^'1'^ enterprising farmers, residing on
^^Jy section 25, Tippecanoe Township, Henry
County, is a native of Miami County, Ohio, born
March G, 1839. His parents were Jehu T. and
Harriet (Mlllspaugh) Milner, the father a native of
Philadelphia, Pa., though of Welsh parentage, and
the mother a native of New York. The}' were
among the pioneer settlers of Miami County, Ohio,
and there they reared a family of eleven children,
who with the exception of two are all now living,
namely: Theodore; Courtland, our subject; Samuel
L., a merchant of Hastings, Neb. ; Leander, who
died at Hastings at the age of thirty -five ; William is
residing on a farm near Blue Hill, Neb.; Thomas,
residing in Seattle, AVash. Tcr., is a civil engineer
and Superintendent of the Western Division of the
Nortiierii Pacific Railroad ; Owen is residing in Rod
Cloud, Neb.; Harvey was a merchant of Hast-
ings, Neb., and died in that city in April, 1.S87;
Franklin is residing in Mexico; Alta is now Mrs.
Kershner, of Nebraska, and Harriet is the wife of
William Fittz, now of Lincoln, Neb.

Courtland Mihicr, our subject, was reared upon
the home farm, receiving his education at the com-
mon st^hools. Ho left his home, wiiieh was tiien in
A'an Huron County, Iowa, and at the age of twenty-

one went to Missouri, engaging as boss on a con-
struction train of the Hannibal & St. Joe Railroad,
continuing in this work until the breaking out of
the Civil War. At the President's call for troops
to put down the Rebellion, he enlisted in the Mis-
souri Strtte Militia, .June 21, 1861, but deserted in
November of the same year. Going to Keokuk, he
enlisted in the 17th Iowa Infantry, serving until Au-
gust,! 805. He was in the following battles : Siege of
Corinth, luka Mills, second battle of Corinth, Oct.
4, 1862 ; Tallahoochie, siege of Vicksburg ; Jackson,
Miss. ; Champion Hills, Missionary Ridge, and the
whole of the Atlanta campaign. At Tilton, Ga.,
Mr. Milner was captured with the entire regiment by
the troops of the rebel General, Hood, while guard-
ing a railro.ad. He was, however, at the time act-
ing as hospital steward. The nest morning after
being captured he was recaptured by the Major of
his regiment. Only sixty of the regiment were re-
captured, however, the rest being sent to Andorson-
ville. Those left acted as provost guard to Logan's
headquarters until mustered out of service on the
25th of Jul}', 1 865, at Louisville, Ky., he being then
Sergeant of Com{)an}- I. On returning to the pur-
suits of peace, Mr. Milner came to Henry County,
Iowa, working in the mill at Oakland until March
12, 1866. He then went back to Missouri, where
he was employed as foreman on construction of the
Northern Missouri Railroad until the spring of 1867 ;
then rctiu'ning to this county, he again engaged in
the mill in Oakland, which work he continued until
the spring of 1868.

On the 24th of December, 1868, the marriage of
Courtland Milner and Mar}' C. Lazenby was cele-
brated. She is a native of Henry County, and a
daughter of Benjamin J. and Edith A. (Sanderson)
Lazenhy, the father a native of \^irginia, and the
mother of Kentucky, and of whom a sketch appears
elsewhere. Mr. and Mrs. Milner have been the
parents oi six children: Mabel, now cng.aged as
teacher in Oakland, Iowa, was educated at Howe's
Academy in Mt. Pleasant; Elsa Maud and Orson E.
reside at home; Sarah I. is attending sciiool, while
Ernest and Ruth Josephine are still inmates of the
parental home.- Mr. Milner is a member of Adam
Kimi)le Post, G. A. R. Politicall}-, ho endorses the
princijiles of the Union Labor party, by whom he

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.oKZ-

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i 4

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HENRY COUNTY.

375

was nominated for Sheriff in 1887, and endorsed by
the Democrats, running aiiead of the general ticket.
He has held various township offices and is at pres-
ent a member of the Board of Trustees and of the
School Board, which office he has held for four
years. Mr. Jlilner is one of the well-to-do farmers
of Tippecanoe Township, his farm of 103 acres be-
ing one of the best cultivated in that part of the
county. His Imrd labor, economy and honesty
have gained him all that he has, and one cannot but
give him the esteem and confidence due to such a
man. As an upright man and good citizen he
stands high in the communit}'.

eH. SMITH, General Manager of the Western
Wheel Scraper Company, the most import-
ant manufacturing institution of Mt. Pleas-
ant, was born in Hamilton Count}", Ohio, Nov. 2G,
1842, and came to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, with his
parents, D:ivid and Hannah Smith, in 1853. Mr.
Smith was educated in the city schools, and enlist-
ing in September, 1862, in Companj^ C, of the
4th Iowa Cavalry, and continued in the service
until the close of the war. He was captured by
the rebels at Grenada, Miss., Aug. 18, 1863,
escaped and reached, the Union lines at La, Grange,
Tenn., August 27. He participated in the siege of
Vicksburg, during which time he took part in
numerous engagements with the rebel cavalry.
He also took part in the raid on ^lemphis, and was
with Wilson's expeclition in Alabama and Georgia,
during wliich he took part in the battles at Selma,
Ala., and Columbus. Ga., the latter being tlie last
battle of the war. He was promoted to the position
of Second Lieutenant, and received an honorable
discharge in August, 1865, having given three
years of faitliful service to the defense of the
Union. On his return from the war he became a
resident of Burlington, Iowa, returning to Mt.
Pleasant in 1878, and engaging in the construction
of the Atcliison. Topeka ife Santa Fe Raih'oad. It
was while he was on this work that he introduced
the wheel scrapers, and demonstrated their practical
use. This experiment led to the establishment of
the factory at Mt. Pleasant, of which he is the
-4»

efficient manager, and of which an account is given
below^

jMr. Smith was united in maiTiage at Burlington,
Iowa, :May 26, 1874, to ISliss Selma C. Teuscher.
Mrs. Smith was born in Farmington, Iowa. They
have three children, all daughters — Stella INIay,
Edna Louise and an infant. Mr. Smith is a Repub-
lican in politics, and is Commander of McFarland
Post No. 20, G. A. R. He is enthusiastic in the
cause of the Grand Army, and has done much to
place McFarland Post upon its present prosperous
footing. He is a stirring business man, and the
marked success of the Wheel Scraper Company is
due to his energetic and judicious management.

On an adjoining page we give a faitliful portrait
of this trul}' representative business man of Mt.
Pleasant, to whom is due much of its prosperity, in
the employment of much of its skilled Labor, and
in the distribution of large sums of money in pay-
ment thereof.

o

The Western Wheel Scraper Company was incor-
porated in 1877, and tlie business was begun that
year at Mt. Pleasant on a small scale, but four men
being employed, the intention then being to manu-
facture only for their own stockholders, who were
in the contracting business, and needed the articles
in their own work. In 1878 the making of road
and grading plows was begun, and liie business
gradually increased. The practical value of the
wheel scrapers especially being fully demonstrated,
many other contractors wanted to share in the bene,
fits to be derived from their use, and the demand
for them was so urgent and persistent that the com-
pany decided to enlarge their works, and put them
on the market, selling to all who wanted to buy.
Thus was begun the industry which to-day is so
potent a factor in the growth and prosperity of !Mt.
Pleasant, giving emploj^ment to hundreds of its
workmen, and supplying tlie means of comfortable
support for hundreds of its families, and adding
yearly largely to the valuation of the city.

In 1880 the company added to their manufacture
the Improved Drag Scraper, which they now make
in large numbers. Extending their operations still
farther, in 1884 they began the manufacture of the
Moore Road Grader, a machine for grading and ie v-

t

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376

HENRY COUNTY.

eling roads, which saves fully seventy-five per cent of
the cost of working roads in the old way. In 1887
they added two new features to their factory, one
being a reversible grader, which promises still
farther to reduce the cost of grading, and work a
revolution in the work, by largely increasing the
capacity and efflciency of the machine. The other
new department added to the work is the manufact-
ure of the "Western Farm Wagon," which em-
braces several novel and improved features, never
before embodied in the manufacture of anj' wagon,
such as a new improved thimble skein, new style of
lock, an improved manner of ironing, and espec-
ially a new patent dump end gate, which has already
proved itself greatly superior to anything of the
kind heretofore invented. Tliese wagons, which
promise hereafter to be a prominent part of their
trade, will be made in tlie thorough manner which
h.as been a characteristic of all of the work turned
out at this establishment. They will be painted in
a superior and artistic manner, and no i)ains will be
spared to make them superior to any wagon of the
kind ever put on the market, and the achievements
of the company in the past are a guaranty that
what they undertake they will carry out.

To accommodate their largely increased and con-
tinually increasing trade, the buildings and grounds
occupied by the companj' have been added to from
year to year. Instead of the one small l)uilding
used in l.'~!77 their works now cover two entire
blocks of ground, in which employment is given to
nearly 300 men, which force will be largely in-
creased next season. The operations of the com-
p!in_y have been conducted with such shrewdness
and business ability, and their manufactures have
acquired such envialilc fame for tlieir ])ractical
utility, and the honest and thorough maimer in
which they are made, that the business is on a sure
and stable foundation. While oilier manufacturing
establishments are usually closed during a part of
the year these works have never been shut down
since thej' started, except for necessary repairs.
Their value to the city of Mt. Pleasant is very
great, bringing a large addition to its population,
and distributing much more money in it tlian any
other industry or business in the city or count}'.
The Directors of the company are ('apt. Warren

Beckwith. Dr. A. ^Y. McClure and Charles H. Smith.
The latter has since the inception of the works been
their efficient manager and controlling spirit, and
his energy and good judgment have done much to
produce the great success attained by the companj*.
His associates recognize this fact, and leave the
entire management in the hands of Jlr. Smith, with
gratifying results to themselves.

n

ELSON B. ANDREWS, wholesale .and retail
dealer in queensware, crockery, glassware,
\V\M^ etc., at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was born in
New London Township. Henry Co., Iowa, Dec. 7,
1843. His parents, AVells and Laura (Brockway)
Andrews, were among the pioneers of that county,
and his father is still a resident of New London
Township. His father was born in Trumbull
County, Ohio, in April, 1810, emigrated to Henry
Countj% Iowa, in 1837, and located in New London
Township, where he is known as one of the
wealthiest and most highly respected citizens.
Nelson B. was reared on the farm, and educated in
the district schools of his native town, and in Prof.
Howe's private school at Mt. Pleasant. He began
business as a teacher <:)f country schools, doing
chores before and after school liours. After follow-
ing that occupation for three years, he had, by
economical hnbit>, s:ivc<l up a capital of $300. He
then formed a partncr>liip with Mr. D. I. Ilolcomb,
at Mt. Pleasant, as jobbers and dealers in crockery
and glassware. Their customers were located
principally along the liue of the Chicago, Burling-
ton A: CJuincy Pailroad, through Iowa .'ind Ne-
braska. At the end of live years he closed out his
interest in the business and found himself pos-
sessed of a good farm of eightj'-foiu' acres, situated in
Center Townshi|i, and a small cash capitiil. He then
went to Salt Lake City, California, an<l the Pacific
Coast. Starting in .lune, 187."!, he spent nearly a
year in travel, and brought up in Washington, D.
C, where there was a peculiar attraction in the
person of Miss Maggie J. Van A'oast, to whom he
was united in m.arriage April 14, 1874. Mrs. An-
drews is a daughter of Nicholas Van Voast, and
was born in Trenton Township, Ilenrj' Co., Iowa.

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HENRY COUNTY.

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377

Her people were among the pioneers of that region.
Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs.
Andrews returned to Henry County, Iowa, and Mr.
Andrews engaged in the cultivation of his farm in
Center Township. He carried on the farm for five
years, when he rented his farm, and again engaged
in the crockery and glassware trade at Mt. Pleas-
ant, this time with his father-in-law as partner.
That connection continued for three years, when
he bought his partner's interest, and has since con-
ducted the business alone, and still does a jobbing
trade.

Mr. Andrews is a thorough business man, active,
prompt and sj'Stematic. He began business with a
capital of only $300, and has, by strict attention to
the details of business, and fair dealing, built up a
fine trade and a prosperous business, and is recog-
nized as one of the leading business men of Mt.
Pleasant, ^[r. Andrews served three years as Treas-
urer of the Henry County Farmers' Mutual Fire
Insurance Company, was Secretary for two years of
the Center Township School Board, and is the
present Secretary of the Henry County Old Settlers'
Association. He was Treasurer of the Old Settlers'
Association for three j'ears, and is a member of the
Executive Board of the Henry County Agi-icultural
Society. Mr. Andrews is a Republican in politics,
but has never been a politician in the office-seeking
sense of the word. Both he and his wife are mem-
bers of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has
for the past five j'ears been a Trustee.

ILLIAM FOSTER, deceased, was born in
Pennsylvania, and was a son of Charles
and Margaret (Trimmel) Foster. The
family moved to Washington County, Ohio, where
Charles Foster purchased a farm, and there our
subject grew to manhood, and wedded for his first
wife M. Phiebe Scott, and by this union two chil-
dren were born : Amanda, who married Harlan
Jameson ; and P)rownhiIl, who became the husband
of .Jennie Button. The first resides near Cherokee,
Kan., and the latter near Hastings, Neb. Their
I mother died in August, and Miss Elizabeth Harter,
born in Franklin County, Pa., became William

Foster's second wife. She is a daughter of Christian
and Katie (Ullum) Harter, both born in Peimsyl-
vania, and of their children, also born in that State,
only one is now living, the widow of our subject.
Her father died when she was a child, and her
mother married a Mr. Shorts, and after his death
William Seifei'd became her third husband, and they
removed to Ohio, where the marriage of Mr. Foster
and Miss Harter occurred. A few years later the
latter couple removed to this county, and the pres-
ent home of Mrs. Foster was their first and only
abiding-place. The mother of Mrs. Foster, with
her husband, came later to Henry County, and Mrs.
Seiferd made her home with her daughter until her
death; the husband went to Ohio and died there
while visiting.

Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Foster
in Ohio: George L. and Jonathan, both of whom
died in infancy. In this county were born : Mary
C, wife of Emory Smith; Charles, who wedded
Minda Brown; Edmund, who became the husband
of Lydia Holloway; James married Mattie Steven-
son; Phcebe E. died in infancy; Estelle is the wife
of Charles L. Crabtree; and Harlan J., yet un-
married, is the manager of the home farm. The
good name which has followed the Foster family
during their residence here, entitles them to a place
in the history of Henry County. The devoted
husband died in the spring of 1882, he and his good
wife having been residents of this county for thirty-
four years, and all their children living were born,
reared, educated, and were happily married in the
roomy farmhouse. Mr. Foster, during his lifetime,
was a provident man, a kind father, and one of the
best of husbands, and his.de.ath was deeply regretted
by hundreds of friends, who had known him long
and well. He had been connected with the School
Board for several years, and was foremost in the
work of advancement in every sense. His good
wife is an honor to his name, and has carefully
reared her children, of whom she has reason to be
proud. William Foster was also an honored soldier,
who served more than three years in the army. He
was a member of Company K, 4th Iowa Cavalry,
and was Quartermaster Sergeant during the time. He
faced the rebel shot and shell at Vicksburg, Look-
out and Kennesaw Mountains, Atlanta, Missionary
: ^ •^

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378

HENRY COUNTY.

Ridge, and with Sherman on the march to the sea,
and during all that time was on duty every day.
His wife and children managed the farm during the
time Mr. Foster was absent, Brownhill, then only
fifteen years of age, being the eldest. After his
return from the army, Mr. Foster remained on the
farm during the remainder of his life, and lived to
see the principles for which he fought duly estab-
lished. He and all his sons were Republicans.

\¥|A.SPERN. BUTTON, of Marion Township,
residing on section 22, was born in Henry
County, Iowa, Nov. 4, 1850, and is the son
of George and Dorcas (Ramsey) Dutton.
His father is a native of Connecticut, and his motlier
of Indiana. Their family consisted of nine children,
two of whom died in infancy ; of those living 1).
Webster m:irried Miss Amanda Beuler, a daughter
of Samuel Beuler, of Pennsylvania; they now live
near Jit. Union in this county. Louisa, wife of
Capt. George W. Barr, a farmer, resides near Spring-
Branch, Neb.; Frank B., married and lives in New-
ton, Kan. ; AVilliard G.. a farmer and stock-raiser
of Udilla County, Neb., married Miss Kate Turner;
Jasper is the fifth child ; George AV., married and
lives at Coleridge, Neb. ; Charles is a resident of
Bennet, Neb., and wedded Miss Mary Smith,
daughter of John Smith, of Henry County. The
father and mother of tliis family came to this county'
at a \Qry earlj' day, where they became .acquainted
and were married. As Mr. George Dutton came
to Hein-y Count}- in 1 8.^0, he m.ay truly be called a
pioneer, for at that time there was only a solitary
log cabin where the beautiful and prosperous city
of Mt. Pleasant now stands, and the deer and the red
man roamed the plains at pleasure. He located on
the farm on which his son Jasper now resides, and
constructed his log ca])in home where now stands a
beautiful and commodious two-story dwelling. He
took a claim of 100 acres of raw land, which he
soon converted into a fine farm, and it was on this
farm that all his children were born. George Dut-
ton is trulj' one of the representative men of the
county, and has always taken a firm stand for law
and order. He remained in Henry County until
M»

1869, when the desire for pioneer life again took
possession, and he accordingly left his farm in Henry
County and moved to Montgomery County, Kan.,
where he bought and entered .320 acres of wild
land and turned the sod with his favorite team,
oxen. On this land he built a log cabin, and here
he remained until altout 1884 when, wishing to be
nearer his son George, he moved to Pierce County,
Neb., and bought 320 acres of wild land, where he
still resides. Thus Mr. Dutton lias been a pioneer
of Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. He and his good
wife have always been leading members of the Bap-
tist Church in whatever conununity they lived, and
stood high in the love and esteem of all who knew
them.

Jasper Dutttm, the subject of this sketch, has
spent his life upon a farm and has received a good
common-school education. At the age of twent^y-
one his father gave him forty acres of land, and he
has added to it from time to time until he now has
400 acres in one body, the old homestead of 160
acres being included in this. l\[r. Dutton is a well-
to-do farmer and a first-class business man in every
respect, and no man in the county stands higher in
the respect of its citizens than does he, and though
comparativel}^ a young man he has done much
toward its development. In December, 1 875, he was
united in marri.age with Miss Mar^' Montgomery,
who was born Jan. G, 185C. and to them have been
born four children: Ira, born Oct. 4, 1876, and
died June 5, 1S83; Clyde, born Aug. 5, 1878;
Fred, May 8, 1881 : Art, Oct. 8, 1884.

ATRICK O'CONNELI.. lireninn at the
) Iowa State Hospital for the Insane, at Mt.

T Pleasant, Iowa, has been connected with
that institution longer than any other per-
son, having worked on the construction of the first
building of the hospital. He helped put in tlie
boilers and machinery in 1860, built the first fires in
the furnaces, and has been retained in charge of the
furnaces continuously since, covering a period of
over twenty-seven years. Mr. O'Connell was born
in County Cavn, Ireland, parish of Laara, township
of Lisnaglee, in the ye.ar 1822. He is a son of

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HENRY COUNTY.

379

Michael ami Bridget (Rudan) O'Connell ; was reared
on a farm and emigrated to America in 1850, land-
ing in New York on the day of the funeral of
President Ta3'lor, J11I3' 30, 1850. He went directly
to Sullivan County-, Ind., where he was variously
employed for the next four years. He had his liv-
ing to earn and worked at an^'thius he could turn
his hand to, be it railroading, farming or any other
work. In 1854 he came to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
where he engaged in brick-making and quarrj'ing
for a year. In April, 1855, he engaged with C'apt.
McMahon, preparing for the building of the Iowa
State Hospital, as before mentioned.

Mr. O'Connell was married, Feb. 1, 1853, iu Sul-
livan County, Ind., to Miss Rebecca Govan, a
daughter of William M. Govan, of Kentucky. Her
father was a soldier in the War of 1 8J 2, and partic-
ipated in the battle of Tippecanoe under Taylor.
Mrs. O'Connell was born in Sullivan County, Ind.
Six children were born of this union, of whom five
are now living: Isabella, the eldest, died at the age
of twent3'-two ; Wilbur, assistant fireman at the
State Hospital, wedded Sarah Melcher, and resides
at Mt. Pleasant; Charles P. married Sadie Millispei,
and lives at Chariton, Iowa ; Cora, residing at
Topeka, Kan., is a stenographer, and is emploj'ed
by the Rock Island Railroad ; French E. is married,
and I'esidesin Missouri ; Ollie, residing in Kankakee,
is an attendant at the Hospital for the Insane at that
place. Mrs. O'Connell died July 16, 1877. Mr.
O'Connell is a member of the Catholic Church, and
is a Democrat in politics.

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<5«f..

coi

j^^ TEPHEN WILLIAMS, a prominent farmer
^^^ and early settler of Henry County, Iowa,
i\£_lj) residing on section 13, Baltimore Town-
ship, was born in Union Countj', Ind.,
17, 1824, and came to Iowa in ]\Iarch, 1843.
parents, Neheniiah and Cynthia (Bowden)
AVilliams, were natives of Mar^'land. The father was
born in 1787, and died in 1839, and the mother
was born Oct. 7,* 1788, and died Oct. 14,1877.

Our subject spent his early life in his native
county in Indiana, and when fifteen years nf age

May
His

removed with his parents to Jlontgomery Count}',
in the same State. In Mai-ch, 1843, he emigrated
to Iowa, and located in Baltimore Township, where
he staid for two years. The following twelve years
he spent in Des Moines County, then coming to
his present home, where he has since resided. He
purchased the farm he occupies in 1861, or a part
of it, and has since added to it, haying now .1
well-improved and valuable farm of 302 acres, 100
acres of it being in Des Moines Countj'. His trad-
ing town and post-office is Danville, Des Moines
Count}-. Mr. Williams was married, Oct. 7,1849,
to Miss Sarah A. Demoss, daughter of P^lijah and
Margaret (Watkius) Demoss. Mrs. Williams was
born in Union County, Ohio, July 7, 1833. Her
father was born iu Ohio, and her mother in New
Jersey, and the family emigrated to Des Moines
County, Iowa, in 1847. Both died in Louisa
County. Of their children Mrs. Williams is the
only survivor. Six children were born to Mr.
and Mrs. Williams, three sons and three daugh-
ters, of whom two onl}' are now living: Margaret
was born July 16, 1850, and is the wife of Rev.
John Shepherd, a minister of the Christian Church,
and a resident of Danville, Des Moines Co., Iowa,
and has two children — Druzella and Nellie; Cyn-
thia J. was born Julj- 26, 1853, and died Augi 15,
1855; George, born Dec. 30, 1854, married Eliza
Howe, and is a farmer of Baltimore Township,
and has three children — Lennic Cline, Stephen and
Lutie Delia; Daniel M., born July 22, 1837, died
Feb. 8, 1877; he was the husband of Catherine
Krekel, who resides in Baltimore Township. Two
died iu infanc}'.

While Mr. Williams was a resident of Des Moines
County he for five years ran a sawmill in this
county, keeping his home, however, in the former.
He was also for a year in the same business in
Des Moines County, principally engaged in getting
out ties for the- Chicago, Burlington &Quiucy Rail-
road Company.

Mr. Williams has served several years as Town-
ship Trustee, aud has held other minor oflSces. He
is a Democrat in politics, aud is a member of the
Christian Church. He is also a member of the
Danville Lodge No. 48, A. F. <fe A. M., and has
taken the Master's degree. Mrs. Williams is also a
—^

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380

HENRY COUNTY.

member of the Christian Church, and is highly
esteemed for many excellent qualities of head and
heart. Mr. Williams is widely and favorably
known as an upright, industrious man, whose whole
course of life has been free from reproach, and
whose honest and kindlj' way has won him hosts
of friends.

eASPER CHANDLEE, a farmer of Henry
County. Iowa, resides on section 13, ^Yayne
Township. We desire to make individual
mention of each of the family, as all are well
known. The three youngest children were born
in Henr}' County. Our subject was born near
Brookeville, Montgomery Co., Md., Oct. 4, 1827,
and is the son of Mahlon and Catherine (Frame)
Ciiandlee. She was a daughter of David Frame,
of Bucks County, Pa., who late in life purchased
a farm near Brookeville, Md., and attended the
Washington marlvets with his vegetables. At the
time of his death he was a resident of his market
garden farm. George Chandlee, the paternal
grandsire of our subject, was a native of New
Jersey, born at Mt. Holly, and married his wife,
Miss Gainer Brooks, in Maryland, and during his
lifetime was a large land-owner and si)ecuIator in
real estate. His father was \\'illiani Chandlee, a
native of England, who came to America ])rior to
the Revolutionary War. By trade he was a cutler,
and opening a forge at Alt. Holly, he made sickles
and swords for Washington's army. Mahlon Chand-
lee was united in marriage with Miss Catliarine
Frame at Sandy .Spring, Md., near which place he
owned a large i)lantation. By birth tlie Ciiandlees
and Frames were (Quakers, and the great Sandy
Spring Quaker Cliurch yet stands near liie old
ancestral manor. .Malilon Chandlee was born in
17'.)(), and is yet living in the same old manor and
in the same house he erected before marriage, and
in which his seven children — Sarah, Edwin, Eliza,
Saraii M., Casper, William (i. and Albert — were
born. All are deceased but Casjjcr aiul Albert.
The eldest son was a doctor of dental surger}', and
practiced for twenty-five years on Howard street,

Baltimore, Md., in which city his death occurred.
His wife was Cassie Turner, of Baltimore, and she
is also deceased. Eliza died unmarried; Sarah, the
deceased wife of Samuel Pidgeon, of Wadesville,
Clarke Co., Va. ; William, deceased, married Mar-
tha Sutton, of Baltimore. Albert is the only one
living, except our subject, and is a resident on the
ancestral homestead. His wife is Sarah A. Bran-
son, of Hopewell, W. Xa..

Casjier Chandlee became the husband of Miss
Mary B. Mount on the 2d of May, 1855, and at
the residence of the bride's parents, John and Eliza
(Thomas) Alount, of Waterford, Loudoun Co., Va.,
the ceremony was performed. In their marriage a
courtship was completed that lasted for four long-
years, Casper living forty miles away, and in going
to see the lady of his choice a mountain range and
river had to be crossed. His visits, however, were
made annually, and the result was a union that has
been one of the most pleasant. The father of Mrs.
Chandlee was a cabinet-maker of Waterford, and
for sixty consecutive j-ears operated a shop, be-
ginning in 1816, and ceasing at the time of his
death, in 1876. Two children weie born to Jlr.
and Mrs. Mount: William T., the husband of
Betty Castlcman, of Clarke County, Xa., now re-
sides in Omaha, Neb., and Mis. Chandlee.

After her marriage the young ct)uple began life
on a part of his father's farm, and there the eldest
chihl, a son, Elliott, was born. He is now the hus-
band of Carrie Hunter, a native of this countj',
and resides in Holt County, Neb., where he owns a
quarter section of land. In 1860 Casper Chandlee
and his young wife left JIaryland and came to
Clinton County, Iowa, reaching Eden Townsliip in
the spring of that year. Shortly after arri\iiig in
this county the faniilj- narrowly escaped death, be-
ing in the track of the lyclone of June .'i, 1860,
which swept across the coiuitr}', carrying away
many houses and other buildings. Their house
was a one-stor}' frame building. Supper was just
finished when the Iilow came, which demolished
tiieir house, and left nothing but a few boards and
the debris of furniture, etc. Strange to say, only
a few bruises were received, and Mr. Chandlee and
wife, thankful for their miraculous escape, e.ach
chisped a child in their arms, anil crawling along

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HENRY COUNTY.

381

the ground to a neighboring straw stack, found
temporary shelter from the pitiless storm that fol-
lowed. As Mr. Chandlee loolred from their place
of refuge a feather bed was blown past them,
which w.as almost the only thing saved from a
well-furnisiied liome. Their clothing was found
scattered over a wide extent of country. House,
barns and fences shared a lilie fate. Clara Chandler,
deceased, who wedded Alfred Cooper, of this county,
was born in Clinton County, Iowa; she was mar-
ried on her eighteenth birthday, Sept. 5, 1877,
and the 20th of that month her spirit passed from
earth. Eliza, wife of Benjamin Deyarnion, of
Uniontown, Pa., and Edwin, now deceased, were
also born in Clinton County. Mr. Chandlee had
purchased a piece of land which he improved and
resided upon for several years. In 1864 this was
sold, and a tract of wild land purchased in Henry
County, to which they removed the same year.
Every stick, everj' tree, and all the improvements
which add beauty to this now valuable farm, were
placed there by Mr. Chandlee. In 1883 the first
house built was consumed by Are, but from its
ashes rose a handsome country residence. To their
Henry Count}' home came their three children —
Mollie B., WiUiam and Pearl. This trio are quite
accomplished vocalists, and the eldest daughter is
a musician of note. Their home is made attractive
by music and social pleasures. In the sitting-room
is an easy chair, made by the father of Mrs.
Chandlee, that has been in constant use for more
than half a century, and is a relic highly prized
as a gift from her father.

^ AMES T. DAVIDSON is a farmer residing
on section 23, Scott Township. Kentucky
has furnished numerous families well known
in Henry County, who, from its first settle-
ment to this date have lieen most actively engnged
in her business growth and prosperity. Mr. David-
son, although not one of the first settlers of the
county, has for the past thirty years been one of
the best known men of Scott Township, and bis
family has always been considered a prominent one.
Our subject was born in Nicholas County, Ky.,

Jan. 23, 1828, and is the son of Judah and Mary S.
(Parks) Davidson. The father, who was of old
Puritan stock, died when James T. was six months
old, :uid his widow afterward married Samuel
Thompson, who came to this county in 1858.
She died in the fall of 1860, and her remains were
the first interred in the Winfield Cemetery after it
was laid out. Mr. Thompson returned to Ohio
soon after her death, and remained there the rest i>f
his life. iMrs. Thompson by her first husband had
two children — R. P. Davidson, a leading lawyer of
Lafayette, Ind., and James T. The former wedded
Jennie Claybaugh, a daughter of Dr. Claybaugh,
who was a professor and Pi'esident of the Oxford
Theological Seminary in Ohio, and was one of the
best known theologians of that region.

James T. Davidson was reared in the State of
Kentucky, and being energetic and industrious,
was of great assistance to his mother. Farming-
was his greatest delight, and while his brother was
attending college James remained with his mother,
contented in having her days brightened by the
happiness which his success brought as he grew in
years. He was eleven years of age when his mother
married Mr. Thompson, who was a merchant while
in Kentucky and also in Winfield for a few months.
Until fourteen years of age James resided with his
grandfather, James Parks, and having nothing to
do but hunt, fish and swim, became proficient in
these arts, and grew to manhood a perfect physical
specimen. His first work for himself was prior to
his marriage, he taking charge of the estate left by
his father.

On the 4th of September, 1851, Mr. Davidson
wedded Nancy A. Glenn, and their domestic life
was begun on the homestead where he was born.
Mrs. Davidson is the daughter of Moses F. and
Elizabeth (Cowan) Glenn, who were early settlers
of Nicholas County, Ky. Moses Glenn was of
Irish descent, but was born at a fort in Bourbon
County, Ky., known as the Irish Station, and
erected when the Indians were troublesome. Under
the old constitution of Kentucky, Mr. Glenn was
created a magistrate of Nicholas County, aud later
was thrice elected as her Representative to the
General Assembly, serving with that faithfulness
which had always characterized his administration

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382

HENRY COUNTY.

as magistrate and High Sheriff, which position he
also held. He died full of years and honors, and
was buried in Kentuekj-, at the age of threescore
and ten. Judah Davidson w.as also a High Sheriff
of his county, and history records it that he adjusted
the rope that hung the first man ever executed in
Nicholas County, Ky., for a crime committed after
its organization.

Three children were born to James T. Davidson
and wife in Kentucky, before their removal in 1858
to this State. Thej'' are: Mary, wife of Calvin
Darnell, a dealer in real estate in Carlisle, Ky. ;
Elizabeth, wife of Dr. E. B. Ringland, a resident
physician of Keokuk, Iowa, who erected the sani-
tarium at Hamilton, 111., and Charles E., a dealer in
stock and real estate at San Angelo, Tex. Five
children were added to their family circle after
becoming residents of Iowa, of whom one is de-
ceased, Jennie, who died when two years of age.
The survivoi's are: M. Glenn, who wedded Clara
Smith, of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and is a partner with
his brother Charles in San Angelo, Tex.; Robert
P., Sally P. and James are with their parents on the
home farm. The two eldest daughters were graduates
of college in this count^^ and the youngest gradu-
ated in music at Mt. Vernon.

Mr. Davidson has spared no expense in the edu-
cation of his children, and since their residence in
Henry County the family have become endeared to
aU who know them. Since their arrival in 1858,
the splendid farm upon which Mr. Davidson resides
has been put under cultivation. A part of this
large tract was traded for before he came to this
county. His first visit was made in 1856, and the
future of Iowa looking so bright, he purchased in
partnership with his mother a h.alf section of prairie.
Scarcely a house was in sight between Big Creek
and Winfield, and the outlook promised plenty of
hard work and small returns. Mr. Davidson pushed
on to Warren County, and entered 200 acres which
he later traded to Daniel Morel^' for a piutly im-
proved 80-acre farm upon which a small house
stood, occupying the exact site of his present f.-im-
il}' home. Mr. Davidson returned to Kentuekj'
for his family, bringing them to Iowa in the spring
of 1858. His wife had never seen a prairie, and
the waving grjiss and sparsely settled region were

anj'thing but a pleasure. Accustomed to society,
to ;ill that brought comfort :it home in Ken-
tucky, it required the greatest sacrifice on her
part to remain, f)ut as emigration Ijrought other
families to the neighborhood, and tiie years went
by, she bec:ime accustomed to the change, and
her home is now the dearest spot on earth. The
magnificent pines and maples that line the avenues
leading to their house were planted since their
arrival, and the fine barns and (,>uthouses, the miles
offence and the bro.ad acres owned by Mr. David-
sou, represent years of labor and prosperity.

To James T. Davidson is largely due the build-
ing of the Narrow Gauge Railroad, known as the
Burlington & Northwestern. Several attempts had
lieen made to organize a compan}', and to get an
appropriation from tlie towns along the proposed
line, but after several ineffectual attempts had been
made and abandoned, Mr. Davidson, full of enter-
prise and public spirit, determined to put his
shoulder to the wheel, and upon the organization of
the new company, of which he was elected Vice
President, the several towns were canvassed for
subscription. Scott Township was assessed $25,-
000, as estimated bj^ the engineer, and Dr. Wertz,
Sara Clarke and James T. Davidson, composed the
committee on subscription. Mr. Davidson gener-
ously offered to pay i;l,000 if §2,1,000 additional
was raised, and this liberal offer was a direct means
of securing the amount; |;26,000 was raised, of
which $24,000 was paid in. The road was built
and equipped, and this will ever remain a monument
to the generosit}' and public spiritedness of the
citizens, chief of whom in this neigliborhood is the
man of whom we write.

As an advocate of Democratic measures, Mr.
Davidson has always been one of the most ardent.
He became identified with that part}' in his earlj'
manhood, and has never seen reason to change his
views. He was the choice of his party for Repre-
sentative in 1872, and in a county polling 1,700
Rei)ublicau majority, he reduced it to forty-two
majority on the popular vote, Hon. II. R. Lj'ons
being his competitor. His wife is a member of the
I'resbyteriau Church of Winfield, and also their
daughters. Their home has ever been noted for
hospitality, good cheer, and everytliing which gives

' 'I

i

e.W. SALISBUftr .D€L . CLGIN.ILL .

Billy. Joe

Stock Farm of LD. Anderson &50I

YOUNG Louis Napoleon.

SEC. 24.m/\rionTown5Hip,henry COUNTY. Iowa.

^J

HENRY COUNTY.

3H7

such a {•harm to tlie life of a farmer of thrift. The
liUlc Ivciitiicky fnrtii is now sii|)ei-sc(lc(l liy a section
of ferlil(i prairie land, iinsurpassi^d fi)r |)r()ilii(!tive-
nes.s, an ('vidence of tiirift and economy. We pre-
sent tliis siietcii witli pIciisMre U> the |)eoi)i(^ of
Henry Connty, uilli whom I'oi' tiiirty years the
Havidsons iiavc liccn as>()i;i;i(,c(l in social and Imsi-
ness life.

D. ANDKIiSON, a pi-oinincnt farmer and
stock-raisi'i- of Marion Townsiiip, Henry
/!'— <a Co., Iowa, was horn Dec. 10, 1828, an<l is the
son of K(^v. r.enjamm and llhoda (l)inratt) Ander-
son. Tiie fornn'r was lioi-n in 171)1, and the latter
in I71t7. He was one of a, family of eigiit children :
Daniel D., a resident of Highland County, (Jhio;
I\Ialind:i, now tlie wife of .Moi'ris lOllis, resides in
I'lainlleM, Inii.; Kaehel married Di-. David Tay-
lor,of Hamilton County, 111. ; thity have both f^<,ne to
their linal home. I5enjaniin \'>., .Jr., deceased ; i>ouisa,
the widow of Hiram Rush, now resides in Wasiiing-
ton, l*"Myette Co., Ohio; .lames C. is a farmer in
Highland County, Ohio; Liicinda is the wile of
Hugh Fishback, a resident of KoUonio, Ind.;
Hannah, who is the widow of Mr. Hall, is lesiding
in St. Louis, ftlo. ; her husband was killed while
gallantly lighting for tli(^ Union. The inollier of
these children was called t<j her linal rest in lH.O.'J,
and was burieilin Highland County, (Jhio. Of her
the highest praise bestowed on woman can be said ;
she was a tine mother, an earnest (.'hristian, a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many
3'ears, and wjis ready when the flnal summons came.
Her husbaml was a, loerU minister, and began jireach-
ing at the age of twenty-two. He died at the age
of eighty-six, in Plainfield, Ind., having been in the
service of his Mast(;r for si.\ty-si.x years.

The subject of this sketch comes of old Revolu-
tionary stock, his grandfather Anderson and foin'
of his sons being regularly enlisted soldiers in the
Revolutionary War. Most of the family lived to a
very advanced age, the father being one hundred
and six years of age when he was called to his rest;
his son .John lived to be nearly one hundred; .Jes-

sie to be eighty-six; David was nearly ninety; and
Mr. Anderson's father was eighty -six. Mr. Ander-
son remained under the parental roof until llie age
of twenty-two. His early life was spent upon llie
farm, and in attending thc! common schools. On
the IGth of January, IH.'Jl, he led to Ihe marriage
altar Miss Eliza .J. Smith, who wasa luitive of Ohio,
born in Fayette County, Dec. 8, I8.'il. She w.-is .a,
daughter of Adam and liyda (liruce) Smilli, Ihe
father beinga native of Kentucky, and the mother
of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson . were the
happy parents of four children: Carrol was born
on tlie .'50th of Nov('mber. 1851, and he died
Nov. 21, 18.11), being buried at Hickory Grove,
Henry Co., Iowa; Lyda K., born Nov. 17, IMOO,
was united in marriage; with Homer S|)iy, a fanner
of Miirior) Towiishi|); Frank L. was born Nov. 8,
1«(;4, and died Sei)t. 21, 1872; Clifford (;. was Imrn
May 4, 1808, in Henry County, where he still lives.
In 18.00, Mr. Anderson with his young wife and
child r('irnn'(Ml from Fayette County, Ohio, to Henry
Connty, Iowa, where he bought forty acres of land,
now owned by Thomas C!uii|)bell, living upon his
purchase for six years. In IK02licsold his f.arm
and bought forty acies on section 24, where he has
since resided. He added to the oi-igiiwd farm un-
til'atjOne time he owned a f.'uni of 320 acres, nndei-
aTfine state of cultivation, lieing a lover of line
horses. He, in iH!)'.). turned his attention to the rais-
ing of those animals, in which business Ik; has been
yery successful. He started with the Morgjui En-
glish draft,- but is now turning his attention to the
famous Hambletonian stock. Wishing to give all
of his attention t<j the raising of line stock, he sold
all his farm land with the exceptii>n (>( forty acres.
No man in lleniy ('ounty li.'is done more for the
improvement <jf line sl<jck than has Mr. Anderson.
He is well posted on all matters pertaining to the
breeding and raising of horses, and to him much
credit is due for the line gradi; of stock in Henry
County.

E. D. Anderson commenced breeding horses
about 180.'J, and has been engaged fpiite extensively
in the business ever since. The lirst horse owned
by him was Champion, known sis the "Stone horse."
On his sire's side he was fnnn Black Hawk Morgan,
and on his dam's side he w.as from Canadian. In ^ '

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388

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HENRY COUNTY.

color he was a black, weighing 1200 pounds. He
was a good mover in his day, and a first-class
stock horse. Champion died the property of John
Winters, of Mt. Pleasant. While still the owner of
Champion Mr. Anderson had also a noted Hamble-
toni.in horse known as Red Bird, a dapple-grey,
weighing 1450 ponnds. On the dam's side he was
from Eclipse and Bacchus. Red Bird took more first
premiums than any horse in the county, of any
age or breed. A graded Norman was his next pur-
chase, and in connection with liim he owned Col.
Thayers, a fine roan, weighing 1200 pounds. His
sire was the noted horse California, who had a
record as a trotter of 2 :2G, and as a pacer of 2 :20.
Gen. Grant, si.xteen and one-half hands high, weigh-
ing 1450 pounds, next came into his possession.
He was purchased in February, and died three
months later. Gen. Grant was of Morgan and
Canadian stock, and had a mane four and one- half
feet long. John Ball, a brown, seventeen hands
high, and Gen. Sherman, the latter a graded Nor-
man, in color a chestnut sorrel, weighing 1700
pounds, were among his next purchases. Then
came Capt. Bismarck, a Morgan, now owned by
Dr. T. A. .Simmons, of Belmont, N. Y., followed
by Bob, a dark mahogany color, of the Messenger
breed, and a full-blooded Norman, imported by
Norris & Co., of Delaware, Ohio, in color a light
grey, and weighing 2000 pounds. A beautiful
brown horse, of the Morgan breed, weighing 1350
pounds, a good mover, was sold to Nathan Nichol-
son in the fall of 1887.

At the present time, in tlu; spring of 1888, Mr.
Anderson has in his stables five horses old enough
for service, in addition to several colts. He is
justly proud of the quality of his horses, and the
success attending him in the business. Normad,
known as the Bush horse, is a Percheron Norman,
in color a beautiful white, and is si.xteen hands
higli. He was sired by imported Norni-id. known
in Madison County, Ohio, as Old Bill or Valley
Horse. His dam was a Norman imported by Wilkins
G. G i-ey. of Ohio, while his grand-dam was b}' one of
Old Napoleon's colts, making iiim one of the best
bred horses in the West. Young Nai)oleon is a
dark roan, sixteen hands high, weigiiing 1400
pounds, with a big head, of rangy type, long iu

the neck, with fine throttle, beautifully rounded
body, full loin, long hips of perfect formation, very
wide, flat and cordy legs, with best of feet, and
when in motion his fine form is a model, doubl3'
attractive by the rapidity of stej) and elegance of
action. Young Napoleon was foaled in June, 1883.
He was sired by Normand}', imported by John Re-
bcr, of Lancaster County, Ohio, in 1869. His
grand-dam was sired liy Ajax, imported by the
Delaware Importing Company, in 1803. His great-
grand-dani was sired by Old Bill or Valley Horse,
imported by Dr. Marcus M. Brown, of Circleville,
Ohio, in 1857. His great-great-great-dam was
sired by Louis Napoleon, imported by Fullington
iV Martin, Union County, Ohio, in 1857. Proba-
bly the most noted horse in the collection is Prince
Albert, purchiised of ex-Gov. Newbold, who bought
him at (.^uincy. 111. He is a dapple-gre}-, sixteen
hands high, his sire being a full-blooded Cl^'des-
dale named Grey, while his dam is a thoroughbred
racing mare, brown in color, sixteen hands high,
weighing 1200 pounds. Prince Albert is as nearly
perfect as any lioi'se in the State, his weight
being 1400 pounds. For beauty, none excel,
and ;is a stock horse, for his class, he is not ex-
celled; Crystal Abdallah, Wallace's Trotting Reg-
ister, 4th Vol., No. 1052 Pedigree, is a blood
bay, with bl.ack points, stands sixteen hands high,
weight 1150 pounds, six years old, long and rangy,
very stylish, good worker, gentle disposition and a
good stepper; think with age and training he ma^' be
made very fast; has a long stride and goes without
a click. Having the blood of the best and fastest
trotters on American soil coursing in his veins,
there is no good reason why he may not become
the sire of many winners. Joe, the Banter, comes
next. He is a beautiful dapple-b.ay, three white
feet, blaze face, was sired by C. Winger's noted
horse, Duke, an imported Clydesdale. He is seven-
eighths Clydesdale, and weighs 1700 pounds; is
short-legged, high-headed, and for a horse of his
size is a good mover. an<l a first-class stock hoi"se.
For the accommodation of his i)atrons who de-
sire to raise mules. Mr. Anderson has a fine Jack.
To no man are tlic farmers of this country move in-
debted for the fine breed of horses now here in use
than E. D, Anderson, of Marion Township.

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HENRY COUNTY.

389

III connection with this is a fine lithographic view
of the residence uf Mr. Anderson, ami tlrawings
from life of some of his fine stock.

On the Uth of February, 1872, Mrs. Anderson
was called to her last rest. She was a kind wife, an
indulgent mother, and a syniiiathetic neighbor. She
was a devoted member of tlie Methodist Episcopal
Church. Nov. 17, 1872, Mr. Anderson was .again
married, his second wife being Miss Hattie J.
Spry. She is the daughter of Benjamin and Mary
(Johnson) Spry. She was born in Muskingum
County, Ohio, Feb. 19, 1845. Mr. Anderson is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is
also his wife. He is a true, earnest Christian, cvn-
tributing liberally to the support of the church, and
is a friend to the poor and needj', ever ready to
lend a helping hand to the afflicted, lie stands in
the front rank as a public-spirited man, always
ready to advance the interests of the connnunity.
None more truly deserves the respect and esteem
of all than does Mr. Anderson. In politics he
favors the Republican party.

AHLON DOAN, a prominent citizen of
Henrj' County, Iowa, residing in Center
Township, w.as born in Orange Countj', N.
C"., April 7, 1804, and is the son of Ebene-
zer and Elizabeth (Stout) Doan, both natives of
North Carolina. After his mother's death, which
occurred when he was a child, they emigrated to
Orange County, lud., in 1813, when Mahlon was
about nine years old. Here he helped his father
clear the land for a farm, and on this farm his
younger years were spent. Mahlon is cue of a
family of eight children; his sister Nanc3% now the
wife of James Tomlinson, of Plainfleld, Ind., and
himself are the only surviving ones. His father
died in the year 1860, at a very advanced age. He
and his wife were members of the Society of
Friends, and were very estimable people.

As before stated the early life of Mahlon Doan
was spent upon the home farm, and all the educa-
tion he received was obtained at a subscription
school. At the age of twenty-three he commenced
working for himself, sometimes as a wood-cutter

and sometimes as a farm laborer, and in this way
earned his first money. Mr. Doan has twice been
married, the first time, when he was twenty-five
years old, to Jane Freeman, a native of Orange
County, Ind., and whose p.arents were Jolin and
Charity Freeman, natives of North Carolina. By
this union there were three children: Alfred, whose
sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Julia Ann,
who died at the age of nineteen, and John, who
lives in Tippecanoe Township. Mrs. Freeman was
called to her final home while in Parke County,
Ind. He was again united in marriage, with Alice
D.avis, a native of Orange County, Ind., and a
daughter of Warner and Millie (Hudson) Davis,
who were natives of North Carolina. Four chil-
dren have been born to them : Sarah Emeline, who
is now the wife of John Burton, of Taylor County,
Iowa; William, now residing in Poweshiek County,
Iowa; Zachariah, now living in Salem Township;
Mary E., who died at the age of four. Mrs. Doan
is a member of the Soiuety of F'riends.

Mr. Doan is one of the earliest settlers of Henry
County, having moved here in the year 1837, and
buying 200 acres of land on section 11, of Center
Township, which he improved and where he still
lives, and also owns forty acres adjoining in Tip-
pecanoe Township; subsequent sales m.ake his farm
150 acres of finely cultivated land. In politics, he
is a stalwart Republican, working always for the
best interests of his party. Mr. Doan is entirely a
self-made man, commencing life a poor bo3', mak-
ing his first money by cutting wood at twenty-five
cents a cord, yet by hard labor and economical
living, he has gained a competency. He is well
known and greatly respected by all.

L. KINNEY, residing on section 23, Tren-
ton Township, Henry Co., Iowa, was born
in Dayton, Ohio, and is the son of Ja-
cob S. and Susan (Glasgow) Kinney, the
father a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of
Ohio. M. L. Kinnej' came to Henry County, Iowa,
with his parents when but a small lad, and here has
resided ever since. He was married, in March, 1 875,
to Miss Laura Neice, who is a native of this county,

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390

HENRY COUNTY.

and a daughter of Morgan Neice. To Mr. and Mrs.
Kinney have been born five children — Jesse Omer,
Anna Belle, Susan .Jane, Morgan and Rosa. In
Trenton Townshi]) Mr. Kinney' owns a fine farm of
1 70 .acres, all of which is under cultivation. His
general business is that of farming and stock-rais-
ing. His stock is of the liest grades, and his farm
is well improved. Mr. Kinney holds tlie political
views of the Democratic part}^ j^et is liberal.

EASE ALLEN is a farmer residing on section
10. Jefferson Township, Henry Co., Iowa.
In connection with the Allen history we
ijfurnish many facts connected with other
families into which the}' have married, th.at were it
not for this means would necessarily l)e omitted
from this woi'k. Our subject, Kease Allen, was born
June \'>, 1841, in Clarke County, Ohio. The early
history of tlie familj' will be found in the sketch of
Isaac \V. Allen, a brother of our subject, and his
historj' from boyhood is identical with other mem-
bers of the family. As noted in that sketch, the
family settled near Waj'land. Henry Countj', and
when a boy Rease Allen plowed corn upon the
south half of the village plat. What great changes
have come since that time! A handsome village
has been built, the contiguous territory developed,
and the pioneer lad has developed into a strong
man of sterling worth, and is now the father of an
interesting family. He was married, Yob. 22, 186(5,
to JMelissa J. Warren, a daughter of William A.
and Elizabeth G. (Edwards) Warren. Her mother
was born in Maine, Dec. 2, 1839, and her parents
later moved to McLean Count}', III. A\'illiani A.
Warren was a native of Connecticut, and was mar-
ried in Ohio, in which State their children were
born: Wesley, who died in the United States Army,
Jan. 31, 1863; Erastus F.. who died .Tan. 12, 18G3,
was the husband of Maria Allen; Elmira is the
wife of John .loncs; and Melissa the wife of our
subject. Mr. Warren, father of .Mrs. .Melissa Allen,
was generally known through the county as " Uncle
Billy" Warren, and w.as one of the foremost men
in all public enterprises, being I'cmarkable for his
energy and push in whatever he undertook. He

was largely instrumental in advancing the cause of
religion, and being a good singer generally took
the lead in this exercise, having a remarkably strong
voice, which many old settlers will remember. He
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and one of six to form the first class in Jefferson
Township, the members holding meetings weekly
at the various houses of the class. His wife, Eliza-
beth, w.as a helpmeet indeed, seconding her worthy
husband in his every endeavor, and like him was
remarkable for her perseverance, energy, benevo-
lence and piety, being also a member of the class
of six who first organized.

The family came to Henry County in the autumn
of 1845. locating in the neighborhood of \Vayland.
Both parents lived, died and were buried in Jeffer-
son Township; William died Nov. 16, 1863, and
his wife Aug. .5, 1880. After they came to Henry
County other children were born : Jesse P. was a
soldier, a member of Company H. 7th Iowa In-
fantry, and died during bis term of service, un-
married, Dec. 1, 18G1 ; Belinda died in childhood;
Landon. the husband of Mary York, removed to
California; and Dennis, who wedded .Sarah E.
Allen, a sister of our subject, died Feb. 11, 1885.
Of the whole Warren family only three are living:
Jlelissa, wife of our subject; Almira, wife of John
Jones, of Clay County, 111.; and Landon, a resident
of Eureka, Humboldt Co., Cal.

Rease Allen and his wife have alw.ays since
coming to. Iowa lived within sight of the present
village of Wayland. They were married after his
return from the army, in which he served three
years, as a member of Company H, 25th Iowa In-
fantry, and participated in the battles of Arkansas
Post, siege and cai)turc of Vicksburg, Resaca,
Atlanta, .and with Sherman to the sea, thence back
through North C.arolin.a, and was with Sherman
until the last engagement at Bentonville, N. C.
Although twice struck by rebel bullets he w!\s never
seriously disabled. He participated in the givat
military review at Washington, I). C, and was in
that city mustered out of the United States service,
and discharged from State service at Davenport,
June 12, 18li5. .Since his niarri.age Mr. Allen has
been a farmer. He purchased his present farm in
1885, and is cosily settled in a pleasant home, pre-

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HENRY COUNTY.

391 ' '

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sided over by a lady of taste and culture. Two
children, both unmarried, have been born to them :
William Jasper, Jan. 8, 1867; and Nellie, Nov. 16,

1870.

JOHN FRANCY, a farmer of Jaciison Town-
ship, was born in County Antrim, Ireland,
in the year 1816, and is a son of John and
Agnes (Carly) Franey. The children of
this couple were all born in Ireland, and were twelve
in number — Ellen, William, David, Robert. Mary,
George, Margaret. Agnes, Jane, Rose, John and
Alexander. John Franey, Sr., and his wife Agnes,
resided upon a farm in Ireland and were of that
industrious and enterprising class that keep tlie
business world moving. He was a great lover of
fine horses, and his stables never contained an
inferior animal. During their lifetime the parents
remained on the homestead, and Ijoth readied a
ripe age. They were of the Protestant faitli, and
their children all followed the Christian teachings of
their parents.

In 1 839 our subject was married to Miss Joyce
Ridley, born in 1810, a native of County Antrim,
Ireland, and their eldest son, Timotli3', was born in
the Emerald Isle. In .^lay, 1840, Mr. and Mrs.
Franey bade adieu to home, friends and liindred,
and witli their meager possessions, emliarked at
Belfast for Liverpool, and from there toolc passage
to New York, arriving in that city in July, having
spent ten weeks upon the ocean, during which time
three of the sailors were buried in the sea. Sailing
fifty miles up the Nortli River, they stopped for a
few months in Newburg, Orange Co., N. Y., Mr.
Franey securing work there on a farm. After
deliberation the young couple decided to try tlieir
fortune in Virginia, and in September, 1840, located
in Wheeling, where Mr. Franey secured employment
at the tile and fire-briclv manufactorj', at which
business lie was an expert. In the city of Wlieel-
ing their children, William J., George and Eliza,
were born.

Carefully h(^arding his earnings, Mr. Fr.incy
found himself possessor of enough cash, at the end
of seven years, to purchase a small farm if they
should remove to the West, and deciding to remove

to this county, of which they had heard favorable
mention, in 1851 a permanent location was made,
Mr. Franey purchasing 100 acres, a part of his
present homestead. Small improvements had been
made and a trifling log cabin built. Into this the
family moved, and the wife soon had their few
household goods placed in order; the children grew
robust and the old cabin had to have an addition.
Later this was covered with hoards and made into
a comfortable dwelling. As the lands were cleared
prosperitj- came, and her smiles have never dimin-
ished. Other lands have been purchased, and the
merry laughter of the children and their ambition
to aid in the work of improving the farm, gave
added zest to the parents. Two other sons were
born on the homestead, Robert and David, and the
old house still stands as a landmark. Blany jileas-
ant memories cluster about the quaint old relic. Its
roof gave shelter to a happy family, and through
its open doors the children ran in their play, and
through its old-fashioned windows the baby-boys
watched for the coming of their father, who always
greeted them with a smile and a pleasant word.
But this liouse has seen its time, and a fine house
has taken its place. The children liave grown to
manhood .and womanhood and are widely scattered,
but the family circle remains unbroken by <leatli.
The same cheerful matron presides in the modern
farmhouse who gave the kindly greetings to the
weai'y stranger or the new-comer who called at her
cabin door when the country w.is new and the crops
of 1851 were not so fruitful as now. The Franey
mansion has ever been noted as one of the most
hospitable homes in the count}', and the children
are fit representatives of such parents.

Of the children, Timothy became the husband of
Martha Hall; William J., who wedded Eliza Lisle,
was a dispatch bearer during the late war, but
belonged to no particular command (see sketch);
George, a resident of Salt Lake Cit}', married a lady
there; Eliza remains with her parents and is un-
married ; Robert is now the husband of Sarah Robey,
and David wedded Miss Ella Clark. Every child
mentioned does honor to the parents, and among
the most successful business men are the children of
John and Joj'ce Franey.

In their mature years this good couple can look
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392

HENRY COUNTY.

back upon a well-spent life, and from the day their
troth was plighted neither has ever had cause to
regret their union. Blei^sed with health and rich in
purse, their old age is pleasantly passed. Among
the old settlers and representative families of this
county they find a cordial remembrance, and in one
of the cosiest and neatest of homes the>' are enjoy-
ing the fruits of a life of industry and thrift, sur-
rounded with the comforts of life, and enjoying
the respect and esteem of the entire comnuinitj'.

^S^

\*«t ANIEL pnCHER is a prominent farmer,
residing on section 5, Jefferson Township,
Henry County, for among those who have
become noted personages iij this and Wash-
ington Counties are the brothers, Daniel and Rev.
Benjamin Eicher, the later a resident of U^ashing-
ton County. Daniel was born in Alsace, France,
now a i)art of the German Empire, April 22, 1825,
and is the son of Rev. John and Margaretta (Con-
rad) Eicher. There the Hev. John Eicher had
charge of a Mennonite congregation, and for many
years was engaged not only in the ministry, but in
farming. Only a part of his ehildien came to
America, and all came singly. First came Jacob,
then John .Jr., Christian, then our subject, Martin
Benjamin, followed by a sister Annie, who was mar-
ried in Als.ace to John W. Wittnier, who also came,
and all settled in AVayne Count}', Ohio. Jacob
later retnrne(l to the home of his boyhood, and
married his playmate. Mary Summer, whom he
brought to America. Three of the boys, after tiy-
iiig awliile a life in Ohio, conchided to make a loca-
tion in Canada, John, Daniel and Cliristian, locating
in Waterloo County, and ;ill remained for three
years with tiic exception of our subject. He staid
six years, and tlien followed his brothers to Iowa.
Three of these had located in Washington County,
and John and Daniel in Henry. Martin was the
only one who entered any laud, he doing this in
1 .S."i(). After coming to Iowa, all the sons m.arried :
Martin wedded Barbara Roth; Christian marrieil
Annie Wenger; Jacob became the husband of Cath-
erine Rich; and Rev. Benjamin Eicher married
Lydia Summers. All these children did well in

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America, but only three are now living — Benjamin,
Christian and our subject.

In Alsace the parents remained, also their other
children: Joseph, who married Elizabeth Kropf;
Fannie, wife of Jacob Summer; and Peter, husband
of Catherine Summer. The parents lived to a ripe
old age, and were buried in the country' that gave
them birth. Our subject went back to German}",
intending to bring them over, but the old people
preferred to remain in their native land.

In 1854 Miss Magdalena Rich became the wife of
Daniel Eicher. She bore no heirs, and her death
occurred one year after the marriage. His second
wife was Magdalena Klopfenstine, to whom he was
wedded in 1856. Daniel saw hard times with small
returns. He was *500 in debt, but he persevered,
and his first pui'chase of forty acres he paid for in
cash. His good-nature [Jut him under such obliga-
tion to his fellowmen, to whom he loaned his hard
earned dollars, that during the commencement of
the war he was in straitened circumstances. Little
by little he recovered, and long .ago those losses were
regained, and instead of a poor man struggling to
provide for a family, he is now the father of a large
and interesting family, and the owner of 341 broad
acres, that have for years brought him and his sons
a large revenue.

.Since the last niarri.age the following children
have been born : Peter, the liusl)and of I^dia E.-ish ;
John, Franklin, Martin, Catherine, Jacob and Mary.
jNIartin received his education at Washington, Iowa,
and intends following a mechanical occupation.
Perhaps no man a resident of Jefferson Township
has accomplished more in the same length of time
th;in Daniel Kicher, who came to Iowa a young man
without mone}", but with his own liands, and by the
unitccl labor of himself and family, now enjoys a
competence, and his children are of the same ener-
getic class to which their p;irents belong. Their
house is one of those hospitable homes foi' which
Henry County is noted, and from Daniel Eicher
.and his good wife, the stranger, neighbor or friend,
receives a cordial welcome. Both himself ;ind wife
were members of the first Mcimonite Church organ-
ized in this part of the country, and to this they yet
belong. For twelve years ]\[r. Eichei'has been con-
nected with the iniblic schools of Jefferson Town-

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HENRY COUNTY.

393 ''

ship, and for a number of years he has been School
Treasurer. To such families the morality, social
standing and enterprise of Henry County are due,
and among those who have made it a noted name
none have contributed more than the Eichers.

JOHN H. WHITING, President of the Na-
tional State Bank of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
was born in the town of Erwin, Steuben Co.,
N. Y., Dec. G, 1834, and is the son of Tim-
othy and Sarah A. (McCall) Whiting, of whom
see sketch. He was educated at Genesee College,
Lima, N. Y., and at Wesleyan University, Middle-
town, Conn., graduating in 1855. He was engaged
in teaching school for one year in the Paul Wing
Academy, near Sandwich, Mass. In April, 1857,
he came West, and located at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
where he entered the banking-house of W. P. Bra-
zelton & Co., as clerk, and soon became bookkeeper.
Six months later his father bought an interest in
the bank, the firm becoming Brazelton & Whiting.
One year afterward .John H. Whiting and H. S.
Clark succeeded to the business, under the Arm
name of Clark & Whiting. They conducted the
bank until April, 185S, when it was re-organized as
the Mt. Pleasant Branch of the State Bank of Iowa,
of which Timothy Whiting, his father, was Cashier,
and John H. Whiting, Assistant Cashier. In Jan-
uary, 1862, John H. was promoted to the position
of Cashier, which he continued to hold after the
bank was chartered as the National State Bank of
Mt. Pleasant, in B'ebruary, 1865, his father, Timo-
thy Whiting, being President. Mr. John H. Whit-
ing continued to serve as Cashier till January,

1886, when he was elected Vice President, and on
the death of his father, which occurred Feb. G,

1887, he was elected President to fill the vacancy.
Mr. Whiting was united in marriage with Miss

Julia May, at Bath, N. Y., Sept. 22, 1858. Mrs.
Whiting is the daughter of James and Betsy
(Adams) May, and was burn at Bath, N. Y., in
1839. Her parents were from Litchfield, Corni.,
her mother being related to the Adams family of
Massachusetts, of National reputation. Three chil-

dren were born of this union: May, the eldest, is
the wife of George W. S. Allen, a merchant of Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa; James Timothy is a bookkeeper
of the National State Bank of Mt. Pleasant; Henry
C, the j'oungest, is a student of the Chicago
Medical College. Mr. Whiting has served as City
Tre.asurer and as School Treasurer of Mt. Pleas-
ant, and is a Republican in politics. He inherits
the sterling qualities of his honored father, being
a good financier and a thorough business man,
upright and just. He is liberal in support of
educational and religious institutions. Both he
and his wife and all of his children are members
of the First Presbyterian Church, of wliich he has
been for the past twenty years Ruling Elder, and
for nearly twenty years was Superintendent of the
Sabbath-school connected with the church.

<i¥| OHN B. FLAMM, a farmer and stock-raiser
I of Henry County, Iowa, residing on section
^...^ I 27, Center Township, w.xs born in Wurtem-
^}) berg, Germany, Feb. 23, 1836. He was
the son of George and Louisa (Reich) Flamm.
The subject of this sketch received a liberal
education in his native country. After coming to
America he for three years worked in Monroe
County, N. Y.,and in 1857 came to Henrj' County,
Iowa. In August, 1862, Mr. Flamm enlisted in the
25th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, being a member of
Company H, and was mustered into service at
Camp Harlan, remaining in camp for two months,
then proceeding to St. Louis, then to Helena, Ark.,
then to Chickasaw Bayou, where they were first
under fire. At Arkansas Post they had a sharp
fight, and at Young's Point went into winter quar-
ters. In the spring they proceeded down the river,
and participated in the siege and capture of Vicks-
burg, being under fire for forty-seven days. The
army went first to Jackson, and had a fight, then to
Vicksburg, then back to Jackson, and had another
fight, then to Canton, Miss., where they engaged in
battle, afterward going to Camp Sherman on Black
River. Proceeding up the river to Memphis the
army went first to Lookout Mountain, from there

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394

HENRY COUNTY.

to Missionary Eidgc. iiarticipatiiig in those battles,
then to Ringgold, and subsequently to Woodville,
Ala., at which place the army went into winter
quarters. INIr. P^larani was in all tiie engagements
before Atlanta, and was with Sherman on the
memorable march to the sea. He was also engaged
in the battle at Bentonville, N. C, and from there
marched to Washington, where he was mustered
out, and from thence to Davenport, where he was
discharged. During all the long days of service
Mr. Flamm never received a wound, was always at
his post, and was never known to shirk his duty.

On the 9th day of September, 18C6, Mr. Flamm
was united in marriage with Miss Fredricka Raus-
cher, who was born in Baden, Germany, March IG,
1841, and in 1854 came with her parents to
America. Mr. and Mrs. Flamm are devoted mem-
bers of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a
Democrat, and is the owner of 124 acres of land,
situated three and a half miles southeast of Mt.
Pleasant; this is one of the best cultivated farms
in the county.

OIIARLES SNIDER, an early settler .and prom-

einent business man of Mt. Pleasant, propri-
etor of the oldest established drug-store in
the city, and a member and (ieneral Manager of the
Mt. Pleasant Gas Works Comi)any, was born in
Bavaria, Germany, June 16, 1831. He is the son
of Philip and Christina (Donaw) Snider, and came
to America with his ]iareuls in the autumn of t8;il,
while an iuf.-int. His father, who settled in Bedfcird
County, I'a.. was a grain buyer in his native country,
but on coming to thi.s country he eng.aged in farm-
ing, lie and his wife were industrious, frugal
pe(>i)le, strict in their religimis views, and trained
their children to habits of industry and morality.
They were in moderate circumstances, and our
subject, like tiie other children, had to work hard,
and had but limited opportunities for education.
At the age of fourteen years Charles left home to
work among strangers and make his own way in
the world. He was employed for abo\it a year as

chore boy with a Mr. Dullield, wli he left, to

accept a place in the dry-good.s store of W. S.

r=

Fletcher, at McConnellsburg, Pa. He spent about
two }'ears with Mr. F'letcher, and then entered the
drug-store of Dr. Duffleld, a son of his former
employer, and a prominent phj'sician of that city.
He learned the drug business with Dr. Duffield,
with whom he remained till the spring of 1852,
working during the first 3'ear for the munificent
salary of $3G. Becoming impatient at the pros-
pect of getting on so slowly, he conceived the
idea of trying his fortune in California, then
the great center of attraction on account of the
recent gold discoveries, but much against the
wishes of his familj' and friends, who objected on
account of his youth and inexperience, he being
still in his minority. He set out via New York and
Panama, for the Eldorado of the West. His small
savings were augmented bj' borrowed capital, and
in order to make his limited means go as far as
possible, he endured the discomforts and hardships
of a steerage passage in a crowded vessel, crossed
the Isthmus of Panama on foot, subjected to the
intense heat of a tropical region, destitute of water.
Before reaching Panama he was nearlj' jjrostrated
by sickness and exhaustion, but by force of an in-
domitable will and energy, he succeeded in reach-
ing Panama, where, having regained his strength,
he shipped for .San Francisco. Disappointed in
obtaining employment in that city, he went to Sac-
ramento, where after considerable delay and difli-
eulty he obtained employment in a drug-store, in
an inferior position. By strict attention to busi-
ness he won rapid iiromotion, and was soon placed
in full charge of the store, his employer spending
the greater [Kirt of his time in the States. Here he
found the elTeel of his early training a good safe-
guard against the temi)lations that surrounded him.
Drinking, gambling, and the usual forms of dissi-
pation customary in a mining region, beset his
path (;n every hanil. The precepts of his worthy
parents came to his mind, and under their inllnence
he held himself aloof from the vortex that wrecked
so many worthy men. While in charge of the store
and stock they were destroyed by fire, while his em-
ployer was absent in New York, but before his
return Mr. Snider had the store rebuilt and the
business again in full ru)Hiing order. Here he
succeeded in accumulating a snug sum, after pay-

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397

HENRY COUNTY.

ing the debt inclined at starting on his voyage,
and sending several liundred dollars home. He
left this employment in the summer of 18.')4, and
returned to Pennsylvania via tlie Nicaragua route.
As )jiogi\aphj% like history, should teach the coming
generations the lessons of the past, these facts are
set forth in detail, that they may encourage young
readers not to get easily disheartened, but to push
on, despite obstacles that may seem insurmount-
able, till success crowns their efforts,

Mr. Snider was married at Pittsburgh, Pa.,
Aug. .3, 18.54, to Miss Mary E. Niceolls, daughter
of Nathaniel Niceolls. Mrs. .Snider was born in
Westmoreland County, Pa., Sept. 1.3, 1833. Seven
children were born to their union ; four sons and
three daughters, all born in Mt. Pleasant: Frank
M., born May 18, 1855, died Aug. 10, 1855; How-
ard E., born .Tune 13, 1857, married Miss May
Brooks, daughter of Capt. Brooks, of Mt. Pleas-
ant; they have two children, daughters — Stella and
Bertha. Howard is now interested with his father
in the drug business at Mt. Pleasant, north side of
the Park, where they carry a full line of drugs,
paints, wall paper, etc., under the firm name of C.
Snider & Co. Effie A., the next younger, was bom
Nov. 2, 1859, and died March 5, 1862; William E.,
born March 5, 1863, died Aug. 17, 1864: Blanche
was born Jan. 30, 1865, and died Feb. 5, 1872;
Charles F., born Jan, 6, 1870, is a student of the
Iowa Wesleyan University; Edith was born April
7, 1875, and is attending the city schools.

Mr. Snider came to Mt. Pleasant with his wife
Nov. 16, 1854, and in April, 1855, began business
as a druggist. He rapidly built up a prosperous
trade, and bought out Douglas & Miller, then his
only competitors. He has since carried on business
eontinuouslj', covering a period of thirty-three
j-ears. In the spring of 1877 he formed a partner-
ship with Messrs. Henry- Ambler, of Mt. Pleasant,
and W. S. Fletcher, of Philadelphia, Pa., and pur-
chased the Mt. Pleasant Gas Works, re-organized
the business, and has been the General Manager of
the same since that time. He became identified
with the Iowa Wesleyau University in 1858, and
has served as a member of the Board of Trustees
for twenty-five years, and of the Executive Board
nearly as long. He was elected and served as

Treasurer of the University eleven years. He has
served as a member of the City Council, is a Repub-
lican in politics, and has been a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church for upward of thirty
years. His wife and family are members of the
same church. Mr. Snider w;is one of the founders
of the Fii-st National Bank of Mt. Pleasant, of
which he still a stockholder, and a member of the
Board of Directors. Mr. Snider is a self-made
man; deprived of educational advantages in his
youth, he was obliged to rely on his own efforts
and studious habits for the training that the youth
of to-day have thrust upon them. His history
points a moral, showing that with the exercise of a
determined will, based on good judgment and cor-
rect business principles, supported by habits of
persevering industry and unswerving integrity,
success is assured. He has now been identified
with Henry County and its institutions for more
than thirty-three years, and has won a place among
the foremost of her many worthy citizens.

'\i)ACOB BURGE (deceased), an honored pio-
neer of Henry County, of April, 1835, was
born in Pennsylvania, Feb. 13, 1804, and
was the son of .John and Margaret Burge
His parents w-ere also natives of Pennsylvania and
removed to Licking County, Ohio, in 1 81 2. Our
suliject, .Jacob Burge, was reared on his father's
farm, and when twenty years of age (July 29, 1824)
was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Neil,
daughter of .James and Catherine Neil. Mrs.
Burge was bom in Perry County, Ohio, Aug. 13,
1808. In 1833 Mr. Burge emigrated from Ohio
to Sangamon County, 111., where he engaged in
farming. In April, 1835, he emigrated to what is
now Henry County, Iowa, then Michigan Territory,
and located on what is now section 27, New Lon-
don Township, but was then iinsurveyed Govern-
ment land. As soon as the public land came into
market, he entered an entire section, or 640 acres,
which he improved and retained in his possession,
with the exception of eighty-seven acres, until his
death, which occurred Aug. 24, 1876.

Mr. and Mrs. Burge had eight children bom to
them, five daughters and three sons, four of whom

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398

HENRY COUNTY.

are now living: Elizabeth M.,born May 15, 1825,
was the wife of John Allsop, and died Feb. 9, 1846,
leaving one daughter; John W., born Feb. 19,
1827, died in his seventh year; Louisa J., born
March 30, 1829, was the wife of Samuel Lee, and
died Jan. 20, 1859, leaving one child, a son, and
one son died before his mother; Jeremiah J., born
April 11, 1831, married Mary Lawrence, and re-
sides in Butler County, Neb.; Nancy C, born
March 28, 1836, is the wife of John Pricliett, re-
siding in New London Township; Rachel Jane,
born June 1 4, '1838, is the widow of AVhitfield
Kirkpatrick, and resides in Jefferson County, Iowa;
Jacob Marion, born Sept. 21, 1847, wedded Essie
Cone, and died Dec. 24, 1870, leaving one child, a
son; Susan Emeline, born March 26, 1852, is the
wife of Willis W. Blacker, and lives on the old
homestead. ISIr. Burge was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Democrat in
politics. He was an upright, honorable man, in-
dustrious and temperate in his habits, and was
highly esteemed as n neighbor and citizen. He
came to this region in advance of civilization, when
his neighbors were few and far distant, and he and
his family had to put up with the discomforts of
pioneer life for several years, but bj' keen foresight
he erected a home in one of the most eligible sec-
tions of this fertile region, and left his heirs a largo
aTid valualjle projx^rty.

It is with great pleasure liiat we give on .in ad-
joining page portraits of this early ])ioncer and the
wife by whose help he created the home where slie
yet lives, enjoying the fruits of their early industry.
Both were .among the first pioneers t)f the count}',
and each enjoyed in a high degree the confidence
and esteem of llie pe(>i)lc ^^hl> knew them well, .'ind
many of whom their hosijitable roof li.ad sheltered
in eaily days.

\**^ AVID RAINEY, one of the enterprising
farmers of Henry County, Iowa, residing

t

on suction 30. Tiiipecanoe Township, is a
native of Irel.'uul, horn in tliat country in
1818, and is the son of James and Nancy (Orecn)
Rainey. David Rainey was reared on a farm in

the old country, and leaving his native home in
1833, he emigrated to America, settling in Belmont
County, Ohio, remaining there until 1844. Decid-
ing to come West, and being pleased with Henry
County, he moved here, settling first on a farm one
mile west of Mt. Pleasant. After remaining for a
year on that farm, he settled in Trenton Town-
ship, there residing for two years. In 1847 Mr.
Rainey purchased sixty acres of land in Tippecanoe
Township, where he still resides, but since that time
he has sold twenty acres, leaving a farm of forty
acres in extent. In Belmont Countj', Ohio, the
marriage of David Rainey and Catherine Hall was
celebrated. She was a native of Ohio, and a
daughter of Samuel and Christiana Hall, who were
also born in the Buckeye State. Three children
graced this union: Christiana was taken from them
while yet an infant; Samuel enlisted in Company
II, 4th Iowa Infantrj'; after having served three
years he re-enlisted, but was killed at the battle of
Atlanta, and lies buried .among the lost heroes who
died on that field. Mar^' Ann died at the age of
sixteen in 1857. Mrs. Rainey was called to iier
heavenly home at the age of twenty-eight years, in
the winter of 1845. Mr. Rainey was again married
in the spring of 1848, to Cliristiana B;irton, tlie
widow of William Barton. One cliild was born to
the fond p.arents, John, who w.as taken from them
at the age of six years, in 1853. The mother de-
jiarted tills life in Febru:irv, issf): she was a mem-
ber of the Baptist C'hurcli and was an earnest,
sincere Christian.

l\Ir. Rainey was among the loyal Irish wlio fought
so gallantly during the late Rebellion. At the
I'residenl's csill for tr(n)ps to defend our Union he
ros[)Ondp(l, enlisting in C'oni|iaiiy I, I4lli Iowa In-
fantry, serving nearly four years, lie [larticipated
in the battles of Ft. Donelson, IMttsburg Landing,
Ft. De Busscy, La., Pleasant Hill, Tupelo, and was
taken prisoner at Pittsburg Landing. For three
months he was held captive, confined in the loatli-
some iirison at Macon, Ga. Tlu' 1 Ith Iowa In-
fantrj', of wliirli he was a member, did some of the
hardest fighting that was done during liie war. Mr.
Rainey w.as ahv.ays at his post, never known to
shirk his duty, and during battle was ever in the
thickest of the fight. After he returned to his

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HENRY COUNTY.

399

home, he again engaged in farming, which business
he has followed ever since. Socially, Mr. Rainey
is a member of the G. A. R. Post, while iiolitically,
he is a stalwart Republican, believing yet that a
great work will be iierforined by that party, and its
interests he is always ready to advance. The
example of Mr. Rainey any boy might well follow.
Landing in America in 1833, without money, with-
out friends, without home, he has worked his way
through difliculties and discouragements, until now
he can look back on a well-spent life, more enjoya-
ble in contrast with the hardships of t)ther days.
Mr. Rainey is a member of the Baptist Church, and
his time, money and intluence are always ready to
aid in the advancement of his Master's cause.

-,>>■-

#••#

yESLEY K. DILLON, Assistant Supervisor
of the Iowa State Hospital for the Insane,
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, since April 1, 1885,
was born in Wheeling, Va. (now West Virginia),
June 27, 1846. His father, Reuben Dillon, was
born in Allegheny County, Pa., was a hatter by
trade, and of Scotch-Irish descent. The family were
residents' of America prior to the Revolution, and
were represented in all the important wars of this
country. The subject of this sketch and his father
were both soldiers of the late war, members of
Compan}' D, (32d Pennsylvania Regiment. The
grandfather of Wesley K. Dillon was a soldier in
the War of 1812, and his great-grandfather, a sol-
dier in the Revolutionary War. The mother of our
subject was Lydia B. Monk before her marriage.
She was born in Center County, Pa., and died
when Wesley K. was but a child. Her ances-
tors came to America from Hanover in Colon-
ial times. One of her relatives was an officer in the
Revolutionary War and served on Gen. Washing-
ton's staff. After his mother's death, Wesley
accompanied his father to Minnesota, in the fall of
IS.") 6, where they spent four years, and in the fall
of 1860 returned to Pennsylvania, and July 4,
1861, they both enlisted in Company D, 62d Penn-
sylvania Infantry. His father served in the Quarter-
master's Department, and died from exposure while
in service. Wesley K. was but fifteen years of age
■^m

when he enlisted. He was wounded at the battle
of Spottsylvania Court-House, Va., May 12, 1864,
by bullets and buckshot in his left lower leg,
and was confined to the hospital from May 14 to
Sept. 1, 1864, when be was mustered out, receiving
an honorable discharge. On his return from the
array he attended school, with a view of fitting him-
self for college, but circumstances prevented the
consummation of his plans, and he engaged in
teaching school. In 1869 he became connected
with the Dixmont (Pa.) Hospital for the Insane,
and continued there till 1874, when he took a two-
years course of lectures at the medical department
of the Western Reserve LTniversity, of Cleveland,
Ohio. He was employed at the Danville Hospital
for the Insane, from Feb. 24, 1876, until 1882, when
he engaged at the Morristown (N. J.) Asylum for
the Insane, till 1884, when he accepted the posi-
tion of private secretary to William McKinney, of
Brooklyn, N. Y., and in March, 1885, was appointed
to his present position at the Iowa State Hospital
for the Insane, at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

Mr. Dillon is an efficient and faithful officer, and
is held in high esteem by all with whom he is con-
nected. Politically, he is a Republican. He is a
member of McFarland Post No. 20, G. A. R., of
the Harlan Camp of the Sons of Veterans, Mt.
Pleasant, and a Knight Templar Mason, a member
of Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A. M., of
Henry Chapter No. 8, R. A. M., and of Jerusalem
Commandery No. 20, K. T., all of Mt. Pleasant.

y INFIELD SCOTT DOVER, editor ami pro-
prietor of the New London >S'm/(, a weekly
sis-column folio, independent in politics,
established April 30, 1887, and issued every Satur-
day, was born in New London Township, Henry
County, Aug. 26, 1854, and is the son of Solomon
H. and Matilda (Davis) Dover. He was educated
at the New London Academy, and began teaching
school when only seventeen years old, has taught
eight years in Henr^' County, and four in Southern
Kansas. He first went to Kansas in 1874, and
remained two years, returned to New London, and
again went to Kansas iu 1884, and remained till

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4

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400

HENRY COUNTY.

4

1886, when he returned to New London, and in the
spring of 1887 established the Sun.

Mr. Dover w.as married at New London, to Miss
Jennie New, daugliter of John New. Mrs. Dover
was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, and died
Feb. 28, 1884, leaving three children, a daughter,
Gay, born June 25, 187.5, and two sons, Jeflie and
Ralph, the elder born June 15, 1878, and the
younger Nov. 11, 1880. Mr. Dover is a Repub-
lican in politics.

ATTHIAS PAXTON, residing in Rome,
Henry C'o., Iowa, carries on a shop for
general repairing in that village. He was
born in Stark County, Ohio, July 21, 1837,
and is the son of John and Elizalieth (Farley) Tax-
ton, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of
Pennsylvania. John Paxton was a carpenter b}'
trade, and in 1842 emigrated to Wayne County,
111., with his family, remaining four years, and then
n^noved to Dayton, Ohio, residing in that city
until 1849, working at his trade. He then removed
to Ft. Dependence, Henry Co., Ohio, and from
there to Lafayette, Ind., wheie he lived until he
came to Henry County, in the fall of 1854. He
first located at Mt. Pleasant, residing there for a
year, and then puichascd a farm near Rome, where
he lived until tlie hreaking out of the Rebellion,
when he enlisted in the 37th Iowa Volunteer In-
fantry', serving until the close of the war, when he
returned home and spent the remainder of his life
upon his farm, with the exception of a short time
spent in Illinois and Southern Missouri. His death
occurred April 22, 1872, at tin? ,ige of sixty -six
ye.'U'.s. Politically, John Paxton was a Demo-
crat. Ilis widow still survives, and resides in
Rome, at the advanced age of seventy-eight.
She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
To this woiliiy couple were born seven chil-
dren, two of wiiom died in infancy, and the others
growing to man and womanhood, namely : Jared,
now in Appanoose County, Iowa, engaged in mill-
ing; Matthias, our subject; William M. was a
soldier in tiie Late war, serving as a member of

the 4th Iowa Cavalry, and afterward of the 19th
Iowa Infantry, .and is now residing in Rome;
Ursulina, wife of John Cole, died in 1878, and
Elizabeth, now residing in Georgia, is the wife of
Isaac Archibald, a soldier in the late war, who is
now eng.aged in farming.

Matthias Paxton received his education in the
common schools. He enlisted in the arinj^ for the
Union, serving as a member of Company G, 11th
Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered in
vSept. 16, 1861, prior to which he and his father
were with Col. Moore in Missouri, for a month.
He served until April 15, 1865, and participated in
the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, the siege of Vicks-
burg, Kennesaw Mountain, Nick Jack and Atlanta,
where he was captured and taken to the loath-
some Andersonville Prison, and from there to
Florence, S. C. ; thence to Goldsboro, S. C, and
from there to Wilmington, and then back to Golds-
boro again. Being hard pressed by the Union
forces, the rebels were forced with their captives
into a swamp, where they had to remain three daj-s.
They were then taken to Neuse River Bridge,
where they were exchanged. Mr. Paxton having
been a captive from July 22, 1861, to March 3,
1865. He w.as discharged April 15, 1865, at Clin-
ton, Iowa. After his discharge he returned home,
but was in jioor health for some time after in con-
sequence of ill treatment while a prisoner.

In 1865 he commenced learning the trade vf a
wagon-maker, serving an ajiprenticeship for a year.
He then worked as a journeyman until 1867, when
he engaged with the Chicago, Burlington ct C^>uincy
Railroad Companj- as a bridge carpenter. He
made r.apid progress in this work, in four moutiis
taking charge of a division from Burlington to
Frederick, and in less than a year's time he took
charge of a bridge gang; this he continued until
December, 1872, having eonimeuccd as a common
hand. He w.as compelled to (piit this business on
account of ill-health, and h.as since lived in Rome,
and carries on a job shop, doing general repairing
in wood work. He is also agent for the R.ay Plow
Company of Burlington and George Haw Imple-
ment Comiiany of Ottumwa, and Noilon's mower
and reaper of Rockford, 111., and for the Buckeye
pump, P. P. Mast & Co., of Peoria, agents; and

l*

A

HENRY COUNTY.

401

also of the Barbed AVire Fence Company, of
Burlington.

Mr. Taxton was married, Dec. 7, 1865, to Chris-
tina C. Anderson, a native of Sweden, and a
daughter of Peter and Sophia (SIvendle) Anderson.
Mrs. Faxton was born in 1849, and came to Amer-
ica with her parents when she was but five years
old, and settled in Jefferson County, Iowa, wliere
they lived for a fewj'ears, and later came to Henry
County, Iowa. Her father was a carpenter by
trade, but engaged in farming after coming to
America. He died in Henry County in 1860. Her
mother is still living, in Tippecanoe Township, at
the age of fifty-seven, and is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a member of
the Lutheran Church. The union of Mr. and Mrs.
Paxton has been blessed with three children : Elmer
E. died in 1872, at the age of four years and four
months; Nellie Rosmie died Nov. 18, 1869, when
six months old; May is now attending school. Mr.
and Mrs. Paxton are members of the Seventh-Day
Advcntist Church, and he is also a member of
Robert Crawford Post, G. A. R. Politically he is
a stalwart Republican. He has been Maj'or of
Rome for a jear, and for years was a member of
the Council, and at present is a member of the
Board of Trustees. He owns a neat residence and
shop in Rome. He is a self-made man, having
commenced life a poor boy, and much honor is due
him for the care and attention he has given to his
parents, having contributed to their support since
he was old enough to labor. He is a man well
known and universally respected by the people of
Tippecanoe Township and Henry County.

^^<«

H. FARR, a farmer residing on section 1 2,
Scott Township, Henry Co., Iowa, was Ijorn
in Chittenden Count}-, Vt., July 31, 1818,
(g)) and is the son of Joel and Eunice (Higgins)
Farr, the former a native of A'ermontand the latter
of Eastham, Mass. Mr. Farr comes from old Rev-
olutionary stock, his maternal grandfather being a
soldier in that war, was taken a prisoner and car-

ried to England. His paternal grandfather was a
native of Vermont and a farmer throughout his
life. Joel Farr, the father of our subject, was a
shoemaker by trade, but during the latter part of his
life was engaged in tilling the soil. lie V(jlunteered
as a soldier during the War of 1812, but the war
closed before he reached the field. He died Aug.
26, 1854, aged fifty-eight years. His wife survived
him and came to this countj' with her son, II. H.
Farr, and here died Oct. 29, 1871, in her eightieth
year. She and her husband were );oth members of
the Christian Church.

The boyhood days of our subject were spent on
the farm. He left home at the age of sixteen,
working as a farm hand and buying his time of his
father. He continued farm work until Sept. 19,
1841, when he was united in marriage with Elmira
Sherman, a native of Chittenden County, Vt.,
born April 3, 1816. She is a daughter of Simeon
and Lucretia (Stewart) Sherman, the father born in
New Hampshire and the mother in Worcester
County, Mass. Her father departed this life in
Huntington, Vt., Feb. 10, 1864, at the age of eighty-
five years. His wife survived him until March 24,
1872, dying when seventy-four years and ten
months old. She was a Baptist.

After his marriage Mr. Farr purchased sixty
acres of land in the Green Mountain State, and
there they resided until 1856, at which time the
family removed to Henry County, Iowa. Here he
bought seventy acres of timber land in Baltimore
Township, making many improvements upon this
farm. At the end of four j-ears he sold that and
purchased 120 acres on section 12, Scott Township,
his present home. This land was in a raw state but
he made many improvements, and now has a fine
farm and comfortable home. Seven children blessed
the union of H. H. Farr and Elmira Sherman. All
except the youngest child were born in Vermont.
Ransom J. and Eliza J. are still at home with their
parents; Ellen, wife of W. H. Wise, of Winfield;
Henry, who died in infancy ; Josephine, at home;
Alice L. died at the age of seventeen years; George
E., the youngest child, w.is born July 4, 1 K60, in
Winfield. Mr. and Mrs. F'arr are both members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically', he is
a Republican. He and his good wife have lived in

,t

402

HENRY COUNTY.

this county since 1856, and as citizens, neighbors
and friends, none stand higher.

R. J. Farr, residing on section 12, Scott Township,
Henry Co., Iowa, was born Nov. 26, 1844, in
Chittenden County, Vt. He was married, Oct. 13,
1870, to Anna Sherman, a native of Illinois, and a
daughter of .Jacob and Mary (Roundtree) Sher-
man. Missouri was the birthplace of her parents.
Two children have graced tlie union of Mr. and
Mrs. Farr: Ella May, born April 21, 1872, is attend-
ing school at Winfield, and Henry Mertou, born
Dec. 6, 1876. Mr. Farr is one of the prominent
young farmers of Henry County. He owns eighty
acres of land in Scott Township, and has held sev-
eral township offices. He advocates the principles
of the Republican party and has always affiliated
with that body. Mrs. Farr was taken from her
happy home on earth, May 3, 1876, when twent}'-
nine j'ears of age. She was a member of the Bap-
tist Church, and Mr. Farr belongs to the Methodist
Episcopal Church.

EDWARD NIXON, a retired farnicr and
merchant of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was born
in Washington County, Ohio, .June 3, 181.5i
and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Ste-
phenson) Nixon. His father was previously mar-
ried, and had eight children by that ni.'ii-riagc.
His mother was also previously married, atiil li:id
nine children by her first m;irri:ige. Four children
were born of the hitler inarri;ige, making the
united familj- number twenty-one. Edward Nixon
was the third child of the l:ist marri;igc, .•mil he
and, |)ossilily, two sisters, are all that .'ire now left
of the twenty-one. His father was a native of Bed-
ford County, Pa.; his mother was born in Del-
aware. Mr. Nixon spent his youth on his fathei's
farm, and when sixtceu years of age was bound out
to learn the trade <»f a tailor, at which he served an
apprenticesliip of nearly five years, and then moved
to (Juyandottc, \:i., with his employer, when he
was twenty-one years of age. There he was mar-
ried, April 2, 1840, to Miss Mary A. Phelps, daugh-
ter of Sainu(!l Phelps, of Massachusetts. Six chil-
dren were born of this union, four sons and two

daughters, one of whom died in infancj'. Edward
Herbert, born May 26, 1842, enlisted in the late
war in January, 1863, in the 9th Iowa Infantry,
Company' A, and served till the close of the war.
He then went to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and took a,
regular course in Eastman's Business College, and
graduated in 1860. He married Miss Kate Stewart,
of Walla Walla, Wash. Ter., and is now Deputy
Postmaster at that place, and is largely interested
in ranching in Whitman County, where he has nearly
.500 acres of land. He has three children, two girls
and a boy — Stella, Laura and Edward S.

His second child by his first m.arriage is Mary
Yirginia, wife of Hugh Cozier, residing in Canaan
Township, Henry County. She has three children,
one boy and two girls — Caddie A., .Marj- F. and
John Edward. Mr. Nixon's third child, Thomas,
died when eighteen months of .age. The fourth,
Samuel Edwin, is now a prominent ph^-sician of
Burlington, Iowa. He married Miss Lucy Wilcox;
they have one child, a son, George Edward, .aged
six years. The fifth child, Sarah, is single, and is
engaged in teaching school in Washington Ter-
ritory. The sixth child, William A., is a farmer
of Northwestern Idaho, and is single. Mr. Nixon lost
his first wife by death in September, 1863, and was
married again in June, 1865, to Miss Hepsibah
Phelps, a sister of his first wife. She was born in
Medford, Mass.

Mr. Nixon followed the tailoring business till
1851, when, foreseeing the Civil War, he decided
to remove his family northward, and he came to
Iowa b}' team, lieing one munth upon the road.
He removed to Jackson County, and improved a
farm there, where he resided until the spring of
1865. He then sold out and moved to Danville,
Des Moines County, where he was engaged in the
mercantile business until .laiiuaiy, 1867. He then
moved to Hi'in-y County, and inirchased a farm in
Canaan Township, which was then quite new; and
he was engaged at farming there until the fall of
1886, when he came to Mt. I'leasant, and retired
from active work. He has a handsome and com-
modious residence in the southern jiart of the city.

Mr. Nixt>n served four years as a .Justice of the
Peace in .lackson County, and ten years in Canaan
Township, Henry County, and has held other local

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HENRY COUNTY.

403

offices. In politics, in Ids early life he was a Whig;,
and he has been a Uepiiblican since the oryaniza-
tion of tliat party. He and his wife Jirc niembci'S
of the Metliodist Episcopal^Chnrch, of which denom-
ination he has been a member for lifty-live years.
He is a genial, bright, intelligent gentleman, ripe
with the experience of seventy-two years' iuter-
conrse with the wx)rld.

OSES I'ICHO is a farmer and stock-raiser,
residing on section 12, Jackson Township.
Although of French descent he was born
in N'ermont in 1825, and is a son of Francis
and Louisa (D'Uuo) Pero, who emigrated to Massa- -
chusetts, and engaged in farming and other pursuits
until their removal to Center Square, New York
State. There the father died in his one hundred
and fifth year. His widow ^-et resides there, and is
now past ninety years of age. She is the mother
of nine children: Francis, Gilbert, Jerry, Eliza and
Clara, deceased; and Oliver, Moses, James and Ma-
tilda, living. All except Matilda and Jerry were
married. Moses and Oliver were both married in
New York State, and came together to Iowa, in
18G8, settling in Henry County. Oliver wedded
Julia Hope, who bore children, and after her death
he was married in this county to Mrs. Mahala
Kicheon, who has borne no heirs to the last husband.
They reside on the Lowell road, in Baltimore
Township. Our subject wedded Miss Eunice Me-
nard, born in Canada, a daughter of Francis and
Florence (Miller) Menard. The grandparents of
Mrs. Pero were both born in the old country, he in
Germany, and she in France. Francis and Florence
Menard were the parents of five children, all of
whom were born in Canada, viz: Sophia, Eunice,
Elizabeth, Aurelia, riiiloraena and Francis. The
two latter died in infancy', and the father when
Mrs. Pero was but five years of age. The mother
remained during her lifetime in Canada. The four
eldest daughters are all living and married.
Aurelia is a resident of West \'irginia, and the
wife of Horatio Peabody. When Eunice Menard
was seventeen years of age she made a visit to New
York State, and while there met Mr. Pero, with

whom the .acquaintance was formed w-liich culmi-
nated in marriage, Aug. 5, 1853, J. AV. l?yrn, J.
P., officiating. The young cou[)le began their mar-
ried life with bright prospects, in the I'ity of Troy,
N. Y. Mr. Pero purchased a sawmill soon after-
ward in Constantia, Oswego County, to which jjlace
the^' removed, and this he operated for several
years. Children came to grace their home, live
stiilwart sons and two daughters, all born in New
York State, except the j'oungest ilaughter. They
are named Oliver, Moses, George, Horatio, Nelson,
Emma and Louisa.

The family' removed from Oswego Cdunty, N.
Y.,to Ilenrj' County, Iowa, in 18t)8, and from that
date they have been regarded as among the best
families of the township in which they reside.
Mr. Pero purchased his farm in 1870, and is com-
fortably' situated. The I'ldest daughter, Emma, has
taken a classical course at Howe's Academy, in Mt.
Pleasant, and intends taking up teaching as a pro-
fession. The sons have been educated in the public
schools, and the historian h:is met no family in
which the evidences of birth and breeding are more
marked than in the Pero family. The family ciri'le
is unbroken either by death or marriage, and in one
of the cosiest little homes the greatest unity pre-
vails. Music, literature and good taste make their
home a miniature paradise, and as a family who
have prestige in their neighborhood we welcome
them to a place ami)ng their neighbors and friends.

■ » — ,>v>.-

EHUV FRANK is a de;i!er in drugs, gro-
ceries, boots, shoes and notions, an early
settler of Henry Countj', and a prominent
business man of New London. He was
born in the town of Busti, Chautauqua Co., N. Y.,
Sept. 23, 1825. His parents were John and Eliza-
beth (Devendorf) Frank. His father w.as born in
Herkimer County, N. Y., Jan. 4, 1791, of German
parentage. He was a tanner and currier by trade,
and settled in Chautauqua County in 1809. His
parents were born in Germany, and came to
America in their youth, prior to the war of the
Revolution. His mother and her twin sister were
captured while girls by the Indians, and held cap-
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404

HENRY COUNTY.

tive four years. Their close resemblance to each
other and their beaut}' made them objects of ciiri-
osit}' to their captors, and tliey were the only ones
spared out of their party. Perry's mother was
born in New Yorlv, Ma\' 10, 1795, and died April
14, ISG."), but a few months prior to her husband's
death, which occurred August 6 of the same year.
Our subject learned tlie trade of tanner and cur-
rier and shoemalver with his father, at wliicii he
worked in his native State till 1857, when he emi-
grated to Iowa, and located at New London, Henry
County, November 17 of that year. He engaged
in the shoemaker's business, and in 18G0 opened a
grocery in connection with his shoe store, and in
1865 added drags to his stock. He has now been in
business in this place continuously for twenty-seven
years. Mr. Frank was married in his native town,
Jan. G, 1847, to Miss Mary E. Stoddard, a daughter
of the Rev. Ira C. Stoddard. Mrs. Frank was born
ill the town of Eden, Erie Co., N. Y., Nov. 19,
1826. Her parents were from Brattleboro, Vt.,and
were of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Frank
have one child living, a son, Clement S., who was
born Nov. 8, 1847, and is now residing in Valley
County, Neb. They have lost one child, Arabella
Laroo, who was born April 21, 1851, and died Dec.
4, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. P"'rank and their son are
memliers of the Baptist Church. Mr. Frank is a
Republican in politics, a thorough business man,
affable and courteous, always prompt, and is classed
as one of the reliable men of New London.

t\

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^ OHN DAVIES, a farmer, residing on section
4, Jefferson Townsliip, Henry Co., Iowa, was
born in Wales in 1849, the youngest son of
the Davies family, and his education was
received in Iowa after the famil}' came to this
county. He was married, in 1883, to l\liss Ada V.
Park, daughter of Abraham T. and Amaud.a (Cline)
Park, who came from Ohio, and were married in
Washington County, Iowa. They yet I'eside in
Brighton, and in tluit county five cliililren were
born to them; four are living: Ada \'., wife of our
subject; Mary, wife of Edward Fox, the agent aud

A*

telegraph operator of the Narrow Gauge ; Sarah and
Jessie complete the family. The Cline and Park
families were both e.'u-l}' settlei-s in this part of the
State, and for thirty-five j-e;u's their names h:ive
been familiar to the people of Washington County.
Mrs. Park was born near Harrisburg. Pa., and
Abraham Park ne.ir Circleville, Ohio. Abraham
Park, Sr., the grandsire of Mrs. Davies, was born
in ^'irginia, and liis wife, who was Martha Thomp-
son, in tlie same State, where they were also mar-
ried.

The young couple of whom we write came di-
rectly to the old Davies homestead, aud to botii lias
come a heritage of wealth and kindliness of dispo-
sition. Their marriage has been graced by the birth
of one daughter, Katie, born July 15.1886. We
thus continue the history of the Davies famil}-,
who have been for so many years most favorablj'^
known in Jefferson Township, aud we leave this,
the youngest representative, in one of the cosiest of
homes, surrounded by his pleasant family.

••°*°"®^><C^-°*°"

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hJ^ ISS MENO TROPE, Lady Supervisor of
the State Hospital for the Insane at Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa, has occupied that position
since October, 1869, and has been an em-
ploye of that institution since 1867, covering a
period in all of twenty-one 3'ears to this date. Dur-
ing this long time of service Miss Trope has seldom
been absent, and never for more than ten days at
any one time. She was born in Prussia, and came to
America when six years of age, in company with
her parents and elder sister, and a brother 3'ounger
than herself. The famil}' settled in (Jascouade
Count}', Mo., within a year from their arrival in the
New World, where they hoped to build up a home
for themselves, but both parents were stricken with
disease and died, leaving tlie tluee orphans in com-
parative poverty tt) light the battle of life as best
they could. The}- had no relatives in this country,
and were separated to be cared for among strangers.
Miss Trope came to Iowa in the fall of 1854, and
made her home at Wapello, Louisa Count}', where
she resided until 1867, when she came toMt. Pleas-
ant to become an attendant at the Iowa State llos-

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HENRY COUNTY.

409 ^^

pital for the Insane. Two years and two months
later she was appointed to the position slie now
holds. Miss Trope never knew what became of her
sister. Iler brother, she learned, went as a soldier
in the late war, and died at St. Louis soon after his
return.

Miss Trope has been, with one or two exceptions,
longer identified with the management of tlie hos-
pital than any otiier person. She is a woman pecul-
iarlj' fitted for her work. Possessing good exeeutive
abilit}', she knows how the affairs under her control
should be conducted, and she has the tact, energy
and courage to carry through successfully the many
arduous, ditiicult, and sometimes dangerous, duties
devolving upon her. The hospital is a model of
neatness and order, not excelled even by the pro-
verbial neatness and system of a well regulated naval
frigate. The patients under her charge seem orderly'
and as contented and happy as their unfortunate
mental condition will admit.

ALMER C. TIFFANY, one of the pioneers
of Henry County, was boi"n in SturbridgCi

Y Worcester Co., Mass., April 7, 1809, and
is a son of Jonathan and Experience (Cham-
berlain) Tiffany. The latter was a daughter of
Deacon Edmund Chamberlain, a prominent mem-
ber of the Baptist Church in that locality. Mr.
Tiffany was a mechanic, and also quite a good
musician. He was a plain, straightforward man,
of a social, genial disposition, and endeavored to
give his children the best obtainable education, be-
lieving that to be the best inheritance he could leave
to them. ISIrs. Tiffany was a woman of domestic
habits, a faithful wife and devoted mother. Both
were sincere Christians, and had the respect of all
the people who knew them. Mr. Tiffany died Dec.
12, 1805. and his wife July 31, 1861. They were
the parents of seven children, as follows: Palmer C. ;
Edwin D., a resident of Hartford, Conn., whose
first wife, Esther Cooper, died May 3, 1837; his
second wife, Julia Campbell, died Blarch 9, ISSfJ.
Lucien alscj lives in Hartford; Elizabeth K., who
was married to Franklin D. Hall, died Nov. 11,
1862, and her husband Jan. 13, 1857; Mary died

in infancy; Susan, living in Hartford, Conn., is the
widow of John R. Youngs, who died Feb. 6. 1880;
and Louisa J., who was the wife of Edward Beach,
died Feb. 26, 1887; her husband still survives.

When a boy the suliject of this sketch worked
in a cotton factory in summer, attending school in
winter, and was afterward employed as a clerk and
book-keeper. He was married, Jan. 1, 1835, to
Eliza Chevey, of Worcester County, Mass., a daugh-
ter of Peunel Chevey, a prominent citizen of that
county, and they have passed together a happy
wedded life of fifty-three years, and their friends
hope manj' more are yet in store for them.

The father of Mrs. Tiffany was a gentleman of
great reputation for integrity, and in his Eastern
home was entrusted with much business of a confi-
dential and responsible character. He was often
chosen trustee and guardian, and discharged every
trust committed to his care with fidelity. He was
never a robust man, and lived but a few years after
coming West, dying in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in 1843,
at the age of sixty-two. His wife, Huldah Tardell,
also of Sturbridge, Mass., was an enterprising and
energetic woman, of great executive ability, and
brought her family up very strictly. She died in
the house where Mr. Tiffany lives, in 1873, in her
ninetieth year, and might have lived longer, but for
atrip she took shortly liefore her death, which over-
taxed her strength.

In 1838, attracted like thousands of others by
the golden promises of the far West of that day,
and by the glowing accounts of a former neighbor
who had emigrated to Iowa, Palmer C. Tiffany
and his wife, accompanied by her father and brother,
undertook the tedious journey to this State. In
the company was a child the son of Mrs. Tiffany's
brother, she taking charge of him until his mother
joined the colony the following year. They also
l)rought with them an Indian girl. Wealth}- Buck-
ingham, whose father had given her to Mrs. Tiffany's
mother. She was brought up with Mrs. Tiffany',
and has been a life-long servant and devoted com-
panion, still living with Mr. and Mrs. Tiffany.

On leaving the East, the company went to Al-
bany, N. r., by stage, and thence to Utica by rail-
road ; thence to Buffalo, N. Y., by canal, and bj'
steamer on the lake to Cleveland, Ohio. From

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410

HENRY COUNTY.

Cleveland thoy pushed on to Portsmouth, Ohio, by
canal on a freight boat, as their household goods
could not be carried on a packet. From Ports-
mouth they went down the Ohio River by boat to
Cincinnati, and thence to St. Louis. From there
they went up the I'iver to Warsaw, 111., the nearest
point to their destination. On arriving at that
point Mr. Tiffany hired a team to take them to their
intended stopping-iilacc, which his former neighbor
had tuld him was called "Sweet Home." The jour-
ney was attended with many discomforts, and on
arriving at the place, instead of the flourishing town
they had been led to expect, they found but one
small cabin. Starting out to look for a better loca-
tion ;Mr. Tiffany and his brother-in-law reached
Farmington, Iowa, where Ihej' heard of Mt. Pleas-
ant, and decided to see what it looked like. Here
they determined to settle, and Mr. Tiffany bought
the claim of a squatter named Martin Tucker for
$700, which he afterward purchased from the.
Government. This included the land on which
the State Hospital for the Insane now stands. In
1839 he kept a public liouse in Mt. Pleasant in a
rented building, and in the following year bought
the lot known as the "Tiffany Corner," on which
was a small building. Here he kept a hotel known
as the ••llawkeye House," and later as the "Henry
House." In 1849, on the breaking out of the Cali-
fornia gold fever, he joined a compau}- and made
tlie perilous journey across the plains, leaving his
wife in charge of the hotel, which she successfully
conducted in his absence. The journej' to Cali-
fornia by ^)x-teams consunuMl four months. The
company stopped at "Hangtown," now Placerville,
and Mr. Tiffany engaged in mining, remaining until
1851, when he returned, going b}- sailing-vessel to
the Isthmus, the voyage occui)3'ing seventy-two
days, for twenty of which thej' were on short allow-
ance. They crossed by mules to the Chagres River,
and down that stream to Chagres, where they em-
barked on a steamer for New York by way of Cuba.
After visiting old friends in Massachusetts and Con-
necticut, Mr. Tiffany leturned to his home in Mt.
Pleasant and again assumed charge of his hotel, to
which he added man\' improvenn'nts, and which
was thereafter known as the "Tiffany House." He
continued in the hotel business until his house was

burned down, Nov. 23, 1857. He then put up a
store on the lot, and engaged in selling books, sta-
tionery, wall-paper, fancy goods, etc., carrying it
on until he was again visited by a disastrous confla-
gration, Feb. 14, 1882. AVith characteristic pluck
and energy he began again, and has since been in his
pleasant trade of dealing in furniture, wall-papers,
doing undertaking, etc.

In 1839 Mr. Tiffany was appointed l>y Terri-
torial Governor Lucas, Justice of the Peace, and
on the office being made elective was elected, and
re-elected, holding the position until he resigned to
go to California. On his return he was several times
again elected to the same office. In politics he has
always been a Democrat, and under President
Pie''ce's administration was .appointed Postmaster
of I\It. I'leasant, holding the position for nearly
nine jears. Twice he h.as been elected Alderman
of the city on a non-partisan ticket, holding that
office four years. Always active in any movement
for tiie benefit of his town, he took a prominent
part in procuring the establishment of the Iowa
Wesleyan University, of which he was one of the
incorporators, and President of its first Board of
Trustees. He has always lent a helping hand to any
deserving enterprise for the public good. Mr. and
Mrs. Tiffany have no children of their own, but
adopted and reared two : The son, Samuel, married
Louise Osborn; he is a traveling salesman, and
at present is living in New York City. The daugh-
ter, Eliza W., received her education at Howe's
Academy in Mt. Pleasant, and w.as afterward sent
for a year to Hartford, Conn., to finish her educa-
tion. She became the wife of Gen. Thomas B.
p;idridge, well known for the prominent part he
took in the Kansas border war. Ho died in Law-
rence, Kan., where Jlrs. Eldridge now lives. Mr.
and Mrs. Tiffany are members of St. Michael's Epis-
copal Church, Mt. Pleasant, of which he has been
\Varden for many years. He is also a member of
the I. O. 0. F., belonging to Henry Lodge No. 10.
His life of half a century in Mt. Pleasant has been
one of usefulness and honor, and he is justly re-
garded not only as one of its first, but also as one
of its best citizens, who is held in esteem by all
who know him. Since locating here he has wit-
nessed many changes. The beautiful but wild

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HEXEY COCIS^TT.

411

prairie has given way to a flourishing city, and
where stood the rude cabins of the early settlers,
are now to be found splendid buildings devoted to
the trade of a thriving business center. Another
indication of progress is mentioned by Mr. Tiffany.
When he first came to Mt. Pleasant the journej-
occupied thirty days, and cost the little party
#500, now the same trip can be made within for-
ty-eight hours, in elegantlj' equipped railroad
coaches, and would cost the same number not to
exceed 8100. Truly a wonderful progress.

This sketch would be incomplete without a more
particular mention of Mrs. Eliza C. Tiffany. A
woman of marked individuality, and of rare gifts,
she exercised a wide influence in the social and
business life of the joung citj-. Her charitj" was a
no less noted trait of her character. No matter how
inclement the weather, or how lowlj- the station of
the sufferer, where distress needed relief there ^Mrs.
Tiffanj- was ever to be found, never hesitatingly'
or grudgingly, but freely and promptly ministering
to the wants of the needy, even though the object
was perhaps hardly worthj-. With her, charity
was first; reproof, if needed, came later. No per-
sonal dislike (and she was a woman of strong im-
pulses) ever deterred her in the performance of a
charity, no fear of contagion frightened her, and
her keen judgment and firmness of mind were
often tested in trying scenes. As a woman of busi-
ness, while conducting the hotel in the absence of
her husband in California, and while presiding over
the work of the post-office, while her husband was
Postmaster, she showed herself possessed of rare
executive abilities, and the older residents of the
city, who knew her best, speak of her in warm terms
of admiration. She is indeed a most estimable
lady, and worthy of all the words of praise bestowed
upon her.

It is with great pleasxrre we present the admira-
ble portraits of these most worthy living repre-
sentatives of the pioneers of Henry Countv.

<=<j": <fr !i^^ #■ -i^

DAMN N. NELSON, Steward of the Iowa
State Hospital for the Insane, Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa. The subject of this sketch was born
in Lowell, Middlesex Co., Mass., Oct. Id, 1848, and

is the son of Henry N. and Mary G. ( Holbrook)
Nelson. His father was born in Gilmanton, N. H., and
is of English descent. His mother was born at Gar-
land, Me. Edwin N. was educated at Gilmanton
Academy. X. H. He went to Illinois in 1869, and
was connected for thirteen j'ears with the Central
Illinois Hospital for the Insane at Jacksonville,
and held the responsible position of Supervisor of
that institution for many years.

Mr. Nelson was married at Winchester, 111., in
October, 1876, to Miss Mary McEvers. Three chil-
dren were born of their union, two sons and a
daughter. The daughter. Bessie H., is the eldest.
The sons are Fred H. and Clarence E. The two
elder were born at Jacksonville, 111., the youngest
at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Mr. Nelson came to Mt.
Pleasant from Jacksonville, III., in October, 1882,
to accept the position he now holds, that of Stew-
ard of the Iowa State Hospital for the Insane. He
has proved a most efficient and trustworthy officer,
and by his fairness and gentlemauly bearing has
won hosts of warm friends at Mt. Pleasant during
the five years that he has so ably filled the responsi-
ble position at the hospital He is a Republican in
politics, and is a prominent member of the Masonic
fraternity. He is a Knight Templar and a member
of Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 8, A. F. <fc A. M. : of
Henry Chapter No. S, R. A. M., and of Jerusalem
Commandery No. 7, K. T., all of Mt. Pleasant. He
and his wife are both members of the Congrega-
tional Church.

^ OHN MYERS, one of the earliest settlers of
Henry County, Iowa, was born in Green-
brier County, now West Virginia, in 1799.
There he grew to manhood, and received bis
education in the subscription schools. He was of
German descent, and served as a soldier during the
AVarof 1812, and also in the Whiskey War in
Maiyland. He married Sarah Rogers, also a native
of Greenbrier County, W. Va. They were the par-
ents of eleven children, seven daughters and four
sons, four of whom are living: Mary J., wife of
John S. Malcom. of Nicholas County, W. Ya. ;
Susan, wife of James B. Lynch, a resident of Lead-

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412

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HENRY COUNTY.

ville, Col. ; John L., of Winflekl, and Isabell, the
wife of David Morley of this county. In March.
1852, Mr. Myfirs came to Henry County, Iowa,
and took up his residence upon the lands now used
for a fair ground. He cast his vote with the Whig
party, and was a great admirer of Henry Clay and
Gen. Harrison. He and his wife were both members
of the United Presbyterian Church. The}' both died
in this county, sincerely mourned by a large circle
of friends, by whom they were greatly loved and
respected.

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R. ,T()SIAH DP:AL, of Mt. Union, was born
near Berlin, Somerset Co., Pa., May 5, 1 823,
and is a son of Frederick and Catharine
(Clotfelty) Deal, both of German descent,
the father of Prussian, and the mother of .Swiss par-
entage. Frederick H. Dela, the grandsire of our
subject, was a Prussian nobleman of great wealth
and influence, but becoming concerned in an in-
trigue against the King of Prussia, was forced to
fl}- with his family, and his estates were confiscated
by the Crown. He was a soldier in the Prussian
army, of which he was an officer, and his military
knowledge gave him prominence in the movement
whicli forced him to leave his native land. The
family reached America prior to the war of the
Revolution, and with Washington's army he allied
his fortunes, choosing the rank of a private for fear
of detection, and to further conceal his identity, the
two last letters of his name were transposed, mak-
ing the name Dela read Deal, b}' which name he
was ever afterward known, likewise his descendants.
He served tinougliout the war and settled in Penn-
sylvania, wliere his death occurred not long aftci-
ward. His wife died while her liusband was in the
service, leaving Philip, ■K>hii, Ik-nry, Frederick and
Nancy, who were also left fatherless in tiie country
then only sparsely settled. They all married before
they left Pennsjivania, and were widely scattered
througliout the Western States, leaving but little
trace of the family history to draw conclusions
from.

Of lliese ciiildren, Frederick, the fatlier of our
subject, after marriage began life in Somerset

County, Pa., but left that State in 1828, becoming
a pioneer of Waj-ne County, Ohio, near Wooster.
After a residence there of three years, he removed
with his family to Ashland County, near Ashland,
and purchased a small farm. He remained there
during his life, dying Nov. 28, 1849. His wife
survived him ten j'ears, and all that was mortal of
his good wife was placed to rest by his side in the
Ashland Cemetery. They were parents of ten chil-
dren, seven daughters and three sons: Mary, de-
ceased ; Julia, wife of Asher Edgerton ; Eliza,
deceased; Nancy, wife of George Yeisley ; Lewis,
deceased ; Sarah, deceased ; Josiah and Rebecca,
still single ; Henry and Harriet, deceased.

Our subject begMU the study of medicine in the
autumn of 184.5 with Dr. A. S. Norris, uf Orange,
Ohio. He continued his studies until after his
graduation in 1849, from the Cleveland (Ohio) Med-
ical College, after which he began practicing in
Orange, and also continued study under Dr. Archi-
b.ald McClelland, beginning business for liiniself the
next year, and continued practicing in that county
for almost seventeen years. His wedding to Miss
Mary Campbell was celebrated Oct. 29, 1848, and
for nearly forty years this couple have shared a
happy married life. She was a daughter of Daniel
and Anna M. (Biddiuger) Campbell, residents of
Orange, Ohio, where Daniel was both a merchant
and a farmer. His death occurred in 1854, and in
18Go the widow came to Iowa where some of her
ciiildren resided, and in the autumn of 1887 her
death occurred at the home of our subject in Mt.
Union. She reached the age of eighty-four, having
lived to see her chihlren all married and settled in
life. They were named respectively : Daniel, who
was the Greenback candidate for Governor of Ohio
ill 1880; his wife was Eliza Fluke, and resides in
Monona County, Iowa. Maiy, wife of our subject;
Nancy, deceased wife of Hmaee Harkness; Peter,
deceased; Sarah, wife of George Crosier, of Well-
ington, Ohio; James, husband of Jennie Seifert,
resides in O'Neill, Neb. ; Jefferson and Wilson, both
deceased; Eliza, wife of Estin Gorhani, of .Sullivan,
Ohio; Samantha, deceased; Orville, husband of
Alice L. Willets, of Cheyenne County, Kan.; Ben-
jamin F. wedded Kate Powlns, and after her death
Fannie Goodspeed, who is also deceased, and also

4

u

HENRY COUNTY.

■•►

413

resides in Cheyenne Count}', Kan., where he is
County Recorder.

After the Doctor and his wife decided to move
westward, they chose the State of Iowa, coming
direct to Morning Sun, Louisa County, where he
both practiced medicine and managed a farm for
six years, regaining in a perfect manner his healtli,
which had almost Lrolcen down. In 1809 the Doc-
tor pui-chased a farm in Henry County near the
present village of Mt. Union, to which he removed,
remaining both in practice and agricultural life as
he was in Louisa County. When the village of
Mt. Union was fairly started he sold his farm, pur-
chased land in town, and since March, 1879, has
done a continuous practice, and is the only physi-
cian in the village.. Forty of the best years of his
life have been devoted to the profession, and it is
needless to say that he is as noted for his skill as he
is for the correct habits which have ever character-
ized the man. Dr. Deal is Itnown far and wide as
a physician and surgeon, and to many homes has
his skill brought back to healthy life those whom
it was feared would never recover.

Five children grace the union : Helen E. and
Flora B. are deceased ; Ida M. is the wife of C. G.
Clough. a merchant of Stanton. Neb. ; Frederick
O. is Deputy Sheriff of Wano, Cheyenne Co., Kan. ;
and Lizzie J. is the wife of J. W. Gorham, a me-
chanic of Mt. Union. We are pleased to give the
good Doctor and his familj' a deserved place in tlie
history of the county, with which for so nianj'
years they have been identified.

.... BNER FORMAN, a farmer and stock-raiser,
£JJ| residing on section 3, Marion Township,
Henry County, was born in Preston Coun-
ty, Va., April 7, 181.1. His parents were
Samuel and Elizabeth (Willits) Forman, the f.athcr
being a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of
Maryland. His father went from Pennsylvania to
Virginia in an early da}', and here became ac-
quainted with ;md married Miss Elizabeth Willits,
in 1805. They were married in Preston County,
Va., where they resided and reared a family of nine

children : Jesse, deceased ; Deborah, living in Tay-
lor County, Iowa: Annie, deceased; Rhoda, aged
twenty-eight; James, aged nineteen, and the mother,
all died in 1841, within four days of each other.
Hannah, deceased ; Abner, our subject, is sixth in
order of birth; Ellis, deceased, and Richard. Sam-
uel Forman during all his life was a farmer. Mr.
and Mrs. Samuel Forman were for many years mem-
bers of the Society of Friends. He was a man
highly esteemed by all. No one in need ever came
to him for help but found in him a faithful friend.
He was called to his final home, in Preston Count}',
Va., in 1847.

Our subject received his education in the com-
mon schools. Until his father's death he remained
on the farm, when he received it as his share of the
property. On the Uth day of June, 1846, he wed-
ded Miss Hannah B. Johnson, who was born in
Greene County, Pa., Nov. 7, 1824. Her parents
were Isaac and Mary (Barkley) Johnson, natives of
Bucks County, Pa. Her father died about the
year 1844. He also was a member of the Society
of Friends. After Mr. Forman was married he re-
mained on the old home farm in Preston County
until 1854, when he sold his farm and removed to
Knox County, Ohio, where he rented a farm of 100
acres for two years. In 185G he bought 130 acres
of hand in Knox County, Ohio, remaining there un-
til the fall of 1866. Having sold his farm he then
came to Henry County, buying 160 acres of land on
section 3, ]\I.arion Township, where he has since re-
sided. Mr. Forman h.'is added many improve-
ments to the farm till it is one of the finest in the
county. He is a practical farmer, knowing how to
use his means to the best adviuitage. He has been
very successful, the farm each year yielding good
crops, and the stock also has been a source of rev-
enue to him. Upon the farm may be found a fine
grade of Short-horn cattle, the best grade of Poland-
China hogs, and a good grade of Norman horses.

Mr. and Mrs. Forman are the parents of seven
children: Rhoda, born April 2, 1847; Willits L.,
born April 10, 1849, married Ruth A. Vore, a na-
tive of Ohio, and to them were born three chil-
dren— Rachel May, Lee W. and Elva. He is a
farmer in Taylor County, Iowa. They are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Isaac J.,

iiU.

t

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414

HENRY COUNTY.

born Aug. 29, 1851, wedded Luella Darlington,
a native of Marshall County, Iowa. By this union
there were three children: Edith died in infancy;
Miirrel T. and Lloyd; he is a farmer of Taylor
Couuty, Iowa, but at present in California for his
health. Solon B., born Feb. 10, 1855, died Aug.
20, 1883; he was a successful educator and a
young man of more than ordinary ability, and was
highly esteemed by all. Ellis F., born July 15,
1858, is with his brother in California; Jesse J.ay,
born May 28, 1862, h.as charge of the home
farm, and is a young man of stead}', industrious
habits; Mary B., born Marcli 7, 18()5, died Feb.
2, 1886; she grew up as a flower, but was cut
down in her prime. One could not know her but to
love her. She was a young lady liaviiig more than
ordinary musical talent, and was a leader in the
church to whioh she belonged. The life of such a
one should lead many t<i the throne of Him who is
the giver of all good. Mr. and Mrs. Forman have
given tlieir children good educations. They have
taught them to love and fear God, that by their
example others may seek the light that leads to life
everlasting. The}' are members of the Society of
Friends. As citizens, they rank higli, and none
more trul}' deserve the respect of all tiian do Mr.
and Mrs. Forman. In politics he is a Republican,
and a great temperance worker.

^^^^¥H^^

"if OHN GILLASPEY is a farmer residing on
section 29, AVaync Township, Ilenrj' Co.,
Iowa. He was born in 'Westmoreland
County, Pa., in 1820, and is tlie son of
William and Jane (Penny) C;illasi)ey. The par-
ents were both natives of Pennsylvania, the father
of Westmoreland County and the mother of Alle-
gheny County, in which latter tliey were married.
William had purchased a farm lying in both these
counties, and the house stood upon the line. Upon
this farm the young coujile began their domestic
life, ;ui(l there all their children were born, namely :
Mary, now the widow of William Davis, of Cass
County, Iowa; Matilda, wife of Robert Miller, of
the .same ct)unty ; John, our subject; Elizabeth, who
wedded Owen CarmichacI and after his death Alex-

ander Barr, and both he and his wife died in this
county ; Thomas was married in Canada, reared a
famil}' of five sons, and died near Windsor, where
his widow yet resides; Marg.aret wedded John
Davis, and both are now deceased, though after
her death he .again married; William, the husb.and
of Margaret Redsworth, of Pennsylvania, removed
to this county in 1855, and later to Lucas County,
Iowa, where he died; Jane and Charles died in
Pennsylvania, unmarried.

The father of these children was called to his
final home when our subject was but six j'ears old.
Left fatherless at an early day, the mother with a
large family and only a small farm that brought in a
light income, our subject received but little help
save what his own hands eayied. The mother
remained during her lifetime on the Pennsylvania
farm. The brothers, William and John, were the
first to come west, locating in Jefferson County,
Ohio, an<l purch.asingafarm in p.artnership. William
was married, and later sold his interest to John and
purchased a mill property on Island Creek. Two
years later he sold that and came to Henry County,
settling three miles east of ^It. Pleasant.

In September, 1849, John Gillaspey was married
in Jefferson County, Ohio, to Miss Rachel A. Max-
well. She came from a noted family, A\'illiam AV.
and Sophia (Duvall) ^Maxwell being her parents.
Mr. ]Maxwell w.as born in Maryland and his wife in
Ohio. The maternal ancestors of William Maxwell
were noted as being one of the wealthiest and best
known families, as well as one of the nK>sl prolific
ill the countrj' east of the mountains, and numer-
ous families yet bear the name of Weiermaii in
Adams and Cumberland Counties, Pa., adjoining
the ]\Iarylaiid line.

In the spring of 1856 John (iillasiiey and his
wife decided to come West, and selling their Ohio
farm, embarked upon the Ohio River and made the
journey to Keokuk by boat. They found a home
in Mt. Pleasant, where (ov three years the husli.ind
engaged in diffeient occiiiiatioiis. He then rented
a farm four mill's northeast of Mt. Pleasant, from
W. R. Cole, remaining there until his present farm
was bought, in 18C3. His first purchase of land in
this State was in Iowa Count}', but he never lived
upon that farm, and subsequentl}' selling it made

t-:

-■»^ll -^t

HENRY COUNTY.

415

'

his permanent investment in Henry County. This
farm was partly improved, but all the trees and
permanent improvements stand as monuments to
the enterprise of John and Rachel Gillaspey. They,
during the last quarter of a eenturj', have raised
the seed, planted the twigs, and now sit in the grate-
ful shade of lordly maples that lift their tops toward
the sk3^ Their three eldest children were born in
Ohio: William A., now a dairyman of Gunnison,
Col. ; Sophia M., wife of Albert Meeker, a farmer
of this township; and C4eorge W., the husband of
Sarah McPeek, of New Cambridge, Ohio, but the
young couple reside in this county. Three chil-
dren were born in this countj': Alonzo B., born
during their residence in Mt. Pleasant, is married
to Miss Ettie Meeker, of Scott Township, and now
lives in Marion Township, Henry County. John
T. and James H., born on the homestead, and the
family circle has never been broken by aught save
marriage. INIrs. Gillaspey is a granddaughter of
Capt. Duvall, of historic fame in the War of 1812,
and we are pleased to record this fact in their
history, as only a few persons are now living who
carry in their veins the blood of either Revolution-
ary or patriots of the War of 1812. Our subject
and his good wife have gained a competence for
old age, and although but little past the meridian,
their life's work is almost completed, and the period
for its enjoj-ment has just begun. Both are mem-
bers of the Baptist Church .and are highly respected
in the social and business world. Mr. Gill.ispey
has held several township offices, and for many years
has been Treasurer of Independent School District
No. 9.

-^^ — ^^^B ^^-

RNEST E. BATES, one of the leading and

E representative farmers of Henry Count}',
Iowa, residing on section 22, Trenton Town-
ship, was born in Saxony, Germany, March 11, 1844.
His parents were Christian and Margaret (Pantzer)
Bates, both of whom were also natives of Saxony.
Leaving "dat Vaterland" they emigrated to Amer-
ica in the fall of 1854. After spending some time
upon the broad Atlantic, they landed in this country,
traveling on until they readied Iowa, where in
Henry Count}' they made their home. Christian

Bates purchased 320 acres of land, upon which he
made many improvements. This farm is now owned
by our subject, being 230 acres in extent, the re-
maining acres being disposed of, and is one of the
best cultivated farms in the township. In the fall
of 186G the marriage of Ernest Bates and Emily
Allender was celebrated. She is a native of Henry
County, born in 1846. Her father, James Allender,
is still a resident of Marion Township. Eleven
children have come to bless the union of this wor-
thy couple, who rejoiced withtliera in their childish
glee, and sympathized with them in childhood's
sorrow. The silent reaper has passed by their home
and the family circle remains unbroken. The
names of the members of this happy family are:
Annie, who is now the wife of Clark Jay, a resident
of Oregon ; Margaret, Lydia, John, Amanda, Lizzie,
Emma, Nellie, Albert, Elva and Frank. Mr. Bates
is principally engaged in the raising of cattle and
fine hogs, of which he always keeps the best grades.
He is one of the enterprising farmers of Trenton
Township, and everjthing on the farm points to the
thrift and industry of the owner.

■^ OHN L. MYERS, a blacksmith of Winfield,
was born in (Jreenbrier County, W. Va.,
April 8, 1830. He was educated in the prim-
itive log school-house with its puncheon
floor, slab seats and greased paper windows. He
had to go four miles to school and then could only
attend during the winter. In October, 1850, Mr.
Myers emigrated to Mt. Ple.asant, Iowa, and the fol-
lowing autumn located in Scott Township, where
he entered a claim, and in company with his brother,
built a house. Into this his father moved in 1852.
Mr. Myers and his brother opened the first black-
smith-shop in Scott Township, they having previ-
ously learned the trade in West Virginia.

In October, 1864, Mr. Myers was united in mar-
riage with Harriet Tedron, a daughter of the
Buckeye State, born in Athens County in 1844.
By their union ten children were born, seven of
whom are living : Jenetta, born June 29, 1865; John,
born Sept. 17, 18G6; Emma, born Oct. 17, 1867,
is the wife of Ed Supplee, of Winfield ; Sarah C,

\-

416

HENRY COUNTY.

born Dec. 4, 1868; George B.,born March 7, 1872;
Lizzie B., born April 8, 1875; Frank, born April 5,
1877;Iflaand Ada, twins, born Feb. 27, 1883:
Those deceased are: George, died June 5, 1875, and
Lizzie Bell died Feb. 21, 1885, and May, who died
aged eleven montiis. In politics Mr. Myers is a
Democrat. He is active for his party and talvcs
great interest in local elections. Mr. Myers is one
of the earliest settlers of Henry County, it being a
wild and unsettled jn-airie when he took up his resi-
dence here, and there was not a house between
Winfield and Big Creek. Scott Township was one
vast prairie, and there were but few settlers along
the interior. In 1850, Scott and Wayne Town-
ships were all one, called by the latter name, and .at
the first election which he attended in Henry County
at the time when Winfield Scott ran for President,
there were but twenty-five votes polled in the two
townships, and members of the .flyers familj' cast
four of those. Mr. Myers receives the respect due
him as an old pioneer settler, and Henry County
owes much of its advancement to Mr. Myers. So-
cially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, a
Master Mason, and lielongs to Good Faith. "Lodge
No. 235. . .'•.;'■ ""'

<jfpSLIAS BROWN ()(iG (King 'of Bfi^han), a
fe pioneer of Iowa in 1839 and fofsijpiMy. S,-,
/*' — ^ prominent business man of Mt. Pleasahtv is '■
now a resident of Marion Townshi|), Henry County.
Mr. Ogg is a farmer, and jiroprietor and manufact-
urer of Ogg's Hawkeye Liniment, a well-known
and popular remedy for many of the ills fiesh is
heir to. He was born in Baltimore County, Md.,
May 6, 1814, and is the son of William H. and
CatheriiK! (Logsdon) Ogg. The first fifteen years
of his life were si)ent in his native county,
and in 1829 he went with his jwrents to what is
now West ^'irginia; a year and a half later he re-
turned to his old home, and in 1831 went to Knox
Count}', Ohio, where he began at the age of sevon-
^teen years to make his own way in the world. He
was employed at driving a team and doing farm
work at $9 a month, for which liberal compensation
he was required to render service eighteen hours
daily. He returned to INIaryland in February, 1 832,

] iiaii

and the mouth of October (1833) in his twentieth
year, he was married to Miss Catherine Brothers.
Mrs. Ogg was born in Baltimqre County. Md.,
and was a schoolmate of her husband. In 183()
Mr. Ogg removed to Knox County, Ohio, and in
the spring of 1839 came to Iowa. He located i)i
Des ]\Ioines County, eleven miles west of Burling-
ton, where he bought land and made a farm. In
1850 Mr. Ogg came to Mt. Pleasant, where he en-
gaged in mercantile business. He built the first
three-story brick building in the city, in which he
opened a general store. After five years spent in
this line, he sold his stock to Waters & Eastman
and his building to William White. He then en-
gaged extensivel}' in the land agency business, and
was also a Justice of the Peace. He continued in
that business two years, during which time he located
more land warrants than anj' other man in this sec-
tion of the country, and did a large and profitable
business, by which he accumulated a large amount
of money. He then engaged in the banking busi-
ness, in conipau}' with Henrj' Barchi}' anil Henry
Sw.an, under the firm name of Barclay, Ogg &
Swan. They began business in an unfortunate time,
the opening of 1857. the year of the great financial
cra6h._ Mr. Ogg had the misfortune to nearl}* lose
his eyesight by inflanunation, and for a long time was
ihoapacitated from attending to liusincss. The
banking business seems to have been liadly managed,
yind'in a few years INIr. Ogg found himself (inan-
•cjally ruined. He retired to a small farm in Marion
Township, where he now resides, and for several
years h.as devoted his .attention largely to the manu-
facture and sale of his proprietary medicines. ]\Ir.
and Mrs. Ogg were the parents of twelve children:
Joshua J., now residing in I'lorida; A\'illiam II. died
at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, leaving a widow ;uid two
children; Ann is the wife of C. T. Stevenson, and
lives in Marion Township: Martha E. is the wife of
William H. Cox, and resides in Ottumwa, Iowa;
Elizabeth is the wife of Oscar Mitts, .and resides in
Marion Township; Charles 15. married Mary Fergu-
son, and lives on llie old homestead in Marion Town-
ship; Malachi married Mary Lamborn, and lives in
Marion Township; Catherine, deceased; Alfred !•
deceased; Eli:is B., deceased, w.as married to Mary
Ann Anderson; Lj^dia, deceased, was married to

=f

/jr^^^ c^o^^^^ -

u

^t

HENRY COUNTY.

419

George Mitts; Tom, deceased, manied to Sarah
Ann Farmer; lie left a wife and tliree cliildreu.

Mr. Ogg has attained considerable prominence as
an interesting writer of local chronicles, under the
iwm de plume of the "King of Bashan."

'»rtrt,-'x«a££r©^^|

\,t^^}/umnr^'w^

t

W)ILLIAM GLADDEN, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
dealer in farm machinery, machine siii)])lies,
buggies, w.agons, sewing-machines, drain
tile, etc., is a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, born
nearSteubenville, May 1, 1836. His father. Madison
Gladden, was a native of the same county, but
was of Holland and Spanish doscent, while his
mother, Margaret (McElroy) Gladden, was also
born in the same county and State, l)ut was of
Scotch-Irish descent. William remained .-it home
until eighteen years of age, in the meantime re-
ceiving a liberal education in public and private
schools, which was but really the foundation for
the more extensive knowledge acquired by read-
ing and private study in after years. On leav-
ing home he came directly to Iowa, and located
in Des Moines County, where for the next nine
years he was engaged in farming and teaching,
in which occupations he was reasonably successful.
In 1863 Mr. Gladden came to Mt. Pleasant, in
the employ of the Burlington & Missouri River,
now the Chicago, Burlington &, Quiney Railroad
Company, as Station Agent, and for the next two
years efliciently served the company and public in
that capacity. In 1865 he accepted an offer as
general agent for the Farmer's and Merchant's In-
surance Company, of Quiney, 111., with headquarters
atMt. Pleas.aut. Resigning that position in the
spring of 1869, he engaged in his present business,
in which he has continued uninteruptedly to the
present time. He h.as now been dealing with the
farming community of this region for nearlj'
twenty years, and has by strict .attention to business,
and a determination to give everyone as good
goods as possible for the money, built up an exten-
sive and successful trade. He is careful to keep a
good assortment of repairs and supplies for the
accommodation of his customers. Among the
specialties that he handles are reapers, mowers and

binders, buggies, farm and spring wagons. White
sewing-machines, "Sui)erior" fence wire, and Molene
plows and cultivators.

In the f.'dl of 1868 Mr. Gladden visited New
York State, and in September of that year, at Vic-
tor, Ontario County, was united in marri.age to
Miss Josephine Gillis, a native of that towni, county
and State, and daughter of John and Margaret Gil-
lis, also natives of that Slate. Immediately after
their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gladden came to Mt.
Pleasant, and now reside in a pleasant and com-
fortable home on Monroe street, where friends and
acquaintances always find a welcome, and which to
them is a home in the true sense of the word.

Mr. Gladden is a member of the Masonic fra-
ternity. He is at present a member of Xenium
Lodge No. 207, A. F. & A. M., Henry Chapter No.
8, R. A. M., and Jerusalem Commandery No. 7, K.
T. He is a firm believer in the principles of the
order, knowing them to be conducive to the pub-
lic good. Politically he is a Democrat of liberal
views, not actively p.artisan. As a business man he
is enterprising, and is ever readj^ to give his means,
and to use his influence for any measure calculated
for the public good. As a citizen, friend and
neighbor, he is upright and exact, genial and
courteous to all. He is bro.ad in his views of pub-
lic policy, and liberal in his support of educational,
religious and other local interests. Elsewhere will
be found a view of his city residence, and upon the
opposite page, a line portrait of Mr. Gladden.

'V^

■^-^^i^^^^f^T^^^-

R. T. L. BEERS, the oldest established den-
tist in Mt. Pleasant, having been in con-
stant practice here since February, 1873, was
born in Knox County, Ohio, Feb. 15, 1843.
His parents were Joseph and Jane (Douglass) Beers.
His father was born in New Jersey, and was of Irish
descent, several generations removed. His mother
was born in Ohio, and was of Scotch descent. T.
L. Beers received a common-school education, and
enlisted in August, 1862, .as a member of Company
B, 96th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He
was discharged in December, 1862, on account of
physical disability. On his return from the war,

4-

420

HENRY COUNTY.

he engaged in the study of dentistry at Frederick-
town, Ohio, and in 1864 began practice at Hudson-
ville, 111. One year later he removed to Vin-
eennes, Ind., where he practiced his profession one
year. He was married at Fredericlitown, Ohio,
Nov. 26, 18G6, to Miss Elvira M. Hasluns, who was
born in Delaware County, Ohio. Her father was a
native of Vermont, and her mother of Pennsyl-
vania.

Dr. Beers and wife have two children, a son and
a daughter. The son. Charles Joseph, was born in
Morrison, 111., Feb. 21, 1871. The daughter, Jen-
nie D., was born in Mt. Pleasant, JNIarch 21, 1x77.
Di'. Beers removed to Morrison, 111., in December,
18C5, where he was engaged in the practice of his
profession for a period of seven j'ears. He then re-
turned to Fredericktown, Ohio, where he prac-
ticed one year, and in 1873 removed to Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa, in which city he has practiced his
profession continuously since. By strict atten-
tion to business and thorough knowledge of his
profession, and by prompt and courteous treatment
of his patients, he has won the confidence of the
public, and secured an extensive and lucrative y>vac-
tice. He is a Republican in politics, and socially, a
Knight Templar Mason. He a member of Mt.
Pleasant Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A. M.; of Henry
Chapter No. 8, R. A. M., and of Jerusalem Com-
mandery No. 7, K. T. He and his wife are mem-
bers of the First Presbyterian Church of Mt.
Pleasant.

-«=

,EV. JOSEPH BOWERS VERNON, de-
ceased, was born in Muskingum County,
Ohio, Jan. 1, 1812, and was a son of Jolui
Xvgi and Elizabeth Veiiion. His parents were
natives of Bucks County, Pa. Josepli B. was
reared on a farm, and followed that occupation in
the East until the fall of 1851, when he came to
Mt. Pleasant, and in tlie following spring removed
to a farm four miles northeast of the citj', on which
he lived until 1863, when he sold his farm and
removed to the city. Alwa^'s industrious and
careful, he was a successful farmer. After his
removal to Mt. Pleasant he was twice elected to the

office of Justice of the Peace. Mr. Vernon early in
youth turned his thoughts to religious matters, and
at tlie age of thirteen united with the ^lethodist
Episcopal Church, of which he was until his deatli
a pious and consistent member, and in which lie
became a local preaciier, and did much good through
his ministrations. He died June 10, 1882, in Mt.
Pleasant, leaving a widow and children to mourn
tlie loss of an affectionate husband and faithful
parent.

Mr. Vernon was married March 22, 1837, wiiile
living in Oliio, to Miss Maria Monroe, the daughter
of Daniel and Mar}' Monroe. Mrs. Vernon was
born ill Muskingum County, Ohio; her father
in Virginia, and her mother in Erie County,
Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Vernon's union was blessed by
seven children, of whom five are now living. The
eldest son, Leroy M. Vernon, D. D., is a distin-
guished minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
who has for seventeen j'ears past been in charge of
the Methodist Episcopal Mission in Rome, Italj',
where he is now living. Under his superintendence
the first American Methodist Episcopal Chuicli was
built in the Eternal Citj', in the face of much oppo-
sition. He has been twice married, first to Miss
Fannie Elliott, daughter of Rev. Charles Elliott, D.
D., LL. D., who was President of Iowa Wesleyan
University' iu 1857-61, and in 1864-66, and also
filled several of the chairs in that institute. After
her death Mr. Vernon was united in marriage with
Emily Barker, of New York City. The next of JMr.
and Mrs. Vernon's family is John Weslej-, who is
married to Maiy Palm, of this county, and is a
practicing attorne}' in Memphis, Tcun., and has been
a member of the Tennessee Legislature, and served
througiiout tlie Civil War, in Compaii}' K, 4th Iowa
Cavalry, in wliicli lie was Sergeant under Capt.
James T. Drummoiid. The next of the family was
Samuel I\L \enion, D. D., who was married to Hat-
tie Kelle}' in Muskingum County, Ohio, and is now
a minister of tiie Metliodist Episcopal Church in
Philadelphia, Pa.; the daughter is Mary Elizabeth,
who is the wife of Josei)h T. Patch, Esq., of Mt.
Pleasant (see sketch) ; William Spry, the youngest
son, is married to Sarah M. Hatch, of Mt. Pleasant,
and is a merchant of Dos Moines, Iowa. The de-
ceased are : Harriet Lucinda, who died at the age

4.

HENRY COUNTY.

421

of fourteen months, and Joseph Albert, who died in
infancy. Mrs. Vernon, like her husband, is a de-
vout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
with which she united on Christmas Da}-, 1828, and
is a lady respected and esteemed by all who know
her. She is now calmly awaiting the summons
which will reunite her to the husband with whom
she lived in faithful companionship for so many
years. Three of her uncles, whose names were Mon-
roe, were prominent in the ministry of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church.

^j OHN B. COATE, dealer in general dry goods,
notions, etc., Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was born
near Xenia, Greene Co., Ohio, Oct. 21, 1836,
and is a son of Joseph T. and Agnes C.
Coate. Joseph T. Coate was born in Miami County,
Ohio, in 1815, in which place his parents had set-
tled in an early day, going there from North
Carolina. He and his wife were members of the
Society of Friends, of which both were Elders. He
had strong anti-slaverj' proclivities, and his house
was a well-known station of the "underground
railroad," in which many a poor fugitive was helped
and sent on his way to freedom. He was one of
the principal Abolitionists in Ohio, and his house was
on many occasions surrounded by slave-holders
from Kentucky, who, however, never succeeded in
reclaiming any of their fugitive chattels from him.
He cast one of the three first free-soil ballots ever
cast in Greene County, Ohio. He died in 1877, at
the age of sixty-six. His wife. Agues C, was also
a native of Ohio, born in Clinton County in 1811,
and is still living in her native county. Her par-
ents were from Virginia, and were early settlers in
Ohio. They had seven children, as follows : Eliza-
beth B., widow of Abraham Haney, now living in
Clinton County, Ohio; Nancj-, unmarried, living
with her mother ; John B. was next ; then Martha,
wife of William Osborn, also in Clinton County;
Orlistus S., dealer in carriages in Wilmington,
Ohio, and Loren A. and Mary, deceased.

John B. was brought up on a farm and was mar-
ried. Mayo, 18G0, in Clinton County, Ohio, to Miss
Delilah A. Andrews, a daughter of William B. An-

t-

drews and a native of that county, born March 13,
1837. Four children were born of their union, two
sons and two daughters : Ruth Eva <lied aged fourteen
years; Mary A. is the wife of Harry V. McGregor,
a dentist of Mt. Pleasant ; Lincoln A. married Ollie
L. Virden, and resides at Mt. Pleasant, and is the
junior member of the firm of J. B. Coate & Sou,
and has two children, Eva and Ernest; Joseph
William died in infanc}'.

While a resident of Clinton County, Ohio, Mr.
Coate was engaged in farming, and continued in that
occupation until December, 1862, when he removed
to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and engaged in the agricult-
ural implement business for a couple of years. He
was next engaged in trading and speculating, and
then spent four or five years in traveling for T. T.
Haydock, manufacturer of buggies and carriages,
of Cincinnati, and for the Favorite Buggy Companj^,
of Cincinnati; he was also connected with his son
at Gainesville, Tex., in the mercantile business.
For a time he was connected with Sechler & Co. as
a partner, and was also connected in like manner
with the Favorite Buggy Company, disposing of
his interest in the latter institution in September,
1887. At one time he was engaged in the furni-
ture and musical instrument business, in company
with L. B. Davis, under the firm name of Coate <fe
Davis. The connection continued but about two
years. He sold his interest in the Sechler Buggy
Company in 1887.

Mr. Coate has operated largely in real estate in
Texas, and is extensively connected with min-
ing operations in Mexico, Colorado and Arizona,
and has been quite successful. Some of the mines
in which he is interested are developing wonder-
fully rich ore and have advanced greatly in value.
In the spring of 1887 he joined his son Lincoln A.
in the dry -goods business in Mt. Pleasant. John B.
Coate is a wide-awake, enterprising and successful
business man. Affable and courtous in manner,
upright and reliable in all his relations with his
fellowmen, he has a host of friends, who respect
him for his sterling qualities and trustworthy char-
acter.

Mr. and Mrs. Coate still retain their birthright in
the Society of Friends, but attend regularly at the
Methodist Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant, of
m^

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422

HENRY COUNTY.

i

which their children are members. Mr. Coate is a
Templar Maison, a member of Xenium Lodge No.
207, A. F. &. A. M.; Mt. Pleasant Chapter, R. A.
M., and Jerusalem Comuiandery, K. T., and also
Henry Lodge No. 10, I. O. O. F. His wife and
daughter Maj' are members of Bethlehem Lodge
No. 12, Eastern Star.

JOSEPH C. McCOY, section 3, Marion Town-
ship, was ))oni in Guernsej' Count}', Ohio,
P'eb. 5, 1S37. His father, William McCoy,
who was a native of Greene Countj^, Pa.,
went to Ohio in a very early day, and there became
acquainted with and married Miss Jane Pollock.
They lived on a farm in Guernsey County until
1838, when he took his family to Muskingum
County in the same State, where he also gave his
attention to farming, remaining in that county
until 1844. In 1845 he emigrated to Henry
County, Iowa, locating in Trenton Township, where
he purchased 120 acres of land, which he converted
into a fine farm, and on which he lived twenty-two
years.

In 18C7 he sold his land with the intention of
going farther West, l)ut on reflection, and desiring
the advantages of good society, he decided to re-
main in Henry County, so again he bought a
partly improved farm in Trenton Township, and be-
gan improving the land. Here he remained until
his death, which occurred Sept. 9, 1872, at the age
of sixty-two, his birth occurring May 31, 1810.
His widow survived him but a few months, dying
July 1, 1873. They were both members of the
Methodist P^piscopal Church, Mr. IMcCoy acting as
Steward. He was a devoted and earnest Christian,
always being found at his post of duty in the church.
She was converted at the age of tiiirteen, and dur-
ing her life was closely identified with all churcii
work, being a full believer in pra3'er. Man}' an
earnest petition ascended from her lips to the
Giver of all good. Their union was blessed with
nine children: Sarah Jane, born March 15, 1835,
is now the wife of Lemuel Haines, of Mt. Victory,
Ohio ; Joseph C. was born Feb. 5, 1 837 ; Margaret
was born in 1839, and now resides in Des Moines,
■^

the widow of William Irwin, whose death was
caused from a wound received during the late war;
Mary, wife of A. L. Ogg, of Indianola, Warren Co.,
Iowa : Samuel L., a harness-maker of Shelby County,
Ohio, married Miss Clara Rheinhart; he was a
member of the liHli Iowa Infantry. Rachel M.,
wife of Levi Cubbison, a hardware merchant of
Winfield, Iowa; John W. ; Olive, wife of J. B.
Holmes, a farmer of Ringgold County, Iowa; Hugh
L., who is a farmer of Knox County, Neb., married
Miss Clara Glaskell.

Joseph C. MeCo}', our subject, remained at home
on his father's farm, attending the district school
until the age of twenty-two, when he entered
Howe's Academy at Mt. Pleasant for a time. He
then went to Mahaska County, Iowa, and there
worked ujwn a farm for about a year. In 1861 he
enlisted in the 4th Iowa Cavalry for three j-ears'
service, and was mustered in at Mt. Pleasant, from
which place the regiment was sent to St. Louis, and
from there to Helena, Ark., where thej' were en-
gaged in skirmishing with the Texan Rangers, who
fought Indian fashion. The 4th soon became
familiar with their mode of fighting and drove
them out of Arkansas. From Arkansas the regi-
ment went by boat to Milliken's Bend, and from
there marched to Grand Gulf, Miss., and there
crossed the river, at which place Mr. JNIcCoy was
detached from the regiment and sent as an orderly
to the Post Commander. He returned to the regi-
ment at Haines' Bluff, in the rear of Mcksburg,
where they remained scouting, and preventing Joe
Johnston from reinforcing the rebels at Mcksburg.
The regiment remained here on dut}- until after the
surrender of Vicksburg, which occurred on the 4th
of July, ]S()3, and was with Sherman in his cam-
paign to Meridian, Miss. The regiment re-enlisted
while at Vicksburg and were given a veteran fur-
lougli. On tiie expiration of its furlough, the
regiuuiit was reunited at Memphis, Tenn., from
which place they went on a raid to Bolivar and
Giintown. At Tupelo they met and fought Gen. N.
B. Forrest, defeating him. From there they next
marched to Holly Springs, and were at tliat place
when Gen. Forrest raided Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 2,
18G4. They returned to Memphis and recrossed
the river after the rebel General Price on his raid

1^

4

HENRY COUNTY.

423

through Missouri, marching from the latter place to
Cape Girardeau, where the regiment took boats for
St. Louis, and then marched to Ft. Scott, Kan., fol-
lowing Price to the Indian Territory. They then
turned back and marched to Springfield, Mo., from
which place they returned to St. Louis and from
there to Louisville, Ky., and then to Gravel Springs,
Miss. From there they went on the Wilson raid to
Columbus, and thence to Macon, Ga., where they
first learned the glad news that Lee had surrendered
and that the war was over.

Mr. McCoy, with his Captain and thirty men from
Company D, were sent to Washington, Ga., where
they took charge of the commissary department,
and were engaged for a time in parolling prisoners.
At this place lived ex-Senator Tombs, of Geoi'gia.
The day previous to the day of the arrival of Com-
pany D, Jeff Davis and Breckenridge passed through
Washington, leaving with Tombs 1*5,100 which
had been taken from the Treasury of the United
States. Of this amount $3,000 was in silver of the
coinage of 1861, and the remainder in $20 gold
pieces. This money Tombs turned over to the
Union troops, and Mr. McCoy took it to Gen. Up-
ton, at Atlanta, Ga.

AVhileat Washington, Ga.,the soldiers were sent
to talk with the slaves, and try to persu.ade them to
remain till the cotton crop was taken care of. The
regiment was sent from Atlanta, Ga., to Louisville,
Ky., thence to Lafayette, Ind., then to Michigan
City, Ind., and from there to Chicago, and finall\- to
Davenport, Iowa, where they were mustered out
after having served their country for four long
years.

On the 2.5th of March, 1 86 (i, Mr. McCoy was
united in marriage with Miss Martha I. Allender,
daughter of Thomas and .Jane M. (Allred) Allender.
Her father was a native of Maryland, and mother of
North Carolina. Mrs. McCoy was born in the Ter-
ritory of Iowa, Oct. 26, 1844. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy
have had two children : Ida May, born in Lucas
County, Iowa, Feb. 14, 1867; Martha J., born Oct.
1, 1870, died Aug. 1, 1871.

In the spring of 1866, Mr. McCoy moved his
family to Lucas County, Iowa, where they lived for
five years. In 1871 they returned to the old home-
stead and took chaise of his father's farm, where
•^^

they remained until 1874, when he bought eighty
acres of land on section 3, Marion Township, Henry
County, at which place he still resides. For the
last fourteen j'ears Mr. McCoy has been extensivelj'
engaged in raising Poland-China hogs. He has
some of the finest stock in the county, which, placed
upon the market, always brings the highest prices
paid. Of his hogs he had in the fall of 1887 six
recorded females and all eligible of record. Politi-
callj' Mr. McCoy affiliates with the Republican
party, and is, with his wife, a member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church.

In October, 1876, Mr. McCoy went to Philadel-
phia, wiiere he remained several da^'s attending the
great Centennial Exhibition. With two compan-
ions he started from home by way of Chicago, going
from thence to Detroit, and by way of Niagara
Falls to New York City, and from there to Phila-
delphia. From Philadelphia tiie party vvent to
Washington, D. C, Ilarrisburg and Pittsburgh, Pa.,
and Columbus, Ohio. At Pickaway, Ohio, Mr.
McCoy stopped and went from there to Hardin
County in the same State, where he visited two
brothers and a sister. After enjoying a brief visit,
he returned home by way of Indianapolis, Peoria
and Burlington.

^ ACOB WRIGHT, a farmer of Henry County,
I residing on section 22, Tippecanoe Town-
, ship, was born in Parke County, Ind., Oct.
12, 1835, and is the son of Thomas and
Susan Wright, natives of Tennessee. Our subject
came to this county with his parents, who settled in
Tippecanoe Township in 1836, and here he was
reared on a farm, receiving his education at the dis-
trict schools. In the fall of 1861 he went with Cal
Moore to Missouri, serving as home guard, and
remained about a month. Mr. Wright then returned
home and enlisted in Company M, 4th Iowa Cav-
alry, in November, 1861, serving four years, having
re-enlisted at Vicksburg as Sergeant. He was under
fire during the following battles : Siege of Vicks-
burg; first, second and third battles at Jackson,
Miss. ; Tupelo, Meridian, Miss. ; Guutown, at which
place his horse was shot from under him, Ripley;
■»

i

f

424

HENRY COUNTY.

and on Wilson's raid. He wns taken prisoner while
on picket duty at Helena. Ark., in the fall of 1862,
and was confined in a cell in the Little Rock peni-
tentiary for forty days. He was mustered out on
the 8th of August, 186r).

After the close of the war, Mr. Wright returned
home and again engaged in farming. He was united
in marriage, on the 6th of December, 1 860, with
Miss Frances C. Gainson. a native of New York,
being born in New York Citj^ and a daughter of
E. P. and Frances C. (Devoo) Gainson, of Mt.
Pleasant. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have been the par-
ents of ten children : Hiliagh Webber, wife of
Lucius Handle, residing in Burlington ; Lulu, George
W., Anna M., Ephraim Reimington, Laura Belle,
Thomas R., Homer. Nina and Nettie D. Mr. AVright,
socially, is a member of the G. A. R. He and his
good wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, always ready with time or monej' to aid
in their ^Master's service. Politically, Mr. Wright
takes great interest in and is an active member of
the Republican party, believing that although it
did a grand and noble work in the past its mission
is not yet completed. Mr. Wright's business is that
of general farming, he owning a finely cultivated
farm of eighty acres. He and his wife are highly
esteemed throughout the community in which they
reside. The silent reaper has passed their home by
and the family circle remains unbroken. The chil-
dren do honor to the fond parents, and the home is
noted for the hospitality and the kindness extended
to all.

(OBERT McMURREN, deceased, one of the
pioneer settlers of Henry County, Iowa, was
born in Pennsylvania, May 17, 1820, and
Vf@\ was the son of .VIexander and Eliza Mc-
Murren, both of whom were natives of the Green
Isle. They left their native land about the j'car
1826, coming to America, and lived in Pcnnsj'l-
vania until 1837, then removed to Iowa, settling
in Center Township, Henry CV)unt}', where they
continued to make their home until the time of
their death. The early life of Robert JIcMurren
was spent u|K)n a farm in this county; he was reared
on its virgin soil and he can truly be called one of

its pioneers. In 1862 he went across the plains to
Idaho with an ox- team, remaining there eighteen
months engaged in mining, after which he again re-
turned to Iowa and resumed his occupation of farm-
ing. He was married, in 1865, to Miss Naomi Ann
•lay, a native of Henry County, and a daughter of
Layton Jay, a native of North Carolina, who was
also one of the earl^' settlers of Henry Count}', but
is now residing in Oregon.

Mr. and Mrs. McMurrcn had a familj- of nine
children: Samuel, born Jan. 30, 1866, is still resid-
ing at home; Emma, born April 5, 1868; William,
Nov. 2, 1871; Alice, April 7, 1873; Pern ina, Nov.
15, 1875; Thomas, April 26, 1877; Anna, Nov. 25,
1881, and Mary Belle, who was born Nov. 29,
1807, and died Feb. 14, 1868. Mr. McMun-en set-
tled in Tippecanoe Township in 1 837, where he lived
until his death, which occurred April 3, 1882. He
was the owner of a fine farm of 200 acres, situated
on section KJ in that township. He was a first-
class business man and a very successful farmer.
Commencing life a poor boy, by habits of industry
and economy he gained a competence. He was
well known, and respected alike by young and old,
rich and poor. At his death the township lost one
of its best citizens, the family a kind father and
loving husband, and his acquaintances a noble friend.

\f OHN ELLIOTT, M. D.. one of the well-
known in-acticing physicians of Mt. Pleasant,
was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, Sept. 17,
1832, and is a son of Elisha and Susan
(Carter) Elliott, both of whom were natives of Ohio,
where the former had been eng.aged in farming for
many years. They were tiie parents of sis children,
of whom the following are now living: Thomas, a
resident of Canton, Stark Co., Ohio; Charles, living
in Rome, this county; George, in Carroll Count}',
Ohio, and Dr. John. The father died in 1810. and
Mrs. Ellidtl subsequently married William Kelson,
by whom she iiad one child, Mary, now the wife of
John Watt, of Carroll County. Ohio. Jlrs. Folson,
who was a life-lout;- member of the Methodist
Episcopal Cliurcli, <lied in Carroll County in 1880.
On the death of his father the subject of this
sketch was taken to rear by au'aunt. He received

>► a^

t

i

HENRY COUNTY.

425

a common-school education in Ohio, and in 1855
emigrated to Henry County, Iowa, but returned to
Ohio after a year and a half. In 1859 he began
reading medicine with a Dr. Vance, at his old home,
woriiing his own way, and there receiving a thor-
ough practical grounding in the science of medicine.
In 18G0 he came back to Mt. Pleasant, but staid
only six months, again going to his Ohio home, but
in 18C2 made Henry County his permanent home.
In 18G8 he attended a course of lectures at the
Cleveland Medical College, and in the spring of
1878 gi'.aduated at Keokuk Medical College, Iowa,
and commenced practice at Rome, in Henry County.
Dr. Elliott was married in Carroll County, Ohio,
in 1857, to Miss Letitia Noble, a daughter of David
Noble, one of the early settlers of that county.
Their children now living are: Elihu N., a gradu-
ate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of
Chicago, now in practice with his father at Mt.
Pleasant, and Leilie Maud, living with her parents.
Dr. John Elliott is essentially a self-made man, who
has made his own path in life, and has never re-
ceived a [lenny of pecuniary assistance since he
started in the world. Wholly by pluck, close
stud)', industry and a determination to succeed, he
has succeeded in making liimself an honored mem-
ber of an honored profession. He takes an active
interest in JNIasonie affairs; is a member of Xenium
Lodge No. 207, A. F. & A. M. ; of Henry Chapter
No. 8, R. A. M., and of Jerusalem Commandery
No. 7, K. T. In politics he is a supporter of tlie
principles of the Democratic partj^ and keeps
thoroughly' posted in public affairs. As phj'sicians
the Drs. Elliott take high rank in their profession,
and are held in high esteem in the community in
which they live.

^W-tZjIlC?©^^

|->'-^^'OTJ»v.-wv^

I

)HOMAS H. OLTNGER. A prominent citizen
ff(^^. of this county, residing upon section 21,
0 Marion Township, will be found the subject
of this sketch. He was born May 15, 1843, in
Sullivan County, Tenn. His parents, John H. and
Nancy (Cox) Olinger, were natives of Pennsyl-
vania, but his fatiier was of German descent. Mr.
and Mrs. Olinger had eleven children : George

died in 1863, in Sullivan County, Tenn., and was
buried in that county; Mary, widow of W. L.
Maury, is now in Kansas; they had one child,
Fannie. Our subject was third in order of birth;
Sanford, deceased ; Sarah, deceased wife of William
Walters, a painter by trade, who now resides in
Omaha, Neb.; Joan, wife of Aaron Bright; James,
a resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Amanda, wife
of Lebbius Bright, of Shenandoah, Iowa; John, of
Council Bluffs, Iowa; Caledonia, wife of James
Anderson, of Buffalo County, Kan.; Charles, of
Ford, Mo. The mother of this family died July
2, 1878. She was a faithful and useful member
of the Protestant Methodist Church, whose exam-
ple has been followed bj' her family, all of whom,
except three, being professed Christians. The
father was also a devoted and pious man, and gave
liberally of his time and money to all good works.
He died Feb. 2(5, 1884, and was buried in the
cemeterj' at Shenandoah, Iowa. His death was
caused by a cancer that had existed for nine years,
the last two j'ears of which he experienced intense
pain, but he bore his long suffering without a word
of complaint. His last words were that he "hoped
his children would all meet him in the better
world."

Our subject remained at the home of his father
until the age of twenty -six, and received his edu-
cation in the common schools of Sullivan County,
Tenn. At the age of fifteen lie entered his father's
wagon-shop, where he remained until Oct. 16,
1862, when he entered the army, enlisting in the
45th Kentuclv3' Mounted Infantry of United States
troops. [le took part in tiie capture of King's Salt
Works, and with the boys drove the rebel General,
John Morgan, out of Lexington and kept him out.
At Cynthiana they had another hard-fought battle
with Morgan, and ran him out of Kentuck)', keep-
ing his forces from attacking Cincinnati. During
the year 1864, Company B, of which Mr. Olinger
was a member, acted as escort and guard to Gen.
Schofield from Lexington, Ky., to Cumberland
Gap, Tenn. The last payment made to the troops
was made in the Gap. The com pan j' then returned
to Lexington, and from there proceeded to Louis-
ville, Ky., where the regiment was discharged.

After returning home, Mr. Olinger began clerk-

426

t

HENRY COUNTY.

ing in the dry-goods store of M. Cramer, remaining
there three months. lie then went back to the old
home, remaining there a year. The family then re-
moved to Iowa, settling on section 20, Clarion
Township, Henry County, where he bought seven
acres of land and built a shop, house and barn.
Here he has since made his home and followed
blacksmithing and wagon-making, in addition to
which, as the opportunity was afforded him, he has
preached the Gospel, being in 1882 licensed to
preach for the Protestant Methodist Church. He
was united in marriage vvitti Miss Emeline A. Mil-
ler. She was born Jan. 24, 1855. Her parents
were James and Caroline (Jelett) Miller, both na-
tives of Pennsjlvaiiia. Mr. and Mrs. Olinger are
the parents of six children: Hugh W. ; Fannie, in
Van Buren County, Iowa; Roy L., Carrie M., Nel-
lie, James and Lulu.

Mr. Olinger takes great interest in all public af-
fairs, and devotes much of his time to church work.
His wife is also a member of tlie Protestant Meth-
odist (Jhurch. They are both highly respected in
the community wliere they live.

••-^tf*>-

-^4!]^:^

■ <iff5«if^

•^

^ENJAMIN F. FENTON, a farmer residing
on section 1 3, Wayne Township, is one of
the prominent farmers of Henry County.
He was born in Frederick Count}', Va., in
1830, and is a sou of John and Mary M. (Steer)
Fentou. Both paients were natives of X'irginia,
the father of Frederick County, and the mother of
Loudoun County. Both the Fenton and Steer
families of that generation were mcndjers of the
Society of Friends, but the original Fenton family
were owners of slaves, and conducted large farms
in Virginia. John and Mary Fenton were the
parents of four sons aiid a daughter : Josiah wedded
Mary Lovett; John, father of our subject, became
the husband of Mary M. Steer; Benjamin died un-
married; Persilla wedded William Tate; and Enoch
married Ester Nichols. The latter is the only one
living and is yet a resident of Virginia.

John Fenton was married in Loudoun County,
and soon after purchased a farm upon which a mill

was located. This he operated in connection with
the farm until the removal of the family to Iowa
in 1856. A location w.is made b}' the Fentons on
section 13, Wayne Township, John purchasing a
quarter section, sixty acres of which our subject
yet owns. A frame house was erected the same 3'ear
about a quarter of a mile west of the residence of
B. F. Fentou, and this house is still standing, a relic
of pioneer days, and a monument to the memory' of
a man who was one of the best known citizens.
John Fenton lived to see the war ended, and the
principles for which he was an ardent advocate
fully vindicated. He reached the ripe .age of
seventy, and his wife, who survived him several
years, was nearly eight3--four. These good people
were among those who organized the Friends'
Church in this township, John Fentou being one of
the first Elders, and continuing in that position dur-
ing the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Fenton
were the parents of Joseph, who died in childhood;
our sul)ject; Samuel, deceased, who liecame the
husbaiul of Catlu'rine Murphy; Sarah A., deceased
wife of Joseph Robinson ; Mary P., who wedded
Clarkson Philips; Phrebe E., wife of Caleb Kussell,
whose sketch appears elsewhere; and John W., a
merchant of Kirwin, Kan.

Our subject preceded his father's family to Iowa,
coming in the fall of 1855. lie formed the
.acquaintance of Miss S.arah E. Bower during the
winter, becoming an inmate of her father's family.
The marriage was not celebrated, however, until
Nov. 19, 18G3, Rev. George B. Joeelyn, a minister
of the Methodist Episcop.al Church, performing the
ceremouy. The next year, the young couple
removed upon the farm upon which for twentj'-five
years they have lived so haiipily, and all their
children, except the first one, were born under the
hallowed roof which still shelters them.

Mrs. Fenton is the youngest of a family of eight
children, her parents being natives of I'ennsylvania,
from which St:itc they removed, first to Holmes
County, Ohio, in isii;, and then became citizens of
low.i in 1850. Joel Bower was married to Sarah
Lobaugh, in Adams County, Pa., of which place
lioth were natives. Their children were all born in
that county, prior to their removal West, the family
consisting of Hiram L., who married Susanna Group;

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HENRY COUNTY.

429

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Catherine, the wife of Jacob Lishy ; Martha J., who
wedded James Kirkpatric; Rebecca, wife of Cal-
vin Carey; Mary A., wife of Cornelius Morford ;
Benjamin F., who married Ruth Cline; Thaddeus
S., husband of Lucy Bower; and Sarah E., wife of
Benjamin V. Fenton. The Bower family settled
on a farm now owned by Charles Fox, where the
parents both lived and died. All the children have
left the county except Mrs. Fenton.and her widowed
sister, Catherine, who finds with the Fentons a
comfortable home.

Seven children have gr.aced the union of Mr. .and
Mrs. Fenton: Fhineas S., a te.acher of this county;
Laura B. has a teacher's certificate in Henry Cdunty ;
Howard; Sarah G. is deceased, Mary C, Bertha M.
and Eli Preston. All the children are yet with their
parents, .and for many years this family has been
regarded as one of the most prominent in Wayne
Township. Benjamin Fenton has been coiniected
with the School Board of W.ayne Township, and for
several 3'ears has been Elder in the Friends' Church.

The maternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Fenton
was P^phraini Schultz. His daughter, Catherine,
married Abraham Lobaugh, who was a prominent
teacher for many years in Cumberland County, Pa.
He w.as accidentally killed, and his widow remained
in that county the remainder of her life.

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"^^i/Utm'.

ylLLIAM J. FRANCY, a prominent farmer
of Baltimore Township, w.as born Nov. 1,
1844, and is the son of John and Joyce
Francy, whose family history appears elsewhere.
He was educated in this countj^, and m<arried into
one of its old and highly respected families. His
wife, Louisa Lisle, was born on the Detrich farm,
then the original Lisle homeste.id. She is a daugh-
ter of William and Ella (Reed) Lisle, who came
from Knox County, Ohio, to Henry County in 1845.
Her father was born in Devonshire, but was reared
in Cornwall, England. He was a son of John and
Susanna (Brenscomb) Lisle, who emigrated to Ohio
from England in 1837. William Lisle married
Ella Reed in Knox County, in April, 1845, and in
the autumn left that State, locating in Henry

County, where they still remain. Mr. Lisle became
a wealthy man during his experience as a farmer,
and with his estimable wife leads a retired life in
the village of Salem. Three children were born in
this count}', two of whom are living: John H., the
husband of Hannah Sliiller, and Louisa, wife of our
subject, who was born Jan. 20, 1851. Mr. Lisle
entered his first land in 1841, and built his first
cabin about furty rods south of his present home
site. lu this cabin their children were born and
reared. Mr. Lisle began life without capital save
the labor of his hands, and when he paid for his
land was forced to remain until he could earn
monej' to get back to his Ohio h<jme. Ilis efforts,
however, met with a fitting reward, and after a
few years of wedded life the w.ay w.as easily open
for successful business. When he and his good wife
left the farm he was owner of 400 acres of valua-
ble land, most of which is now in possession of our
subject. The grand farmhouse w.as erected by Mr.
Lisle in 1864, and is one of the best farm resi-
dences in the county, costing over $4,000 at the
time of its completion.

William J. Francj' is accountetl one of the most
successful business men in Baltimore Township,
and although but forty-three years of age, is the
owner of 350 acres of land, and is quite a large
dealer in stock. Mr. and Mrs. Francy are the
p.arents of five children: Ida and Mj^rtie, deceased,
and Etta, Frank and Nettie living. Perhaps no
man of his .age in this township has achieved such
a great financial success as William J. Francy, and
all this h.as been done by the fairest business methods.
The people of his acquaintance speak of both him-
self and wife in the most praiseworthy terms, and
as children of honored parents they deserve a place
in the history of this county. As an honorable,
enterprising and trustworthy man, he h.as deserved
the success he has achieved.

)ALSE YAKLE, residing in Henry County
'"^ on section 27, in Tippecanoe Township, was
born in Baltimore, Md., Sept. 30, 1834, and
is a son of Luke and Ann Eliza (Funk)
Yakle, both of whom were natives of Hesse- D.arm-
stadt, Germany. Leaving friends, home and native

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430

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HENRY COUNTY.

land, they emigrated to America in 1 834, settling
in Baltimore, &^d., where they lived for a few
months, tiien removing to Wheeling, W. Va., mak-
ing that city their home for two years. Removing
to Indiana, they remained there for a short time
and then went to Butler Count}', residing there for
five years. They then moved to Henry Count}',
settling in Salem Township, where he remained
until 1843, at which time he entered a farm of
forty acres in Tippecanoe Tow-nship, on which he
remained five years, and then bought a farm of
eighty acres on section 29 of Tippecanoe Town-
ship, which he improved and cultivated, and there
resided until hisdeath, which occurred May 1, 1885,
at the age of seventy-eight. His widow still lives
on the home farm. They reared a farailj' of eleven
children, seven of whom are now living: Mary
Eliza, wife of John Nan, of Tippecanoe Township;
Balse; Catherine, wife of John Casey, of Adams
County, Iowa; Frederick, a resident of Tijipecanoe
Township; Jlary, first wedded to Sanford Abbej',
and after his death married Thomas Bicknell ;
Christiana, wife of William Church, of Tippecanoe
Township; Elva died at the age of twenty. The
father and mother of this family were members of
the Lutheran Church, and estimable people.

Our subject was reared on a farm, but when a
lad of fifteen began to learn the miller's trade, and
at the age of twenty-one left home, going to Pike's
Peak, Col., in 1860, remaining about two years en-
gaged in mining. At tlie exjiiration of that time
he came back to Henry County, where he has since
resided. He was married, March .5, 1 803, to IMartha
Smitii, a native of Highland County, Ohio, born
May 22, 1840, and a daughter of Jefferson and
Lydia (Pickering) Smith, botii of whom were
natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Smith came to
this county in 1849, and hero the fatlier died Oct.
1, 18(12, at the age of seventy-one, and the mother
died Sept. 1.), 18.59, at the age of fifty-six. Seven
of their chililren survive tlicm : Rachel, wife of
James Nicholson, of Madison Couiit3% Iowa; Milton,
of Tii)pecanoe Township; John, a teacher in Ohio;
Samuel, a farmer residing in Taylor County, Iowa ;
Jonathan, residing in Adams County, INIo.; Mrs.
Yakle, and Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Hightown,
residing in Madison County, Iowa.

Mr. Yakle owns 257 acres of well-cultiv.ated land,
everything on his farm denoting thrift and enter-
prise, and all that he has was made by his own
honest labor, assisted by his good wife. He is a
member of the Baptist Church, and his wife of the
Society of Friends. They are alwa3-s ready tu help
a fellow traveler through life's journe}-, and have
the esteem of all. Mr. Yakle has held various
township offices with credit to himself and to the
satisfaction of his constituents. Politically he is a
Republican.

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"ij/ OHN BARR, residing on section 31. .Scott
Township, Henry Co., Iowa, was born in
Alleghenjf County, Pa., March 7, 1826,
and is the son of Alexander and Lydia
(Kellings) Barr, both natives of Pennsylvania.
Our subject was reared upon a farm, and leaving
home at the age of twent3'-three began working as
a farm hand, receiving the first year but §8 a
month. He came to this county the year before
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincv Railroad was
built, coming to Mt. Pleasant. Remaining in the
city one year, Mr. Barr then rented a farm, resid-
ing upon that for the same length of time. Going
to Kansas, he also remained there about a j'ear, en-
gaged in farming, and then returned to Henry
County, where he purchased forty acres of land in
Wayne Township, on which he resided for two
years. On account of his love for his countrj',
Mr. Barr enlisted, Oct. 21, 1861, in the 11th Iowa
Volunteer Infantry, serving three ^'cars and six
montlis, and was discharged March lo, 1865. He
was under lire during the following battles: Shiloh,
Corinth. Miss., luka, Vicksburg, Kennesaw Mount-
ain, Lookout I\Iouiil:iin, Atlanta, where he was
taken prisoner and iield ca[)tive for seven months
and ten days, one month of which time he was eon-
fined at Andersonvillc, one mouth ;it Cli;u'leston,
and the remaining time at Florence. .Mi'. B:nr wsis
at Andersonville Prison when the big s()iing burst
out sufficient to water 40,000 men, and was at
Florence a prisoner when rations were not served
for three days, as a punishment to the men, who
had dug a tunnel to escape, but it being discovered

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HENRY COUNTY.

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431 iO

by the guard, a demand was made for the men who
dug It. None'would tell, and the attempt was made
to starve them until the}^ told. Eight hundred per-
ished from starvation during the three da_ys.

After the close of the war, Mr. Barr returned to
Henry Countj% where he has since made his home.
He purchased a farm of eight}' acres in Jefferson
Township, where he resided for nine years. Sell-
ing that in 1874, he purchased 120 acres of land
in Scott Township, his second home. He was
united in marriage, in 1865, with Orvilla M. Ives,
widow of Erastus Ives, and who is a daughter of
Samuel B. and Cynthia A. Spring. She is a native
of Trumbull County, Ohio, and had one child by
her former marriage, Lucy, wife of S.nmuel L.
Brown, of Washington Territory. Eight children
have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Barr:
Samuel H., who died in infancy; M.ary P., who
died when twelve years of age; William H., George
Frank, Florence I., Nelson M. and Bessie Olive
still reside with their parents; Lauren Lesley, the
youngest child, died in infancy. Mr. Barr is
a member of the Baptist Church, and his wife of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a
member of the G. A. K. Post, and in politics is a
Republican. His father died in this county at the
age of seventy-four, in 1869, and his mother at the
age of forty-four years. The}' were both members
of the Baptist Church.

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SBURY C. MORRISON, a farmer residing
on section 35, Jefferson Township, was
born in that township Feb. 13, 1845, and
is a grandson of Joseph and Sarah (Ted-
ron) Morrison. Both were natives of Pennsylva-
nia, married and reared a family in that State. All
the children but the youngest were born in Penn-
sylvania, and the eldest was married in that State :
Mary, deceased, married Joseph Crenier; Jane mar-
ried James Green; Samuel married Mahala Braxel-
ton ; Jacob, father of our subject, married Margaret
McCormick; Rebecca married James McFeron;
Julia A. married .lohu A. Leeper; Sarah married
Joel Turney, and Ann married David Wilson. All
the children, except Mary, who wedded in Penn-

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sylvania and later went to Ohio, came with the par-
ents to Iowa, excepting Ann, whp was born here.

Joseph Morrison left Pennsylvania in April,
1 838, and arrived in December of the same year.
They were forced to stop in Ohio for some months,
the journe}' having been undertaken bj- boat, but
at Quincj- they had to unload and come across the
country to Hillsboro, where they remained a few
weeks or until Mr. Morrison found a suitable c'.aim.
He secured a claim of IGO acres, and purchased
other claims, amounting to about 2,000 acres, but
sold a part of it to Hiram Howard, and at the first
land sale held in the State, which was at Burlington
in 1840, purchased 1,760 acres. James C. Gi-een pur-
chased for the claimants the township of Trenton,
and Samuel Morrison, now in California, was the
first Township Recorder. The first house built on
the tract, erected by Joseph Morrison, stood where
David Wilson built. That was a hewed-log cabin
with a clapboard roof, held on with weight poles,
and part of the logs are yet in use as a barn. Joseph
Morrison was for fifteen years Justice of the Peace
in Pennsylvania, but refused every offer of official
position after becoming a resident of Iowa. There
were many l)road acres put under cultivation dur-
ing his lifetime, perhaps 200, and as the children
were m.arried they were given farms, a part of the
original tract. His wife survived until 1856. She
was an ardent member of the ^lethodist Episcopal
Church. At Trenton she became one of those who
organized the church. I\Ir. ]\Iorrison was a member
of the Christian Church aftei- he came to Iowa, but
in Pennsylvania he was a member of the iNIethodist
Episcopal Church. His death occurred in 1869,
he having lived to see the jjrinciples he advocated
before and during the war completely established.
He was a Whig fiom boj'hood, and was one of
those who aided in the formation of the Republican
party in this county.

Our subject was married, Nov. 12, 1(SG3, to Miss
Margaret I. Probasco, whose parents, William H.
.and Cynthia A. (Marble) Probasco, came from
Clinton County, Ohio, to Henry County, Iowa,
about 1854, settling in Trenton. Mr. Probasco
purchased a farm later, but his first business expe-
rience in this county was as a merchant in Tren-
ton. He was an enterprising man, and aside from

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432

HENRY COUNTY.

the mercantile and real-estate business, purcluised
and shipped stock for a number of years prior to
the war. Both himself and wife are now dead, and
the children are widely scattered. Mrs. Morrison
is tiie only one in this county, and two others in
the State, Mary E., wife of Jolui Daugherty, of
Fairfield, and Kit C, wife of Will G. Garman, of
Council Bluffs. Ann E. is a resident of Pierre, Dak.,
wife of John McManima; Daniel B., a resident of
Kansas City, and Frank, the husband of Jessie
Rheinheimer, also a resident of Kansas City. All
these children were well known in this county, .'uid
we are pleased to mention them severall}'.

The first school our subject attended was taught
by Augustus !McConnick in a log school-house which
yet stands in Trenton. There he secured the laidi-
raents of a classical education, which was completed
later in Trenton, and from the beginning c>f his
business life tiie greatest goo<l has followed. Ui^on
the honiestcail of his father, now the patrimon}^ of
our subject, he was Ijorn, reMred,and after marriage
the domestic life of tlie young coujile was begun.
Here tlieir two children were boi'n, (Gilbert and
jMimiie, and under the grand old trees and over
the grassj' sward, where our subject frolicked in glee
when a lad, there baby feet also trod. It is a dear
old spot to Asbury Morrison, who during his life-
time has known no other home, and liis tlirift has
made tiie farm better and more attractive to-day
than ever before. Only a, few of Ilem-y County's
sons are to-day residents, who were married and
first began business for themselves. Most of tliem
have gone to other States, but tiiose who remain
are entitled to consideration and a place in the
history of her old settlers and among her enter-
prising men.

ETER FISHER, one of tlie pioneer set-
tlers of Henry Count}', Iowa, was born in
Rowan County, N. C, Sept. 2G, 1795.
His parents were Jacob and Barbara (Beam)
Fisher, tlie fatiier being of German descent, and the
mother of North Carolina. In 1808 they removed
to Butler CV)untj% Ohio, settling near the Miami
River, clearing away the timb<!r and making for
themselves a home in the wilderness. Jacob Fisher

•►H !-"•»■

subsequently removed to Franklin County, Ind.,
where he made his home and endured all the trials
and privations of early pioneer life, living the first
few years on hominy ground in a small liand-mill.
Jacob and Barbara Fisher were the parents of eight
children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the
only surviving one. They were devoted members
of the Lutheran Church, always ready to advance
the cause of their Master. Mr. Fisher's political
views were those of a Democrat, and he did not
fail to teach his son the same principles. He was a
man greatly opposed to slavery, bringing up his
cliildren with the s.ame views of the crueltj- and
injustice done to the oppressed colored race.

Our subject grew to manhood on the farm and
attended the log-cabin school-house, with its pun-
cheon floors, huge fireplace and greased paper
windows. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Her-
berson in Preble Count}', Ohio, in 1817. She was
a native of Kentucky. This unitin was blessed
with six cliildren, three of whom are now living:
Henry, of Conway County, Kan.; William, of Ore-
gon, and Joseph, a lumber dealer of Pittsburgh, Pa.

In 1852 the family came to Henry County and
located, and in 1857 Mrs. Fisher was called to her
final home. 'Mr. Fisher subsequently married Mre.
Joslyn, widow of Henry Joslyn. She is a native of
Franklin County, Mass.. her parents, William and
Sojihia (Hanson) Joslyn, living and dying in that
State. Mr. Josl3'n was a native of Vermont. He
died in 1855.

Peter Fisher is one of the few surviving soldiers
of the War of 1812. He fouglit under Gen. Har-
rison, serving until peace was declared, and being
discharged at Buffalo, N. Y. True to the early
teachings received from his father lie took up arms
against slavery in the war of the Rebellion, enlist-
ing at the age of sixty-seven in what \va> known
as the (ireybeard regiment, 37th Iowa. NOIunteer
Infantry, and was on guard duty, serving over two
years. He was discharged on account of a broken
leg and hip, and was mustered out at Rock Island
in 18(14, since which time he has lived a retired life,
residing at Mt. Pleasant. lie now receives a jien-
sion of S'21 per month.

In early life Mr. Fisher learned llie trade of a
tailor, which he followed for many years. In jioli-

HENRY COUNTY.

433

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tics he is one of the old stanch Democrats of the
Jaelison stripe, .and in early life voted for Presi-
dent Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are members
of the Universalist Church, and are always willing
to lend a lielping hand for the advancement of a
good cause. .Suflicient praise can scarcely be be-
stowed upon this man. Reared in a country then
hardly more than a wilderness, liaving few educa-
tional advantages, he has3'et risen to such eminence
that any State might be proud of such a citizen.
He served his country truly, earnestly, faithfully,
through two wars, and has endured the hardships
and trials of pioneer life. Coming to this county
when there were no railroads and few settlements,
he has alw.ays exerted a great and steadj- influence
for the cause of right and for the good of the com-
munity. He is now an old man, his life's work is
nearly ended, and he is now patiently waiting the
call of his Master, and to hear tlie blessed words of
his Savior, "Well done, thou good and faithful serv-
ant, enter into the joj's of thy Lord."

I.SAAC R. JOHNSON was born, reared and still
resides in Heni'y County, Iowa. He resides on
section 32, Scott Township, and is the son of
Lewis and Mary Ann (Patterson) Johnson, both
natives of Greene County, Pa., and whose sketch ap-
pears elsewhere in this volume. They emigrated to
this county in the spring of 1853, and Isaac was
born the following fall, October 21. They settled
in Marion Township, and there our subject was
reared upon the farm. His education was received
in the district schools of the county, supplemented
by a course at Howe's Academj% at Mt. Pleasant.

On the 2yth of December, 1880, Mr. Johnson
was united in marriage with Miss Donna Mont-
gomery, one of Henr^f County's fair daughters.
A sketch of her parents, Amos B. and Raclicl
Montgomery, may be found elsewhere in this work.
One child, a little daughter, May, born Oct. 29,
1887, graces this union.

Mr. Johnson owns one of the finest farms in
Scott Township, 220 acres in extent, with magnifi-
cent improvements, the house and barn being
erected at a cost of $4,000. Everything about tlie

farm denotes the thrift and industry of the owner.
Mr. Johnson is also a horseman of note, as attested
by many drivers who have pitted their skill against
his on the course and in tlie prize ring.

The Johnson mansion has been the scene of much
festivity among the young people of their neigh-
borhood, and truly their union is most opportune,
they not only uniting two of the oldest families in
the county, but the marriage united two of the
most social young persons of Scott Township.

i

'iT SAAC BAUSMAN is a prominent farmer of
Henry County, residing on section 17, Tippe-
canoe Township. His farm, which is 203 acres
in extent, is one of the best cultivated in that part
of the countj-, and everything about the place de-
notes thrift and enterprise. Isaac Bausman was
born in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1823. His par-
ents, John and Caroline (Gurlaugh) Bausman, were
also natives of the same county. When our subject
was about twelve years old his parents emigrated
to Montgomery County, Ohio, where the father
died in May, 1854:, when sixty years of age. His
wife survived him some years and died near Osage
Mission, Neosho Co., Kan.

The boj'hood days of our subject were spent
upon a farm, and he received his education at the
district schools of Oliio. He was joined in marriage,
Feb. 22, 1854, with Mary A. Siplinger, a native of
Cumberland County, Pa., who was the daughter of
Samuel and Rebecca (Moudj') Siplinger, both of
whom were natives of Virginia. Mrs. Bausman's
grandfather, David Moudy, served as a soldier in
the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Bausman have
been the parents of seven children: Sarah Jane,
wife of M. M. Percell, a farmer residing in Tippe-
canoe Township; Benjamin Franklin, also a farmer
of the same township; Lavina, wife of Sydney D.
Mills, residing in New York .State; Elizabeth, wife
of Andrew Stanley, a resident of Salem Township,
who was a teacher before her marriage; Charles I.,
a resident of Tippecanoe Township; Laura and
Martha A., who still reside at home. Mr. Bausman
emigrated from Ohio to Tippecanoe County, Ind.,
and six years later, in 1865, he removed to Henry

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434

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HENRY COUNTY.

County, Iowa, where he bought a farm of 137
acres oil section 17 of Tippecanoe Township. He
has added to this land until he now has, as before
stated, a fine farm of 293 acres, and nearly all of
this is under cultivation. With the help of his good
wife he has become one of the well-to-do farmers
of Henry County, Iowa. Mrs. Bausman and her
children are members of the Baptist Church. I'olit-
ically, Mr. Bausman is a Republican, though he
holds liberal views. Among the names of promin-
ent citizens of Henry County, Iowa, those of Mr.
and Mrs. Bausman deserve an honorable place.

•r?»^->j>t^

>^5«?-<<^«^«

AMUEL ROSS, deceased, was among the
^^^ settlers of Henrj' County in 1848. He was

born in Perry County, Pa.. Feb. 4,1808.

In his native State he remained until he
was sixteen years of age, in the meantime receiv-
ing a liberal education in the common schools,
being of a studious nature. From Pennsylvania he
removed to Ohio in 1824, where he remained until
he came to Henry County. Mr. Ross was twice
married, first to Maria Elliott, who died in 1842.
One child of this union, Thomas Scott Ross, is now
residing in Boone County, Iowa. Mrs. Ross was a
member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Ross, in
1843, wedded Miss Eliza Knox, a native of Roane
County, Tenn., born Doc. 11, 1812, a daughter of
William and Margaret (Armstrong) Knox, who emi-
grated to Miami County, Ohio, in 1815, at which
tinie that county was vor}' sparsely' settled, Mr.
Knox locating in the heavy timlier, which he cut
down and transformed into a well-cultivated farru.
In politics he was an old-line Whig and took an act-
ive interest in j)olitical affairs. The family of Mr.
and Mrs. Knox consisted of seven children, four of
whom arc living: Armstrong, in Preble County,
Ohio; Mary, widow of John Brown, resides near
Pickaway, Ohio; Kliza, widow of Samuel Ross, the
subject of this sketch; James resides in Paris, Ohio.
Mr. Knox died July 10, 1827, and Mrs. Knox in
1839. They were reared in the Presbyterian faith,
but in later life were members of the Christian
Church.

In 1 848 Mr. and Mrs Ross came to Henry County,

Iowa, and located in Center Township, Henry
County, a mile and a half from the business center
of Mt. Pleasant. Here ]Mr. Ross engaged in farm-
ing, in which occupation he continued until his
death, Sept. 12, 1872. Three children blessed the
union of Samuel Ross and Eliza Knox, all of whom
are yet living: Demaris, now the wife of Oliver
Berriman, of Atchison, Kan.; 'M. Ella and Fanny.
Two daughters are now engaged in the chinaware
business at Mt. Pleasant and are enjoying a fine trade.
Mr. Ross was a friend of education and gave to
each of his children all the privileges desired in the
way of becoming thoroughly educated, which priv-
ileges they readil}' availed themselves of, and which
have been of gieat practical benefit to them. He
was a sincere Christian man. a member of the Pres-
byterian Church for many j'cars. A kind and lov-
ing husband, and an indulgent father, his death was
sincerely mourned. Mrs. Ross is still living and is
the owner of 152 acres of fine land, valued at $75
per acre. She is a member of the Presbyterian
Church, with which body she has been connected
for many years. In all work of the church she is
greatly interested, and has always been ready to do
her part for the advancement of the cause. A resi-
dent of the county for a period of forty years, she
is well known and universally respected.

r ACOB L. RENSHAW, residing on section
27, Scott Township, Henry Co., Iowa, was
born in Fayette County, Pa., Feb. 22, 1841.
(^^// His parents, Samuel and Marj- (Longmecker)
Renshaw, were both natives of Penns3lvani:i, though
the mother was of German descent and the father
of Irish. Jacob was reared upon a farm, and at the
age of twenty-one he responded to the country's
call for volunteers to put down the Rebellion, and
became a member of the 168th Pennsjdvania In-
fantry in 1801, serving thirteen months. He par-
ticipated in the battles of Goldsboro, N. C. ; Ft.
Macon and Harper's Ferry. After his liischarge he
returned to Pennsj'lvania, where he w.as engaged
in fanning until 1867. He then sold out, coming
to Henry County, where he purchased forty acres

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HENRY COUNTY,

435

of land on section 27 of Scott Township, which has
been his liome ever since. Besides his farm in
Henry County, Mr. Renshawowns 160 acres of land
in Dakota.

Ill 18(55 Mr. Renshaw wedded Emily Nixon. She
was born in Penns3lvania, and her parents. Moses
and Louisa (Bailey) Nixon, were natives of tlie
same State. Mr. and Mrs. Renshaw have three
children: lowing, a carpenter of Winfield, Iowa;
May, wife of Walter Henderson, a resident of
Neosho County, Kan., and Raj- P., at home. Mr.
Renshaw and wife are members of the Presbyterian
Church. Politically, he is a Republican, while
socially, he is a member of the G. A. R. and A. F.
& A. M.

Samuel Renshaw, the father of our suV)ject, spent
his whole life upon a farm. He died at the .age of
fifty-nine, and his wife at the age of fifty-seven
years. They were both members of the Dunkard
Church, and reared a family of eight cliildren, four
of whom are now living: .James, residing in Penn-
sylvania; our subject; Frances, wife of Robert
Ross, of AVest Virginia, and .John, who now resides
in Kansas.

Mrs. Renshaw's father also spent his life in till-
ing the soil. He departed this life in 1857 at the
age of forty-five years. Her mother is still residing
in Pennsylvania at the ripe old age of seventy-
three. She is a consistent member of the Cumber-
land Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Nixon
were the parents of ten children, all of whom reside
in Pennsylvania with the exception of Fiances,
wife of Azel Freeman ; Anna, wife of Thomas
RingJand, of Scott Township; Presley, of Wayne
Township, and one brother iu Dakota. William, a
former resident of this county, was a soldier in the
25th Iowa Volunteer Infantry.

'^ OHN MONSON is a farmer residing on sec-
1 tiou 20, Wayne Township, Henry Co., Iowa,
Sweden has furnished manj' of the best
families of Wayne Township, some of whom
have risen to prominence in the business and
social world. Among these we mention the family
of John Monson, which is favorably known as one

of intelligence and culture, and as such they are
entitled to a place in this, the history of Henry
County's best families. .John Monson and his wife
were both born in Southern Sweden, he in 1831,
and Mrs. Monson in 1820. In 1857 they were
married, and all their children, except the youngest,
were born in the land which gave their parents
birtli. The father of our subject was a farmer in
Sweden, and his two sons, John and Nels, followed
his example. John is the only one of the family
who came to America.

Mr. Monson was united in marriage with Bengta
Anderson, the youngest daughter of Anders and
Nellie (Johnson) Anderson. They were the parents
of six children, of whom Jacob Anderson, of
Knoxville, 111., and Mrs. Monson, are the only ones
who came to this countiy. For several years John
Monson and his wife resided upon a farm in Sweden,
but decided to make for themselves a home in
America. With their cliildren, Anna, Jennie, Nellie,
and Nels, they left Gottenberg in the autumn of 1 867,
landing in Quebec October 9 of the same year.
They started West, and located first near Knox-
ville, 111., where a farm was rented for two years.
In the winter of 1869 a second removal was made,
this time a permanent location being secured in
Henry County, Iowa, and in Wayne Township the
family have resided ever since. Caleb A., their
youngest son, was born in Illinois, and while speak-
ing of the children, the first births of the union
were twins, both of whom died in infancy.

Mr. Monson has grown from a poor man in 1867
to one well-to-do in 1888, and has reared and edu-
cated a family of whom any father might be proud.
Loving the free institutions of the United States,
and desiring to become one of her people in its
fullest sense, he long since secured naturalization
papers, and for fifteen years has been a voter with
the Republican party.

The eldest daughter, Anna, became the wife of
Anthony Johnson, of Page County, Iowa, in 1884.
Her death occurred June 30, 1886, leaving one
daughter, Anna E., who has been taken into the
family of our subject, and is loved as one of their
own children. Her mother graduated at Red Oak,
Iowa, and afterward taught school in Page and
Montgomery Counties for several years. The

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436

4

HENRY COUNTY.

r

father is now living in Omaha. The eldest son is a
graduate of the schools in his township, and is com-
pleting a theological course at the Augustana Col-
lege, at Rock Island, 111. The daughters, Nellie and
Jennie, have received good English educations in
this county, and Caleb A., the youngest son, is
with his father on the farm. Since becoming resi-
dents of Wayne Township Mr. and Mrs. Monson
have become members of the Swedish Lutheran
Church, at Swedesburg, and for eighteen years Mr.
Monson has been a Deacon in the church. For
several years he was Superintendent of tiie Sunday-
school, and in the doctrines of the church all their
children have been conscientiously reared. The
Monson household are noted for hospitality, and as
neighbors and one of the best families, the citizens
of Wayne Township highly prize them. The father
of our subject lived to be ninety-six years old, and
his mother reached the advanced age of ninetj'.
three. Both died and were ))uried in their beloved
Sweden.

<^ J^jlLLlAM A. DILTS, M. D., physioian and
rgeon at Salem, Hemy Co., Iowa, wais
Jan. 13, 1860, in Louisa County,
Iowa, and is a son of Thomas D-. and Martha L.
(Kirkp.'itrick) Dilts. His father was born in Logan
County, Ohio, March 20, 1831, his parents being
Wilkisson and Catherine Dilts. In 184()"'tliey ,
removed to Henry County, Iowa, but returned to
Ohio the same year. In 1854 Thomas again emi-
grated to Iowa, locating in Louisa County, where
he remained until 18()4, when he removed to Balti-
more Townshii), Henry County, where he spent six
years, removing in 1870 to J.ackson Township,
where he now lives. He was married in Louisa
County, Iowa. March 20, 1858, to Miss Martha L.
Kirkpatrick. She w.as born Dec. 25, 1838, in Lee [
County, Iowa, her parents being William R. and
Mary (Pratt) Kirkpatrick, who were of Scotch ances-
try. They were aiming the earliest settlers of this
State, emigrating fiom near Galena, 111., in 1834.
where they had come from Ohio. On arriving in the
then Territory' of Wisconsin, they settled on uusur-
vcycd land about four miles north of what is now
West Point, Lee County, removing thence in 1850

y)lLLlA
3'

to Henry County', where they lived until their
deaths, both of which occurred in 1885, when each
was about eighty. They had three sous and seven
daughters, all of whom are now living, and all mar-
ried. The family were widelj' known and greatly
respected in the county. Thomas Dilts and wife
had four children, of whom our subject was the
eldest; the next, Emma J., was born in Louisa
County, Iowa, Aug. 6, 1862, and is the wife of
O. A. Garretson, a prominent farmer of Jackson
Township, to whom she was married Nov. 7, 1881 ;
John J., born July 10, 1864, worked on his father's
farm until 1880, when he entered AVhittier Col-
lege. He began in 1884 the study of medicine with
his brother, and is now a student at the Keokuk
College of Physicians and Surgeons, and will grad-
uate in 1888; Laura, born Jan. 6. 1872, is living
with her parents. Thomas Dilts is a Republican
in polities, and is known as an honorable and up-
right man. He and his wife are members of the
Methodist Elpiscopal Church. Thomas Dilts had
two brothers and two sisters: Joseph is a farmer in
Ohio; Josephine is the wife of J. W. Prottsman, a
farmer in Northwestern Nebraska; Anna is the wife
of Gus Fetters, a merchant in Kansas; and John
W. is a ranch ownei' in Colorado.

Our subject. Dr. William A. Dilts, remained on
the farm until 1878, when he entered Whittier Col-
lege, at Salem, where he remained until 1882, when
he began the study of medicine under Dr. E. W.
Cook, then of Salem, now of Plattsmouth, Neb.
He attended a course of lectures in the medical
department of the Iowa State University in 1883-84,
and then practiced for two years in Jackson Town-
shii), Homy County. He subsequently entered
upon ;i course of study at the College of Ph^'si-
cians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa, and in 1887
graduated second in a class of fifty-four, lie re-
moved to Salem in .March of that year, and has
gained recognition as a talented and conscientious
yt)ung pli3'sician, and is rapidly- building ui) a lucra-
tive pr.actice. He was married, March 16, 1887,
to ]\Ii.<s Nellie K., the accomplished daugliter of
Rev. David and Rebecca Donalilson. Mis. Dilts
was born April 17, 1864, at Lin wood, Iowa. Ilcr
jnirents were from Ohio, and were early settlers of
Iowa, where they located in 1838. Her father was
— ' ■»

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HENRY COUNTY.

439

a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, well
known as a speaker of talent, and a man of cult-
ure. He was ordained by the Upper Iowa Con-
ference; was transferred to the Iowa Conference
in 1865, was assigned to the Abingdon charge
in 1868, and came to the Salem charge in the
fall of 1870, where, after a faithful work of two
years, he died, July 21, 1872. He left a devoted
wife and four children to mourn their loss. His
widow still lives in .Salem. Of his surviving chil-
dren, William, the eldest, born March 28, 1856, is
a druggist in Pierce, Neb. ; he was married, Feb.
17, 1878, to Miss Eva Crew, and has two children;
Samuel F. was born May 15, 1860, is unmarried,
and is a farmer in Northwestern Nebraska; Nellie
E., the wife of Dr. Dilts, was formerly a teacher.
Addie was born Dec. 7, 1868, is still living with
her widowed mother, and is a teacher of deserv-
edly high standing in the county. Two other chil-
dren, Edmund J. and Eva, died in childhood.

Dr. Dilts and wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. He is a Republican in politics,
and a member of Monarch Lodge No. 183, Knights
of Pythias, of Salem. As a ph3'siciau he has al-
ready acquired the confidence of the people, and
as members of society he and his wife are held in
high esteem.

\

iHERON WEBB WOOLSON, deceased, who
became a citizen of Henry County in 1 856,
was during his residence here one of its
foremost citizens, and a leader in its public, pro-
fessional, social and religious circles. A man of
marked personality, of gre.it ability, of unswerving-
uprightness of character, of the strictest profes-
sional integrity, conscientious and fearless in the
discharge of every duty, puljlic or private, he pos-
sessed all the requisites for leadership. His mind
was trained, and his character formed in the school
of necessity, and the lessons there learned were
never forgotten. He was born .at Lisbon, N. H.,
on the 28th of October, 1811, and was a son of a
New England farmer. His mother's Christian
name was Rebecca. Some years after the birth
i^* — — ^_— — — ^__««_«— _^__

of the subject of this memoir, his parents re-
moved to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where both
died, the father leaving his widow and nine chil-
dren in straitened circumstances. Before that
event young Theron had become a bread winner,
and was hired out to farmers in the neighborhood.
His only actual schooling was during this time,
when he attended the district school four winter
terms, his liberal education being entirely self -ac-
quired. He was of an active, susceptible tempera-
ment, with an ardent desire for knowledge, and from
his early youth showed the love of reading which
clung to him all his lifetime. A physician in whose
emplo}' he was about this time, observing his intel-
ligence and thirst for learning, gave him free access
to his library, whose contents he soon mastered, also
reading all otiier books accessible, which were by
no means numerous in country neighborhoods in
that day.

An elder brother who had remained in New
Hampshire, had a merchant tailoring establishment
in Littleton, in that State. Theron was apprenticed
to him, and he devoted himself with characteristic
ardor ty mastering that trade, at which he soon be-
came an adept. While working at it he kept up
his reading and study, and soon attracted the at-
tention of the pastor of the church of which he was
an attendant. This man was highly educated him-
self, and recognizing a kindred spirit in the studious
young tailor, gave him lessons in the higher English
branches in mathematics, and in L.itin, hearing his
recitations evenings. Close attention to his trade,
coupled with his studious habits, told on a not over
rugged constitution, and out-door work became a
necessity. He procured employment as a wood
worker, and after a time was given charge of a
foot-lathe. His health was benefited by the change,
and he at the same time made opportunity to con-
tinue his studies while at his labor, having his book
before him, reading, and digesting what he read
while he worked.

With restored health he sought more congenial
employment, and having thoroughly qualified him-
self, procured a position as teacher, first in New
Hampshire, and afterward in St. Lawrence County,
N. Y. The characteristics of impressing his ideas
on others, and of acquiring control over those with
■ »^

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4-

440

HENRY COUNTY.

i

whom he came into contact, here found an oppor-
tunity for development. His schools came to be
considered models for order and for the rapid
mental growth of his pupils. His eai-nestness im-
pressed the scholars, and the result was shown in
their rapid advance. He followed this profession
until 1835, when he determined to go farther west,
and establish himself in what he designed should be
his permanent life-work. Stopping at Tonawanda,
Erie Co., N. Y., he engaged, temporaril}^ as he sup-
posed, as clerk and book-keeper in a large general
store. His business habits, close attention, and
strict integrity, soon won recognition, and by de-
grees the jjroprietor leaned more and more on his
employe, until the care and management of the
entire business devolved upon him, and the busi-
ness which he had taken up, as he supposed,
but for a time, became the work of his early
manhood. In this he contiiuied for several years,
but having more knowledge than any other person
in the locality of legal and business matters, he in-
evitably drifted into the position of adviser and
counselor of many people there, who came to rely
upon his jiidgnient and character. He engaged ex-
tensively in conveyancing, and was elected Justice
of the Peace, which undoubtedly gave him the bent
which in later years led him into the practice of the
law, which he studied, and U> the practice of which
he was admitted at Buffalo, in that county. He
embarked, and always successfully, in many enter-
prises at Tonawanda. For some 3'ears he had a
shingle factory there, and he was the inventor of the
process of steaming the blocks from which they were
cut, greatly facilitating and cheapening their manu-
facture. He, with a brother-in-law, engaged largely'
in real-estate operations, and he laid out an addi-
tion to the town, and by his foresight and industry
acquired a liberal fortune. He lived in Tonawanda
for twenty-one years, and was a leading citizen of
the town and county, often called upon to fill posi-
tions of trust. He was for years Tresident of the
Board of Trustees of the village, and head of the
local educational board. He represented the town
in the Board of Supervisors, of which he was Chair-
man, and he also filled the position of Loan Com-
missioner for the county. He was a truly repre-
sentative citizen, who strongly impressed himself

on those with whom he was associated, and had the
respect and confidence of all who knew him, and
wielded a great influence in the community. There,
as later in Mt. Pleasant, he w.as foremost in ad-
vocating public improvements, and fostering worthy
enterprises.

The rapidl}' growing State of Iowa attracted Mr.
Woolson's attention, and he made a tour through
it with the intention of seeking a home within its
borders. The superior educational advantages of
Mt. Pleasant determined his location here, and he
removed to it in 1856, arriving hei"e June 6 of that
year. After coming to Mt. Pleasant, he devoted
himself exclusively to the practice of the law, and
formed a partnership with Henry Ambler, Esq., then
the leading attoi'uej' of the cit}', and the firm at
once took a [jrominent place among the lawyers of
the State. Three years later the firm was dissolved,
and iSlr. Woolson associated with himself a son-in-
law, Samuel JMcFarland, who entered the Union
army during the Rebellion, became Colonel of the
19th Iowa Volunteers, and was killed while charg-
ing a rebel battery at Prairie Grove, Ark., in De-
cember, 1862. After this Mr. Woolson was alone
until 1864, when he entered into partnership with
P. N. Bowman, Esq., which continued until Sept. 6,
1866. when the latter retired, and the partnership
with his son John S. was formed, which w.as un-
broken until Mr. Woolson's death.

From an appreciative sketch of his career, writ-
ten not long after Mr. AVooIson's death, we extract
the following:

"That keen interest in educational matters which
had characterized his former life, w:is carried to his
new residence, and the cause of education found no
more unselfish, zealous and considerate advocate
and friend. He was for nian^' years a niemlier of
the educational board of the city; for years its
President, and aided largely, by his devotion, en-
ergy and ripe judgment, in placing the public
schools of the city in their present well-deserved
high position. To him the public-school system
was a matter so sacred, so intimately- connected
with the public welf.-u-c and highest interests of the
commoHweallh, tliat its demands upon his time were
always honored gladly and freely.

"For a number of years lie held the position of
City Solicitor ot the city, and he was for a number
of terms its Mayor. As Mayor, he cxliibited that
decision of character, determination of purpose, and

u

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HENRY COUNTY.

441

care for the interests intnisted to him, which were
marked features of his whole life. An illustration
can be given, taken from his entrance upon his
duties as Mayor. By resolution of the City Coun-
cil, there had been submitted to vote of the electors,
at the election at which he was first elected Mayor
(and when, also, a new Council was elected), the
question of reducing the license upon billiard tables,
which was then substantially a piohibitor}' license,
and by a considerable majority the electors refused
to sanction any reduction. The day arrived for the
meeting of the Council at which the votes of the
election were to be canvassed, and when the old
Council and the Mayor were to step out and the
newly elected step into office. The old Council
had a strong majority of its members who were
in favor of reducing the license, while the newly
elected Council were opposed to such reduc-
tion. Mr. Woolson had intimations of an ex-
pected attempt by the old Council to pass — in the
face of the vote just cast by the people against such
a step — an ordinance reducing the license on the
tables, and, preparing for it, he subscribed the oath
of office as Mayor, and quietly stepped, with other
citizens, into the council chamber to witness the
proceedings of the canvass. When the Council had
been called to order, a motion was made to proceed
to the canvass of the votes, a proceeding which had
customarily been the first business of such a meet-
ing. But those in charge of it had determined to
pass the ordinance reducing the license, and, hav-
ing the voting power, they compelled the canvass
to give way to the consideration of the ordinance,
which passed through its first and second readings,
and was about to be put on its passage, and the
vote to be taken. At this juncture, and when it
had become apparent that the opponents of the
measure were powerless to prevent its adoption,
and that it was the settled purpose of the retiring
members to defeat, by this unusual proceeding, the
expressed will of the city, Mr. Woolson stepped
forward, handed to the City Clerk his oath of office,
and demanded of the Mayor his seat as the duly
elected Mayor of the city, which was yielded to
him. The roll call proceeded. Mr. Woolson di-
rected the Clerk to call his name, and cast his vote
against the ordinance. This vote, in connection
with his firm action in the chair, effectually check-
mated the conspirators, defeated the ordinance, and
thus secured the triumph of the expressed popular
will.

"Mr. Woolson was a member, and the Chairman
of the first Board of Supervisors of this county,
and for years held the position of Attorney for the
county.

"In 1861 he was elected to the State Senate from

this count}', and was re-elected in 1865. He was a
member of the Ninth. Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth
General Assemblies. In the Senate he was a lead-
ing member, serving on its most important commit-
tees, and exercising a large infiuence in shaping the
legislation of that bodj', and held by vote of the
Senate, the position of President j)ro tern. It has
been truly said of him, that he hei'e 'sustained a
reputation not only for earnest, upright honesty, but
for the highest skill and ability as a legislator.' "

As an illustration of the estimate put upon Mr.
Woolson by his fellow Senators, we quote from a
letter received by his son, Hon. John S. Woolson,
in November, 1887, from Hon. Warren S. Dungan,
now a member of the Senate, and Chairman of the
Judiciary Committee of that body during the first
year of Mr. Woolson's service :

"I am reminded of the winter I spent in Des
Moines with your father, in the Senate of the Ninth
General Assembly, in 1862. . . He was the best
posted on the statutes of the State of any Senator.
He knew at a glance how any measure proposed
compared with the law as it existed. He was al-
ways ready and on the alert, genial but dignified ;
a noble Senator, doing honor to his constituents,
and noble service to the State. Let us emulate his
example."

Mr. Woolson was a Senator throughout the war
of the Rebellion, and by voice, vote, pen and purse,
was a determined, effective supporter of the Gov-
ernment, The editor of the Mt. Pleasant Journal
being in the military service, Mr. Woolson assumed
his duties, and during his editorship the paper never
gave forth an uncertain sound on National matters,
but was always an earnest supporter of the cause of
National unity. Not onlj' in State and National
matters did Mr. Woolson take an active interest,
and act a leading part. As a citizen of Mt. Pleas-
ant, every movement looking toward the moral and
material advancement of the city found in him a
hearty supporter. Early in life he was a believer
in the doctrines of the Democratic party, but when
that party became, in his judgment, unfaithful to
its professed principles, he left its ranks, and there-
after was a Republican. He was a member of the
first Republican convention held at Buffalo, N. Y.,
and participated actively and influentially in the
councils of the party. He was a delegate from this

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442

HENRY COUNTY.

State to the National Convention which first nomi-
nated Gen. Orant for President.

His religious associations were with the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, of which he was a member
from 18.36. He united with the Asbury (now First)
Methodist Episcopal Church, after coming to Mt.
Pleasant, and was for many years a member of its
official board, and a zealous, consistent member of
the church until his death.

September 1, 18.36, Mr. Woolson was married to
Clarissa Simson, who proved herself a devoted wife
and loving mother. She died suddenly, March 7,
1862, while he was absent in the Legislature, of
which he was tlien a member. She left three daugh-
ters: Mrs. Peter Melendy, now of Cedar Rapids,
Iowa; Mrs. R. J. Borghlothaus, of Minneapolis,
Minn.; and Mrs. M. W. Darling, of Sioux City,
Iowa; also one son, John S., of whom see sketch on
another page. .June 26. 186.5, Mr. Woolson was
united in marriage with Anna Carney, who with
her son, J. Leigh, now survives.

Mr. Woolson's death was sudden and unexpected.
On Nov. 7, 1872, he was at his ollice preparing for
the approaching term of Court. For several days
he had been somewhat unwell, and in the afternoon
of that day was feeling so much worse that he re-
tired to his home. Within two hours of that time
he was attacked with acute cholera morbus, so vio-
lent in its action as to closely simulate Asiatic
cholera. The attack was so violent that in a few
hours hope was almost al)andoned, and when his
wife (who liad been absent with a sick daughter)
arrived home at 9 P. M., his life was despaired of.
He lingered until 4:20 P. iM. of the next day, when
the great soul was reh^ased from the overtasked
body, passing peacefully away. His funeral on
November 10 was attended by a, large concourse
of mourning friends, and by the bar of the count}',
who attended in a body. Hisremaius were interred
in Forest Home Cemetery, in the citj' in which his
riper years had been sitent. and of wiiich he was,
with possibly a single exception, the foremost citi-
zen.

On the following dny, at the opening of the Dis-
trict Court, a committee, previously appointed at a
meeting of tlie members of the bar, presented reso-
lutions adopted by that body, which were placed
4*

upon the records of the court. Judge Joshua Tracy,
in well chosen words, paid the following ti'ibute to
the memory of Mr. Woolson :

The resolutions just read, commemorative of
the death of our friend and professional brother,
exjjress in appropriate terms the many estimable
traits of character lie possessed. Thej' also express
the great grief and heartfelt sorrow experienced
by his family and the communit}' at large at the
loss of one whose place at home, in society and in
church, cannot be filled.

His character for strict professional integritj',
honesty of purpose and courteous deportment, was
such as to endear him to everyone who became in-
timately acquainted with him.

To those of us who have been so intimately' ac-
quainted with him for the last sixteen j'cars in the
practice of tiie legal |)rofession. these traits of char-
acter of our departed friend will serve to guide us
upon our professional pathway, and, it may be hoped,
will lead us to that point of true worth and great-
ness which he occupied when he ceased to be one
among us.

It is W(jrth}' of remark upon this solemn occasion,
that although our deceased friend (lossessed a ner-
vous, sensitive cast of temperament, and that in the
practice of his profession he was ardentlj' devoted
to his client's cause, yet no matter how close the
contest, or heated the discussion in which he was
engaged, he never so far forgot the character of the
true professional gentleman, as to be guiltj' of ap-
plying to his opponent unkind words, or opprobrious
epithets, and his conduct toward the Court in the
man.agement and argumentof his causes was always
equally commendable.

By the death of Theron W. Woolson, society has
lost an honored, valuable member, the State an
able legislator, the church of which he was a mem-
ber a true Christian, the legal profession an able
advocate, and his bereaved family a kind-hearted
and devoted husband and father.

With mournful i)leasure, it is ordcreil that the
resolutions presented be s|)read upon the records of
this court; and as a furllier token of respect to the
memory of our departed friend, it is ordered the
Court do now ndjourn.

Committees wci<' appointed to present the resolu-
tions to the Supreme Court of the SUite. and also to
the United States Circuit Court for this State, in
botli of which lie had an extensive practice.

The Hoard of Suiicrvisors of the count}', for
whom Mr. Woolson was at the time of his death
counsel, also took formal action in the pass.age of
this resolution:

•$r*^

J^

t

HENRY COUNTY.

443

Be it resolved by the Board of Supervisors of
Henry Count}', now in session, That it is with feel-
ings of profound regret that we learn of the death
of a former honorable member and Chairman of
this board, and for a long time its |)rineipal at-
torney and adviser, Hon. 'J'herun W. Woolson ; and
it is with great pleasure we record our admiration
of the fidelity of his conduct in all those relations,
discharging them with promptness, great good
judgment and ability ; and we hereby express and
tender to the famil}' of the deceased our heartfelt
sympathy.

The press of the whole State, and of both political
parties, noticed in fitting terms and with expres-
sions of appreciative feelings, his life and death.
From his political and professional associates many
letters vvere received by his family, all expressive
of their profound sorrow at his sudden and un-
timely death.

It is difficult concisely, yet fully, to express the
proper estimate of a life so well rounded, so sym-
metrical as a whole, and yet possessing in so many
directions such marked peculiarities. Perhaps the
characteristic best remembered by his intimate
friends as pervading his whole life, and lighting up
his daily walk, was the entire faithfulness, the
thorough conscientiousness, with which he applied
himself to the performance of duty, in whatever
dii'eetion that duty lay. As a lawyer he was re-
garded as pre-eminentl}' a safe counselor, and had
the justly deserved reputation of a dissuader from
litigation, often inducing clients to settle amicably
rather than by active proceedings, a trait in his ad-
mirable character which was fully appreciated by
the better class of litigants, and which entitled him
to the blessing's promised to the "peacemaker."
No client, constituent or employer ever had occa-
sion to complain of lack, on his part, of thorough
ap})lication to the matters placed in his charge. To
this application he brought a mind naturally strong
■ and clear, which had been matured by close observ-
ation and continuous study. His mind was emi-
nently judicial, and had he been called to the bench,
he would have graced the highest position. His
record as a citizen, lawyer, official and legislator,
shows his faithful attention, his ripe judgment, his
intellectual strength and his purity of life.

Yet that record is not complete without mention
of his home life. He was peculiarly domestic in his

tastes and desires, and no happiness was so keenly
appreciated by him as that which came from the
surroundings of family and friends at home. The
shadows and perplexities of business or official life
he left outside the threshold, and to family and
friends under his own roof-tree was fully shown
the genuine hospitality of his nature. In his later
years, the enjoyment he realized from his home life
perceptibly increased, and his distaste for the
strifes and conflicts of public life became stronger,
until prospect and promise of official station alike
failed to induce him to submit again to the disa-
greeable accompaniments of public position. No
truer father or devoted husband ever gladdened a
happy home. In :ill the relations of life he "fought
a good flght," he "kept the faith," and his memory
is precious not only to the family he trained to fol-
low in his footsteps, but to all who had the privi-
lege of knowing him.

The admirable portrait of Mr. Woolson, on a
preceding page, will preserve to his many friends
the lineaments of this great man as he appeared in
his mature years. It is one that adds great value
to this volume, and our readers will thank us for
inserting it.

^^ HRISTIAN ROTH, a farmer residing on see-
(l[ ^ tion 9, Jefferson Township, Henry Co., Iowa,
^^7 was born in France, April 10, 1845, and is
the son of Christian and Katie (Wittmer) Roth,
mention of whom is made in the sketch of Peter
Roth, brother of our subject. In this county
Christian Roth, Jr., grew to manhood, and was
married, Feb. 15, 1877, to Miss Fannie Augsperger,
daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Shantz) Aug-
sperger, the father born in Strasburg, France, the
mother in Germany. Jacob was but six weeks old
when his parents came to America. They settled in
Butler County, Ohio, near Hamilton, and were
among the early settlers there. The Shantz family
located in Wayne Count}', near Worcester, and the
parents lived and died there. They had eight chil-
dren: Jacob married Miss Blouth, and resides on the
homestead farm in Wayne County, Ohio; Christian,
for his second wife, wedded Annie Creaser, and

t

444

■•►

HENRY COUNTY.

!^'

resides in Fulton County, Ohio ; Joseph, a resident
of Butler County, wedded Katie Augsperger; Peter
wedded Annie Roth, and resides near West Point,
Lee Co., Iowa; another son died in infancy;
Lena, wife of Joseph Reeee, and Elizabeth, com-
plete the family. She was mother of seven chil-
dren, all living except one: Christian, deceased,
married Elizabeth Augsperger; his widow married
Peter Schroch, of Butler County, Ohio. Katie mar-
ried Joseph ^Jleyer, of the same county; Mary is the
wife of Joseph Ilouder, a resident of Bureau County,
111. ; Lena married Peter Imhoft, of Butler County ;
Annie is the wife of Nicholas Summer, of the same
county; Fannie married our subject; and George
is the husband of Mollie Shafer, and resides in
Butler County. Mrs. Roth's father reached the age
of sixt3'-six years, and his wife is yet living, now
nearly seventy j'ears of age.

Since the marriage of Christian Roth, Jr., and
Miss Fannie Augsperger three children have been
born — Albert, Edward and Katy A. They are
pleasantly located upon a nice farm near the village
of Wayland, a part of the first lands purchased by
Christian Roth, Sr. Our subject is one of the most
enterprising of men, and is rapidl}- growing wealtliy.
The Roths have ever been noted for their integrity
and honor in business dealings, and for their up-
right conduct. Christian Roth and his wife are
both meml)ers of the .Mennonite Church, and we
gladly make mention of the family.

JAMES BENTLEY ROSE, Justice and Mayor
of Salem, Iowa, vvas born June 1, 1819, in
Uniontown, Belmont Co., Ohio, and is the
son of Solomon and Narcissa (Arnold) Rose.
Solomon Rose was born in New York City, and
there learned the trade of cabinet-maker. He later
went to Washington County, Pa., where his mar-
riage with Miss Arnold was celebrated in October,
1817. Prior to his marriage lie enlisted in tiie War
of 1812, during which lime he vvas private secre-
tary of Gen. Proctor. The land warrant then ob-
tained was laid out in Mills Count}', Iowa, after
he came to this State in 1837. ]Mr. Rose with his
young wife removed to Senecaville, Guernsc}' Co.,

Ohio, where he purchased a hotel, which in connec-
tion with his trade was carried on during his resi-
dence in that city. James B. was then but a lad
and learned the hotel business perfectly.

Reason A., Solomon C, Sarah, William II. and
Silas comprise the familj-. Their removal to Iowa
was made Oct. 1, 1837, they taking passage on a
steamer down the Ohio, then up the Mississippi to Ft.
Madison, where they landed Nov. 11, 1837. At
West Point Mr. Rose purchased propert}', and dur-
ing their residence in that city he carried on cabi-
net and carpenter work. He was a finished work-
man, and in that early day was a most welcome
accession to that country. The family became per-
manent residents of Salem Oct. 9, 1846. Here Mr.
Rose purchased propert}', and carried on farming
during the remainder of his life. His death occurred
May 6, 1860; his faithful wife, who survived him
eleven 3-ears, died and w.as buried at Omaha, Neb.
Of the children, Reason A., a fariuer, and minister
of the United Brethren faith of Marysville, Ore.,
wedded Mary Mickum ; Solomon C. married Sa-
mantlia Beard, of Salem, the ceremouj' being per-
formed l)y our suliject, who was then Justice of the
Peace, and is a farmer of Herman, AVashington
Co., Neb.; .Sarah, deceased wife of C. M. Whee-
lock, this being one (jf the first marriages in Lee
County; the death of William H. and of Silas
occurred at West Point. Mr. Rose, prior to com-
ing to Henry County, in partnership with his son-
in-law, ^Ir. Wheelock, i)urchased the lands near
Keokuk upon which the iuUrmar}' now stands.

The primary education of our subject was re-
ceived in Ohio, but after coming to Iowa he con-
cluded to complete it. He was a fine mathematician
for a lad, and when presenting himself to Robert
Stephenson, who conducted a subscription sc1h)o1
at West Point, tokl the teacher "to start hini any-
where." Not having attended school for several
years, he found it hard to make a start, but after
getting some assistance from (iranville Pitman (now
in luisincss in Keokuk, luw:i), i)rogressed very well
until he had nearly- linished the arithmetic. One
problem brought him to a standstill, and after vainly'
trying to solve it, he asked his tutor to aid him.
"P.ass it, pass it," said Mr. Stephenson. "No, sir,"
said the lad, "I never pass anything." Although

-<*■

■•►

u

4

HENRY COUNTY.

445

the teacher advised him to leave it iinsulved, the
boy persisted, and both he and Mr. Stephenson car-
ried it home several nights. The morning greeting of
each was, "Have you done it?" The third morning,
while lying in bed, James mentally solved the prob-
lem, demonstrated the same on his slate, and tri-
umphantly carried it to school the next morning.
In response to the usual salutation, he produced the
figures. "Did you do this?" asked the teacher.
"Yes sir," responded the lad. Erasing the figures,
the slate was returned with the remark to do it
again, which James did in a few moments and again
produced the proof. After the teacher looked it
over he said, "Leave my school, young jnan; I don't
want anybody ai'ound here who thinks he knows
any more than I do." Taking his book and slate,
James weut home, and that exercise ended his
school days. He learned the carpenter's trade but
this did not pay, and Mr. Rose learned the cabinet
trade with William Alexander, whom he served four
years. Mr. Alexander was Postmaster and our sub-
ject Deput}', while a resident of West Point.

James Bentley Rose was married to Miss Amy
Welch, June 6, 1844, Rev. William Simpson, a
Methodist Episcopal minister, performing the cere-
mony. Two years later the young couple came to
Salem, Mr. Rose engaging work with Isaac Ong at
the carpenter's trade, and subsequently he and Mr.
Ong's son formed a partnership, which lasted two
years. The first work done by Mr. Rose was upon
the brick house at the southeast corner of the square,
now occupied by Charles Conrad. After the part-
nership was dissolved, he rented Mr. Stanley's cab-
inet-shop, and for a number of years engaged in
business. In 184'J he was elected Constable, and
in 1850 was elected Justice of the Peace, being
continuously his own successor until 1863. At that
time he was appointed Deputy County Treasurer by
C. V. Arnold, and the Justiceship was resigned.
Mr. Rose, the same year, with his family, became a
resident of Mt. Pleasant, remaining there and hold-
ing the same official position until April, 1871. In
1869 he was appointed Notary Public, through the
influence of Gov. J. G. Newbold, and this office he
has since held. The family returned to Salem in
1871, and the same autumn Mr. Rose was re-elected
Justice of the Peace and has always been his own

successor. For several years he has served the vil-
lage as an officer, both as clerk and member of the
board. He is now Mayor, and for six years was
Postmaster of Salem, retiring in 1877.

The eldest daughter, Louisa, now wife of Joseph
Yeager, a clothier of Af ton, Iowa, was born in West
Point. Joseph W., William IL, Malvin H., Edwin
F. and Curtis C. were born in Salem. Joseph was
appointed Postal Clerk during Grant's administra-
tion, and is Deputy in the department at Kansas
City; his wife is Eliza J. Adams. William II.
wedded Julia Hayes, and is an employe of the
Iowa Centr.al Railroad, residing at Marshalltown;
Malvin H., husband of Lutie Beal, is in business at
Afton ; Edwin F. was accidentally drowned; Cur-
tis C. is an operator of Hannibal, Mo.

For more than a quarter of a century Esquire
Rose has been an official of the county, and the same
energy which characterized his schohistic days has
been maintained through life. The family in social
circles have always ranked high, and in a business
sense, none have a clearer record than our worthy
Mayor. Forty- three years of wedded life make
Mr. and Mrs. Rose one of the oldest married
couples in the neighborhood, and we are pleased to
give them a place among the deserving of their
county.

ylLLIAM DAVIS, proprietor of the finest
stock farm in Henr^' County, has a Sne
herd of 200 Short-horn cattle, and sixty
head of draft and coach horses. His farm, which
is situated partially on sections 3, 4 and 10 of Tip-
pecanoe Township, contains 800 acres, and is watered
by a fine stream of living water. The soil is a
black loam, especially adapted to grass and corn.
The farm buildings are capacious, tasty and con-
venient. Mr. Davis breeds the Norman and Perch-
eron horses for heavy draft, and the Bashaw of the
Ethan Allen familj' for roadsters. He has some of
the finest stock in the count3', and is an extensive
dealer in live-stock, as well as a grower of the same.
Mr. Davis has been a resident of Henry County,
Iowa, since April, 1866, and has made his home
at Mt. Pleasant for eight years of that time, and is
a resident of the city at this writing. He was born

4-

446

HENRY COUNTY.

at Newark, Licking Co., Ohio, Jan. 22, 1824, and
is the son of Zachariah and Elizabeth (Roberts)
Davis. His father was born in Berkshire County,
Pa., and removed to Licking Count3', Ohio, in early
manhood. He was a farmer by occupation, and re-
moved from Oluo to Illinois, where he died in March,
1872. William left home on Christmas Day, 184G,
going to Lafa3'ette, Ind., where he spent ten years.
He was married in that citj^, Jan. 19, 1854, to
Miss Eliza A. Sample, daughter of John and Ann
(Taylor) Sample. (See sketch of John Sample
elsewhere). Mrs. Davis was born in Randolph
County, Lid. Her parents were among the pioneers
of Henry County, of 1839. She was the young-
est and is the only surviving member of her family.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis have but one child, a daugh-
ter, Nina B., now the wife of R. W. Buchanan, a
farmer of Tippecanoe Township, They reside on
the home farm. Mr. Davis came to Henry County
in April, 1856, and located at Mt. Pleasant, in
which place he spent four j'ears, and then removed to
the farm in Tippecanoe Townsiiip, where they con-
tinued to reside until 1883, when they returned to
the city, and have since made that their home.

He is a member of Henry Lodge No. 10, I. O.
O. F., and of the Camp. He is also a Knight
Templar Mason ; a member of Mt. Pleasaut Lodge,
A. F. & A. M., of Henry Chapter No 8, R. A. M.,
and of Jerusalem Commandery No. 7, K. T. Po-
litically, he was a Whig in early life and later a
Republican. Mr. Davis is one of the best known
and higlily respected citizens of Henry County.
He is a broad gauge man, both physically and
otherwise. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.

_>, o*o.-@^<A^..o«o.. V*-

^AMp;s McCLELLAN, New London, Iowa,
dealer in general merchandise, came to Henry
County in 1856. He was born in Franklin
County, Ind., Oct. 26, 1829, and is the son
of William and Mary (Thompson) McClellan. Our
subject was reared on a farm, educated in the pub-
lic schools, and wjis married near Connersville, Ind.,
Feb. 3, 1853, to Miss Adeline Dare, daughter of
Lee Dare, Esq. Mrs. McClellan was born in Cin-

cinnati, Ohio, Feb. 12, 1836. Of their three chil-
dren only one is now living. William, the eldest,
was born in Butler County, Ohio, and died in New
London, Iowa, March 15, 1864; Frank was born
in New London, Oct. 10, 1857, and died March 5,
1864; Emma, the surviving one, was born March
15, 1860, and is now the wife of Melville C. Leach,
Postmaster of New London. (See sketch.)

Mr. McClellan had learned the machinist's trade
in his native State, at which he was emi)loyed until
1856, when he emigrated to Iowa and located in
New London. On coming to Iowa he was em-
ployed in running stationary engines till 1863.
The succeeding two j'ears were spent in traveling
and trading. He then engaged for a couple of
years in the butchering trade at New London, and
in 1867 engaged in the mercantile business, dealing
in groceries, etc., till 1875, when he added dry-
goods to his stock, and now carries a general
assortment of merchandise.

Mr. McClellan was elected Town Treasurer of
New London in 1867, and with the exception of
three years has since served in tliat capacity, cov-
ering a period of seventeen years. He has always
taken an active part in matters of education, h;is
served twelve or fourteen years as a member of the
School Board, and is the President of that body at
this writing. He is a Democrat in his political
views, and is a Master Jlason, a member of New-
London Lodge No. 28. A. F. & A. M. Mr. Mc-
Clellau's father was born in I'Xyctte County, Pa.,
Oct. 11, 1872, and was of Irish descent. He served
in the War of 1812, and died in Franklin Count_y,
Ind.. June 1, 1872. Had he lived four montiis and
ten days longer, he would have been one luindred
years old. His father, the grandfather of .James
McClellan, was a suldier of tlie Revolution, and a
relative of the paternal ancestors of Gen. George
B. McClellan. Tlie mother of our subject was bom
in New Jersc}-, and was of English descent. He
was twice married. His (irst wife was a Miss Lucke}'.
to whnni he was ni.-uM'ied wliile in Pennsylvania.
Siie had several cliildren, two of whom are now liv-
ing, viz. : William, at Crawfordsville, Ind., and
John, the youngest, now a resident of Montana, and
aged seventy-four. His second wife was Mar}'
Tlionipson, to whom he was married in Ohio. She

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HENRY COUNTY.

449

had six children : George, in Butler County, Ohio ;
Jane, widow of George Gardner, living in Casey,
111. ; Emeline, wife of Robert Moore, residing in
Decatur Count}-, Ind.; Rebecca, wife of George
VanAusdall, of Montgomery County; Samuel, who
died in Butler County, Ohio, and our subject. Mrs.
Mary McClellan died in the same place as her hus-
band, in 1863. No man in New London has a bet-
ter record as an honorable and upright man and
merchant than James McClellan.

i-^^-

'^^ 33, in Jackson Township. There are nv
lfl/\u) ous families in this county vvho came

^^^ TEPHEN BOOTH, farmer, living on section

lumer-
froui
English stock, yet who for generations have
been closely identified with the business inter-
ests and prosperity of this commonwealth. Of
such persons, who have for so many years been
ranked among the best citizens of the several
States, comes our subject, Stephen Booth. He
was born in Fairfteld County, Conn., Dec. 16,
1822, and is the son of David and Polly (Lane)
Booth. Both parents were born in the State of
Connecticut, and were married in Monroe, Fairfield
County. David Booth was a farmer, and his wife
was the daughter of a farmer, and of English descent.
Thej' were the parents of six children : Jennett,
who wedded Andrew Jackson, a well-known hotel
man who for years kept a hotel five miles west of
New Haven, in the town of Plainville. His wife,
who was the mother of four children, is yet living,
a resident of Birmingham, Conn. Francis and Mary
died unmarried ; Margaret became the wife of
William C. Pruden, and resided many years in
Orange, New Haven Co., Conn., dying in 1885;
Philander, a mechanic, is wedded to Mrs. Elizabeth
Shepherd, whose maiden name was Redman, and
resides in Plantsville, Conn., and has tvvo children.
Stephen Booth, the subject of this sketch, learned
the butcher's trade, and left his home when eighteen
years of age to seek his fortune. He made his way
to Huron County, Ohio, where he engaged in work-
ing on a farm for his cousin, Marcellus Booth,
whose family had emigrated to Ohio. This was in
1840, and six months later he went to Cincinnati,
.^ft

Ohio, where he engaged as cabin hand on the
steamer "Dewitt Clinton," plying between that city
and New Orleans. The next spring he returned to
his boyhood home, and in the city of New Haven
opened a meat-market. In 1850 he again decided
to come West, and for some time worked in Chi-
cago, and later worked in Ypsilanti, Mich. He then
went to Cincinnati and began work in a slaughter
house, and remained in that business until his mar-
riage. May 26, 1853, by Rev. P. S. Condon, to Mar-
garet Shannon, who was born in Aberdeen, Ohio
Co., Ind., Nov. 19, 1833.

The history of the ancestry of Mrs. Booth is very
interesting, and we regret that it cannot be more
fully given. Her great-grandfather was a Hessian
soldier sent to America during the Revolutionary
War. Detesting the outrages committed by the
soldiery, he deserted his command, and the next we
hear of him was when he was located in Philadel-
phia, after the Revolutionary War, where he mar-
ried and reared a family. His grandson, George
Shannon, was the father of Mrs. Booth. He was
born in Philadelphia, and was married in that city
to Elizabeth Smith, who bore two children before
they left that State — Catharine and Julia A. They
subsequently removed to Cincinnati, and from there
to Aberdeen, Ohio Co., Ind., about 1819, where
they were among the earliest settlers. The six
youngest children were born there : Mar^', deceased ;
Elizabeth, deceased; James, a bachelor, living at
Murpiiy's, Calaveras Co., Cal. ; George, deceased;
William, who was married four times, his first wife
being Mary Bunker; the second Romanza Reed;
the third, Julia Dillon, and the fourth, Sarah E.
Powell, and each having borne children. He is
now a merchant of Mt. Pleasant, this county. Mrs.
Booth is the youngest of the family. The death of
her mother occurred soon after her birth, and she
was taken care of by Mrs. Jane Brierton. and cared
for as her own daughter until her nineteenth year,
when her marriage with our subject was celebrated.
Mrs. Brierton was a woman who was noted for
benevolence, and died in 1870. She remembered
Cincinnati when only one cabin marked the site of
that city.

The wedding of Stephen Booth and Margaret
Shannon was celebrated at the home of Philip '^

i

9 450

ii-^

HENRY COUNTY.

Lewis, who wedded Jane Briertou, foeter-sister of
Mrs. Booth, and this sketch was written on the
morning of Mr. Lewis's departure from the Booth
residence, after a long visit. The young couple
really began their domestic life in Ohio County,
Ind., ujxm a farm. Mr. Booth had but a few dol-
lars, but he was full of enthusiasm and his wife was
of the same type. After they had purchased pro-
visions enough to last them six months, and had
barely enough furniture in their little cabin to get
along with, they had one Mexican quarter left, and
that is yet in Mr. Booth's possession, and the coin,
which is now over a century old, was shown to the
writer of this sketch. It is highly valued as a relic
and as the foundation of their fortune.

In 1854 Mr. Booth and his wife took charge of
the Ohio County Infirmary and farm for three
3'ears, during which time it was ably conducted.
They then concluded to come West, and loading
their household effects on a steamer, were landed in
Ft. Madison March 19, 1858. During the follow-
ing summer they purchased forty acres fronting
their present home, and in October of that year
were safely housed in the little farmhouse which
yet stands opposite their dwelling. From this date
prosjieritj' began, and year b}' year other broad
acres were added to their possessions. Flocks and
herds filled the pastures, and the old house was
exchanged for a handsomer residence just opposite,
and a massive barn was erected, one of the nicest in
the neighborliood. This was done in 1874, and
during his arduous toil Mr. Booth contracted a
cold whieli for ten years has made him an invalid.
His health however, is improving witli increasing
years. Throughout his long illness the master hand
of his wife has been apparent. She is a manager in
.•I strictly business sense, and the farm work never
lacked an overseer during the illness of Mr. Booth.
Their home is noted far and wide as a model of
neatness, and for tiieir well-spread board. They
have no children, but liave reared a niece of Mrs.
Booth, Miss Dora Shannon, wlio finds in her aunt
an affectionate mother.

It is a pleasure to write the sketch uf a self-made
man, and as this will be read by hundreds of the
best people of the county and old friends of Mr.
and Mrs. Booth, the labors of the writer will be

rewarded by their appreciation of this sketch of the
history of a family which justly stands high in the
estimation of all who know them.

»*^H»^

GEORGE BAILEY. We take pleasure in
presenting a brief sketch of this gentleman,
who for thirty years has been a well-known
resident of Salem and Jackson To\\niships. He was
born in Belmont Countv, Ohio, Jan. 16, 18i!3, and
is a son of Wyatt and Miranda (Wootton) Bailey.
The families on both sides are of English ancestry,
but the early historj' is not comi)lete. The maternal
grandsire was Edward Wootton, and the paternal
grandfather was William Baile}^ who married Re-
becca Banford. The families were residents of
Loudoun County, Va., but later removed to Bel-
mont Count}', probably about 1809. Edward
Wootton was a slave-owner in Mrginia, but liber-
ated his slaves at an early day, and after the family
settled in Ohio their former slaves came and settled
around their old master, whom thej" loved for his
many kindnesses. Wyatt Bailey and ^liranda
Wootton were married in Ohio, and upon a farm
in that State their children were born: Elihu is
married to Rachel Ewers, and resides in Richland
Count}', Wis. ; Jane, deceased, wedded Benjamin
Patterson, of Beliuont County, Ohio; then came
our subject, who wedded Elizabeth Frazier in 18.J4;
Abigail, deceased, wedded Evan Plunimer. also of
Belmont County, Ohio, and lives on the paternal
homestead ; William married Lydia Blackledge, of
Wisconsin; he enlisted in the 20th Wisconsin Vol-
unteer Infiintry during the Civil War, and served
in the battles of Prairie Grove, Ark., and at \'icks-
burg; he contracted a disease while in the service
which ended his life while at his home in Wiscon-
sin. Wilson married Mary Vickers, and resides in
Jackson Township, this county; Elam, deceased,
wedded to Marian Doudnej'. was also a soldier in
a Wisconsin regiment, was taken ill and died while
at home on fnrlougli; Edward died unmarried in
Ohio; Uacheldied in infancy; David, the youngest,
wedded Belle Shaddock, and resides in Illinois; he
was a brave soldier in the o2d Illinois Hcgiment,
and was engaged at Pittsburg Lauding and in other

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HENRY COUNTY,

451

I

noted battles. The father of the children died in
1851 on the Ohio farm, and four years later the
widow and the children named who reside in Wis-
consin, removed to that State, settling in Richmond
County, where the mother died.

Our subject learned the blacksmith trade in Ohio,
and in 1815 made his way to West Point, Lee Co.,
Iowa, where he worked eighteen months. Later
he went to the then village of Keokuk, and six
month.s later to .Salem, and began business in that
town in 1848. In 1850 he concluded to join a
caravan bound for the land of gold, and with an
ox-team started across the plains. After a toil-
some journey of five months, he found himself in
the mining camps of California. While stopping
at Salt Lake City, William Street and our subject
made a call upon Brigham Young and sold him
some stock, and were well treated by the Mormon
leader. Soon after reaching the mines Mr. Bailey
engaged as a teamster, and drove a mule-team for
some time in freighting goods from Sacramento to
Greenwood Valle}'. From that city he started up
to Columbia on a schooner, and was left stranded on
a sand-bar, but finally' reached Salem, Ore., where
he secured work at his trade. He was emploj'ed in
working on the machinery of the "Kanamah," the
first steamer that ever ran above tlie falls of the
Willamette River. After this boat was completed
Mr. Bailey ran on her two months as a deck hand,
and soon after, in company with several companions,
purchased a lot of ponies and mules and started
with a pack train for the diggings in California.
They stopped near Yreka, where they sunk a shaft,
and the diggings paid handsomely for six months.
When good luck would strike them the boys would
make an extra supper, and have a good time
and euchre. On foot our subject left the mine
for Oregon, a distance of 320 mOes, carrying
his gun and two lilankets. He reached Corvaliis
eight days later, the journey out with a pack train
requiring twenty-one days. The same year he re-
turned home by way of the Isthmus of Panama,
and his first sight of and ride upon a railroad car
was on a line then completed from Cruces to Aspin-
wall.

After his return to Salem, in 1863, he began
work at his trade, and the next year wedded Miss
•^

Elizabeth Frazier, a daughter of Thomas and Han-
nah (Hoccet) Frazier. They were among the
earliest and best known settlers of this county, and
Mrs. Bailey is the only one of the family now
living in the county, her residence dating from
1837. Mr. Bailey purchased . a quarter section of
land in Lee County and improved it, but for twenty
years worked at the blacksmith's trade in Salem.
Their children are: Dora L., wife of B. L. Wood,
a liardware and agricultural dealer of W^yanet, 111. ;
Eugene was accidentally injured when seven j'ears
of age and has been blind from that time; he at-
tended the college for the blind at Vinton, and
became an accomplished scholar, but completed his
education at Whittier; for several years he has been
an agent for the sale of books, and has been very
successful. Cophine is housekeeping for Eugene
and Lester H. Bailey; Mena is the wife of Alvin
Jones; while Gilbert G. and Herman H. remain
upon the home farm. The two latter sons will
graduate at Whittier later.

From a gold miner in 1850, we find Mr. Bailey
in 1 888 the father of a fine family, the husband of
a lady who ranks high in social worth, and both
have attained such a position in life as will secure
their ease in the days to come. Although past
middle age, }'et their joys iiave been made the more
full as their family circle has never been broken.
Not a stain has ever tarnished the good name of
any member of the family, and we are pleased to
give them proper credit. Mr. Bailey owns a large
farm and is one of the provident men of this
county, and respected for his upright character and
integrity.

^-^^ ^

(Wp^RANK C. MEHLER, M. D., a practicing
'' — '~ physician of New London, Iowa, since 1871,
was born in Westphalia, Prussia, May 15,
1815, and is the son of Casper and Louisa (Droege)
Mehler. Our subject emigrated from Germany to
America with his parents in 1858. They landed in
New York and went direct to Chicago, where they
made their home. Frank C. received his literary
education in the public schools of that city, and
then engaged in the study of medicine. He en-
tered Rush Medical College, Chicago, as a student

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HENRY COUNTY.

in 1861, but was appointed Acting Assistant Sin-geon
in tlie United States Army before graduating, which
he did in the class of 1863. He was assigned to
duty at Camp Douglas, Mound City, and Paducah,
Ky., and Nashville, Tenn. He continued in the
service until .ifter the close of the war (July 4,
1865.) He then returned to Chicago and entered
upon the practice of his profession. He continued
to practice in that city until 1871, when he came to
New London, and has been in constant practice
here ever since.

Dr. Mehlcr was married at New London, May 23,
1873, to Miss Laura E. Bristor, a daughter of
Thomas Bristor, one of the early settlers of Henrj^
County. Mrs. Mehler was born near Danville, Des
Moines Co., Iowa. Two children were born of
their union, a son and daughter: Frank R., born
May 22, 1874, and Grace Agnes, born Nov. 4,
1883. Dr. and Mrs. Mehler are members of the
Presbyterian Church. The Doctor is a Republican
in politics. He is a Knight Templar jNIason, a
member of New London Lodge No. 28, A. F. &
A. M., of Henry-Chapter No. 8, R. A. M., and of
Jerusalem Commandery No. 7, K. T., the two lat-
ter bodies of Mt. Pleasant.

Dr. Mehler has now been in practice in Henry
County for sixteen years, and by skill in his pro-
fession, and prompt attention to the demands of his
patients, has built up an extensive and lucrative
practice.

\fl lEUT. WILLIAM H. H. WILLEFORD, one
I (@ "-"^ ''^'^ representative farmers of Center
/1L^K^ Township, a son of John Willeford, whose
sketch appears elsewhere in this work, was born in
Henry County, Iowa, Oct. 2, 1840. Here he was
reared upon his father's f.arm, his early education
being received in the common schools, supplemented
by a partial course in the Howe Academy at Mt.
Pleasant. On the 11th day of August, 1862, W.
11. II. Willeford offered his services to Uncle Sam
to help preserve our Union, enlisting in the 25th
Iowa Volunteer Infantr}'. He was mustered into
service at Camp McKean, near IMt. Pleasant, and
at the time was made a Corporal of Company 11,
but w;is promoted to Sergeant and subsequently

to Second Lieutenant. He participated in all the
engagements of the regiment after going to the
field, among which were nianj- sharp fights. After
leaving Mt. Pleasant, he went to Helena, Ark.,
remaining there until February, 1863, when he went
with the regiment to Vicksburg, where the first
assault was made under Gen. Sherman, in which
battle Sherman got the name of Crazj' Bill. From
Vicksburg the}' proceeded up the river, where Lieut.
Willeford participated in the first general eng.age-
ment. The regiment then was sent to Young's
Point, where it assisted in building a canal; their
next expedition was under Gen. Steele, to Grenada,
Miss., and then to Jlilliken's Bend ; they then pro-
ceeded to Champion Hills and subsequently to Black
River Bridge, and from there to Messenger Ferr}'.
Returning to Vicksburg the regiment participated
in its siege and capture, being under fire lor forty-
seven days, and were situated on the extreme right
of Sherman's army. They were at Jackson, Miss.,
participating in the second fight at that place, then
proceeding to Canton, 31iss. Shortly after going
into camp at Black River, in the winter of 1863-64,
our gallant soldier, with 100 others, was chosen
from the 15th Corps as sharpshooters, being on
detached duty for eleven months. The follow-
ing spring the regiment marched to Cherokee Sta-
tion and from there to Lookout Mountain. While
crossing the Tennessee River at Chickasaw and East
Port, the regiment was heavily pressed by the
i-ebels. Here Sergt. Willeford had charge of the
guard. They were engaged in the battles of Mis-
sionary- Ridge, Roseville Gap and Ringgold, where
there was some heavy fighting. The regiment was
in several engagements in front of Atlanta, also in
the famous march to the sea. They took an active
part in the capture of Columbia, S. C, being the
first regiment to cross Broad River. Their last

engagement was at Bentonville, N. C from

lidi

place they marched to ^Vashington and weie mus-
tered out, receiving payment for their services at
Davenport, Iowa.

On the 3d d.ay of April, 1862. Lieut. Wille-
ford w:is united in marriage with Miss Harriet T.
Lee, born in Louisa County, Iowa, Jan. 29, 1842.
She is the daughter of William H. and Mary Lee,
who settled in Louisa County in 1835. B}' this

HI-

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HENRY COUNTY.

453

union there are two living children — Mary G. and
Minnie M. Mr. Willeford is one of the working
members of the G. A. R. Post, of Mt. Pleasant, as
is his wife of the Relief Corps. Mr. Willeford has
always lived in Henry County, and although com-
parativelj' a young man he has done much toward
advancing the interests of the community.

^^ EORGE MYERS, one of the early settlers of
III (— ^ Henry County, Iowa, was born in Green-
^^l brier County, W.-Ya., April 22, 1821, and
is the son of John Lewis and Sarah (Rogers) Myers.
There George was reared upon a farm and was
educated in a pioneer school-house of that date. He
was married, July 21, 1842, to Miss Jane Lynch, a
native of Monroe Count}', W. Ya., born March 1,
1818. She was a daughter of William and Rachel
(Dolan) Lynch. Her father enlisted in the War of
1812, but before he reached the scene of action
peace w.as declared. Mr. and Mrs. L3'nch were the
parents of ten children, five of whom are living:
John D., a resident of Roane County, W. Ya. ;
James B., residing in Leadville, Col. ; Jane, of Henry
County, Iowa; Sally, wife of Allen Dolan, deceased,
resides in Greenbrier County, W. Ya.,and William,
residing in Sissonville, Kanawha Co., W. Ya. Those
deceased are Araminta, Martha Ann, Mary S.,
Rachel and Hannah.

Mr. and Mrs. George Myers came to Iowa in
1852, and settled in Scott Township, which was
then one vast prairie. At that time wolves might
be heard howling at night, and deer and other wild
game abounded. Mr. Myers was an unerring shot
with a rifle, and m.iny a deer or chicken shot by
him furnished food for the meaL Mr. Mj'ers set-
tled on the land now used as a fair ground. He
came to this county in limited circumstances, but
by hard work and economy he accumulated a com-
fortable property. He was a kind husband and
father, and was greatly respected by a large circle
of admiring friends, and was a member of the
Masonic Lodge in which he was an active worker.
He was Master of the lodge and represented the
same at the Grand Lodge. Mr. Myers lived an

honest, upright life, was a great reader of the Bible,
and could repeat a large portion of it. He died
Feb. 22, 1887, and was buried under the auspices
of the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. Myers is still liv-
ing at the advanced age of sixty-nine, and is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She
is only waiting the call of her Master to meet her
husband in the better world. Mr. and Mrs. Myers
were the parents of seven children, six of whom
are living: James L., of Washington County,
Iowa, was a soldier in the late Rebellion, married
Tina Bowers, of Henry County; Rilla J., wife of
Alexander Ruth, of Henry County; Margaret S..
widow of Pimbrooks Plants, resides in Winfield;
W^illiam M., also a resident of Winfield, married
Mary Cramer, of New York ; Mary H., who died
in September, 1887, in K.ansas, was the wife of
William Boyd, and George E., of this county.
Marilda C. died Oct. 25, 1856, aged one year, one
month and one day.

^^ EORGE E. MYERS, a resident of Winfield,
III (=- was born in Henry County, Oct. 25, 1854.
'^^J! In his native count}' he grew to manhood,
and was married near Ronceverte, Greenbrier Co.,
W'. Va., to Miss Blanche Ingles, a native of West
Virginia, born in Greenbrier County. Four chil-
dren liave graced the union of this worthy couple —
Claude W., Edith, Nora and Maud. Mr. Myers
now has charge of the home farm situated near the
city of Winfield. He is one of the enterprising
farmers of Scott Township, and does honor to the
noble parents who, bj- their example, taught him
the right way of life. In i)olitics he is a Democrat.

#"#

E

C. MOORE, of Mt. Pleasant, one of the
pioneer settlers of Henrj' County, was born
in Sangamon County, 111., March 29, 1835.
His parents, Joseph and Lydia (Cooper) Moore,
settled in Sangamon County at a very early day,
and in 1835 emigrated to Henry County, settling
in what is now Marion Township, being among the
earliest settlers in the county. There they took a

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454

HENRY COUNTY.

claim of 450 acres, on which he lived until the spring
of 1849, when he went to California, and while
there he engaged in mining for eighteen months.
He then went to San Francisco wliere he engaged
passage for New York. After boarding the vessel
he was never heard of .again and w.as supposed to
have been drowned. After it became a certainty
that he was lost at sea, his estate was divided.
During his early residence in Henry County, Mr.
Moore built the first house in the limits of the
present city of Mt. Ple.asant. Mr. and Mrs. INIoore
were the parents of eight children, seven of whom
are now living. Rebecca, who was with her father,
is supposed to have been drowned at the same time
as he was, as neither have been lieard of since;
Calvin is a resident of Ringgold County, Iowa;
Jane, the widow of Benton Corlc, who died in 1883,
is a resident of Henry County; Amanda, the wife
of Daniel Riddlccome, is a resident of Cass County,
111.; E. C, the siil)ject of this sketch; John T. and
Edward, both living in Dawson County, Neb., and
Charles J., a resident of Bates County, ]\Io.

Mrs. Moore continued to live in Henry County
until her death, wiiich occurred on the 1 4th of
August, 1882. She was a member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Moore, our subject,
h.as always lived in Henry County, where he
attended sciiool in the log school-house common to
the earl}' times. lie has lived to see the country
develop from a state of wildness to a fine state of
cultivation, and take a front rank among the
counties of the State of Iowa. JMr. Moore was a
farmer in this county until 1866, when he removed
to ]\rt. Pleasant, and the following year he began
working at tiie trade of a carpenter, which he fol-
lowed until three years ago, since which time he
has lived retired. As a man and citizen, Mr. Moore
stands high in the estimation of his neiglibors.

— ^ "1 V-r^^^*"

A

TMxiT;

||-^^EV. TdOMAS EVANS, deceased. This
l|L^ well-knowTi and beloved clergyman of the
Methodist Chuich was born in Bath County,
^;Ky., in 17!)!l. Early in life he united with
that body, and devoted himself and his life to the

cause of Christ, at once beginning to study for the
ministry. Not long afterward he was ordained
and began preaching, which he continued until his
de.ath. He was ardent in his labors for the church,
and gave liberall}- of the means with which his
Master had blessed him. He left Kentucky when
young to get away from the curse of slaver}', and
when he crossed the Ohio River undressed and
washed, to cleanse himself from its taint, .as he
said. He first located in Putnam Count}', Ind. In
1855 he removed to Iowa, purchasing a large tract
of land near Winterset, Madison County, which he
developed, .and from which he realized a comfort-
able competence. In 1865 he came to Henry
County, and purchased the propei-t}' on which Mrs.
Evans now resides, and where he died in 1870.

Mr. Evans w.as twice married. His first wife was
Miss Anna Martin, of Putnam County, Ind., by
whom he had ten children, six sons and four daugh-
ters. Mrs. Evans died in 1847, and in 1849 he
was married to Miss Mary Davis, who was born in
Monmouthshire, England, April 28, 1803. and is a
daughter of \\'illiam and Janet (Price) Davis, who
in 1815 emigrated to America, locating first in New
York', where they staid until 1817, when, attracted
by the larger possibilities of the West, they removed
to Cincinnati, where they lived many years. Mr.
and Mrs. Davis were the parents of eleven children,
of whom two are now living: Mrs. Evans and Mrs.
Sophia D. Folsom, of Greene County, Ind., whose
husband was a relative of Mrs. Cleveland, wife of
the President of the United States. ^Ir. and Mrs.
Davis were of Welsh descent, and both ilicd in
Hamilton Coinity, Ohio. They were members of
the Presbyterian Church, and were highly respected
in the community in which they resided. Mr.
Davis was a man of more than ordinary ability, of
extensive reading, and well informed on topics of
public interest.

As already stated, Rev. Tiiomas Evans was always
hostile to human slavery, a thorough Abolitionist,
and an ardent advocate of the cause of temperance.
He w.as a supporter of every good cause, who never
wearied in well-doing, and nobly fulfilled the prom-
ises of his early manhood. The cause to which he
had dedicated his life liad in him a zealous disciple,
and when the Angel of Death summoned him he

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HENRY COUNTY.

455

t^

went with coiifirlence and trust to Him who said,
'•Well done, thou good and faitliful servant, enter
thou into the jo.y of thy Lord," and was laid to
rest amid the tears and praj'ers of numerous rela-
tives and friends, to all of wiiom his upright life.
Christian character, and kindness of heart had en-
deared him. His loving wife still survives him,
but "sorrows not as one without hope," knowing
that he is but gone before, and is calmly awaiting
the summons that will reunite them.

ICHARD B. BREWSTER, one of the promi-
nent and influential farmers of Henry Coun-
ty, Iowa, residing in Marion Township, on
l^section 24, was born in Rockland County,
N. Y., April 12, 1832, and is the son of Samuel and
Margaret (Bluefield) Brewster, whose union was
blessed with five children : Hannah L., deceased
wife of Nicholas Staler, a brickmaker of Rockland
County, N. Y. ; she was the mother of eight chil-
dren, and died in 1862. Eliza died at the age of
twelve ; Helen M. died when but six years old ;
Caroline died in infancy; Richard, the subject of
this sketch, is the onl}' one of the family now livino-.
His father was a retired farmer, and a man well
beloved by all who knew him. He died in Rock-
land County, N. Y., where he was born and reared,
in 1 849, preceding his wife five years to the heavenlj'
home. They were members of the Presbyterian
Church, always exerting their influence for, and
giving their aid in the cause of right.

Richard Brewster, our subject, received his
education in the common schools of the count}-.
At the age of sixteen he commenced working on a
steamer, running on the Hudson River, and soon be-
came Captain of the sailing-vessel •' Fairfield," which
he commanded three years. He then sold the
" Fairfield " and bought the " Catherine Hale,"
running from Albany to Haverstravv, in Rockland
County. Capt. Brewster is familiar with every
part of that beautiful river, the Hudson, with its
towering mountains on either side, and the valleys
between. In 18G1 he sold his vessel, the " Catii-
erine Hale," and went as First Mate on the " Golden
Rule," after which he quit the river, where he had

been such a successful Captain, and returning to
Stony Point, he engaged in brick-making.

On the 23d of August, 1852, he led to the
marriage altar Miss Rachel June, who was born
April 14, 1828, in Rockland County, N. Y., and
was the daughter of Etheal and Phojbe (Devall)
June. Her father was born in Haverstraw, Rock-
land Co., N. Y., and the mother in Newburg. Mr.
and Mrs. Brewster are the parents of six children :
Helen M.. born Oct. 6, 1853, is the wife of William
Kercheval, a farmer in Oteo County, Neb.; they
have four children — Charles, George, Bertie and
Mintie. Samuel S., born Feb. 19, 1855, wedded
Miss Christina Spry, Oct. 27, 1875, and is a farmer
and stock-dealer in Woodbury County, Iowa; they
have one child, Frank. Margaret, born Sept. 7,
1857, wedded William Fullerton, a farmer in Otoe
County, Neb., in 1879; they are the parents of two
children — Lou and Bruce. William, born Dee. 19,
1859, died December 31 of the same year; Charles
W., born Nov. 1 3, 1 8G 1 , married Miss Addie M. Hig-
gins, Nov. 3, 1886; Phoebe J. was born M.ay 31,
1863; she has charge of one of the wards in the
Insane Asylum at Mt. Pleasant, and as manager
ranks among the highest, being a young lady of
much more than ordinary ability. These children
were all born in the old home on the Hudson, where
their father was also born.

Mr. Brewster owned 140 acres of land near Stony
Point, which was under a fine state of cultivation,
and for which he received $6,000 for ten acres of it.
He also owned 350 acres in Orange County, N. Y.
In 1866 he sold his land, and came to Henry
County, buying 300 acres of land on section 1,
Marion Township, and eighty acres in Canaan
Township, which he transformed from wild land
into a fine farm. He lived upon this farm until
1874, when he sold, and bought 160 acres on sec-
tion 13, Marion Township, where he lived until
1881, when he removed to Mt. Pleasant, remaining
there until 1882, then went on a health trip to
Nebraska. In 1885 he returned to his farm, where
he has since resided. jMr. Brewster has always
been identified with the Democratic part}', and
himself and wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. They are good neighbors and
kind friends, and none stand higher in the com

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HENRY COUNTY.

i~

mnnity. Mr. and Mrs. Brewster's hospitable door
stands always open, and everyone receives a kindly
welcome. They have spared no pains to give their
children good educations, and few families are
more worthy of a place in the history of Henry
County than that of Mr. Brewster.

■ • I Ihisi^ ^ • ■

ylLLIAM H. SCHLEIP is the pioneer cigar
manufacturer of Henr}' County, having
done business in 1855 at Mt. Pleasant, and
with the exception of the years from 1858 to 1865,
has been continuously engaged in that business.
He is a native of Ilnnover, Germany, born near
Lemforde, June 9, 1835, and is a son of Gerhardt
H. and Wilhelmiua Schleip. In 1847 became to
America in company with his parents, the familj'
landing in New Orleans and going from thence to
Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned his trade of
cigar-making. After completing his trade he en-
gaged with the Cigar-Maker's Co-operative Union
in manufacturing, but that venture proved a failure
after a six-months trial. In 1854 he went to Keo-
kuk, Iowa, and worked as a " jour ;" then in 1 855, to
Davenport, where he remained a short time; then
returned to Keokuk and soon afterward to Mt.
Pleasant, where he opened a store in company
with Fred Eiche. This partnership continued two
years, when Mr. Schleip sold out. and in thesumrner
of 1858 went to Kansas, and there engaged in a
queensware business and cigar trade. His next
move was to .St. Louis in 1859, where he worked
nine months, and then went to Belleville, 111. On
the 30tii of October, 18G(), at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
he was united in marriage with Miss Katie Mess-
man, a native of Lee Country, Iowa, and daughter
of ^lichael IMessmau. Nine children have been
born unto them, six of whom are now living —
Louis C, William, Ida, Emma, Frank' II. and
Charles.

From Belleville, III., Mr. Schleip returned to Mt.
Pleasant in 1 Sli;'), re-opened in his former line and
has built up au excellent trade, amounlingannnally
to about $25,000. His father and miither died at
Cincinnati, Ohio, of cholera, July 4, 1849. His
brothers, Henry and Frederick A., are living in
■^m

Ohio. The j'oungest, Louis, died at Vincennes,
Ind., in 1884. Henry lives at Newtown, Ohio,
engaged in farming, while Frederick is a merchant
at Hamilton, in the same State. While a man who
attends strictly to his own private business, Mr.
Schleip has yet given some attention to public
affairs, and for two years was a member of the City
Council from the First Ward. Politically he is
independent, voting as he thinks l)est, regardless of
party lines. For President of the United States",
he voted for Fremont, Lincoln, Greeley, Tilden,
Gaifield and Cleveland. Fraternally Mr. Schleip
is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Turners.
In the former body he has passed all the chairs. As
a business man and citizen he is universally re-
spected. Honest and upright in his dealing, by
close attention to his business he has accumulated a
competency, and is among the best business men of
Henry County.

I, Tippecanoe Township, is or
; settlers of Henry County,

■jf/ EMUEL BALDWIN, residing on section 18,

one of the pioneer
having first set-
tled here when the country was almost an unbroken
wilderness, in 1843. He was born in Adams County,
Ohio, Sept. 12, 184u, and is the son of Newton and
Phtebe (Hunt) Baldwin. The death of his father
occurred when Lemuel was but a child, and he
came with his mother to this countj^, as before
stated. Lemuel was the only child and was the
pride and joy of the fond mother's heart. She
was called to her final rest Nov. 27, 1880, being
seventy 3'ears of age. Mrs. Baldwin was a second
time married, in 1851, to Thomas (iraut, and
Lenuiel made his home with his mother and step-
father.

Among the brave bo^'S of the Cth Iowa Infantr3-
was our subject. He enlisted June 15, 18G1, and
served two and a half years, at the expiration of
which time he was transferred from Company K, of
which he had been a member, to Company A, of
the same regiment. He remained a member of
that company until the ilose of the war. lie was
mustered i)ut July 21, 18G5, at Louisville, K}-.
While in service he participated in the following

;/ fM^^^

William Matthews.

r;..

^

#

Nellie Matthews.

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HENRY COUNTY.

461

battles: Shiloh, where he received a gunshot
wound in the right arm, which disabled him for
two months; his second battle was at Missionary
Ridge, and Resaea. At the battle of Dallas he also
received a gunshot wound in the head, which dis-
abled him from service from May 28 until September
G. lie was also under fire at the battles of Griswold
Station, and Savannah, Ga., Columbia and Benton-
ville, N. C. He was taken prisoner near Holly
Springs, May 14, 1863, and was held captive until
June 6 of the same j'ear, when he was patroled at
City Point, Va., and Sept. 28, 1863, was exchanged.
He was a Sergeant of his company. After his re-
turn home he resumed his occupation of farming,
which he has continued ever since.

On the 6th of April, 1864, Lemuel Baldwin was
united in marriage with Caroline Willeford, a
native of this county, born March 13, 1843. Mr.
and ^Irs. Baldwin have been the parents of four
children : Frank T., a resident of Cass County,
Neb. ; Bailey Elmer, George A. and Grace Ger-
trude, are still inmates of the parental home. Mrs.
Baldwin is a member of the Christian Church.
Politically Mr. Baldwin is a stalwart Republican,
and does not think that the grand old party has
yet completed its mission. Socially he is a mem-
ber of McFarland Post No. 20, G. A. R., of
Mt. Pleasant.

ylLLIAM MATTHEWS. Among the men
who have materially aided in giving Salem
Township the good name she bears, we
learn of no one who has shared more largely than
our subject, who has been a resident there for
many years, and has reared a family which does
honor to his name. William ^Matthews was born
in Green County, Ky., Sept. 1, 1810, and is a son
of William and Mary (Taylor) Matthews. They
removed first from Kentucky to near Vinceunes,
Ind. Mr. Matthews, Sr., was opposed to slavery- in
every sense, and to live in a free State and rear his
children in free schools, and to be remote from all
institutions which favored the degradation of man-
hood, was his object in leaving Kentucky. The
death of William Matthews, Sr., occurred soon
after they settled in Indiana, and the widow with

her children removed near Jacksonville, 111. The
eldest son, Samuel, married in Kentuckj-, and
brought his j'oung wife, Su.san Russell, to Illinois,
settling near Jacksonville, where the family settled
later. The eldest daughter, Sarah, married Rev.
Richard Newport, in Kentucky, and subsequently
removed from that State, and settled in Indiana,
where probably they remained during their lifetime.
The other children were : Ellen, who wedded Sam-
uel Mcintosh; Richard, who wedded Margaret
Robinson; Mary became the wife of Jesse Ruble;
Elizabeth wedded John R. Sparks; Margaret died
in Morgan County, 111. ; Matthew married Nancy
Swan, and Nancy wedded Jonathan Swan. All
these children were married in IDinois. Nancy,
Elizabeth, Matthew and our subject came later to
Iowa, and all are now living except Elizabeth.

William Matthews was a single man when he
came to this State to select a home, in 1836, but
he returned to Morgan County, 111., and was mar-
ried, Oct. 17, 1836, to Miss Nellie, daughter of
Isaac aiid Margaret Holmes. His courtship and
weddf^jg deserve a brief notice, and we are
pleased to give it. He was a poor lad, and his
neighbor's blftck-eyed daughter was a coveted
prize that he hoped to win. He was robust, and
toiled earlj' ftjjd late to accumulate means enough
to warrant their marriage, but times were hard,
and money came slowly to his purse. He went to
La Salle County, 111., and took a claim, and worked
at any kind of a job offered him. He, however,
went back once a year to see Nellie, and their
vows of constancy remained as firm as when he first
began to prospect for a home. Later he had a
chance to sell his claim, and came to Iowa, pur-
chasing another claim four miles from Salem, in
Lee County, upon which George Ransom now
lives. He returned to Illinois at once, settled his
business affairs in La Salle County, purchased a
horse and a pair of saddle-bags, and with all his
earthly possessions packed in them, mounted his
horse and made his way directly to the cabin of
his future father-in-law. Nancy Swan and her hus-
band, and Matthew and his wife were just packing
their wagons to remove to the Black Hawk Pur-
chase in Iowa. After consultation with them he
concluded to learn at once the state of his girl's
•►

t.

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462

HENRY COUNTY.

affection for hira by proposing an immediate mar-
riage. As he was a man of exemplary habits Mr.
Holmes could offer no objection to the match, and
the brevity of the matter is the prominent part
of the story. William landed in Morgan County
Sunday evening, proposed and was accepted, pro-
cured his marriage license on Monday, was mar-
ried b}' Rev. Needham Roach, a Cumberland Pres-
byterian minister, on Tuesday, and on Wednesday
his wife started on her wedding tour in a covered
wagon, bound for Iowa, in comi)any with those
previously mentioned, and the young husband fol-
lowed on his horse. All that he possessed in the
world was contained in his saddle-bags, and his
young wife only had one feather bed, but with
hearts full of love for each other and the determi-
nation to become independent, they braved all the
hardships and privations of the new countrj% and
began housekeeping with his brother-in-law Sparks.
In the spring William moved into n partly fur-
nished cabin upon his own claim. Their first night
w.ns an introduction to the inconveniences which
followed. William borrowed a yoke of cattle from
Mr. Sparks, which conveyed the young bride and
her bed to her new home. A dirt floor and a partly
covered cabin offered no great inducements, but
Mr. Matthews helped her out of the wagon with
all the gr.ace of a landlord, with the remark :
"Wife, this looks rather tough, but I presume we
can make it better." The answer of the young
wife was, " If you can stand it, I can," and well
did thej' succeed through almost a half century of
married life. Pieces of shavings from the clap-
boards were carried in and deposited on the dirt
floor, upon which their bed was made. A fire
was built on the floor, and from a crane suspended
a supper was soon cooked and eaten. The first
crop was harvested in the fall of 1838, he having
seven acres in cultivation. They never went
hungry, although poor, and every day seemed to
provide for itself. Mr. Matthews had no time to
hunt, but gave his whole attention to the develop-
ment of his farm. The first team was a yoke of
steers purchased on credit, also a cow sent to the
young wife by her father, which made a good part
of their living. His crops were good, and the sec-
ond j-ear ever^'thing looked bright.

As the days went by prosperity came, and be-
fore they knew it the debts were paid, and they
began to live in a comfortable wa}'. For seven ^-ears
they lived in the old cabin, 14x16. when it was
exchanged for a frame house, which still stands.
He made a loom and bought a spinning-wheel, and
his good wife spun the flax which he raised, and
almost all their garments were grown and manu-
f.actured upon the farm. Children came to grace
the old cabin home — Richard and .Jolni — whose
shouts of childish glee made the old walls ring and
brought the blush of pride to the cheeks of tlieir
parents. Both these boys gi-ew to a noble manhood,
and were brave soldiers during the late war. John
was in the "ioth Iowa, and Richard in another regi-
ment. At the battle of Vicksburg John was
wounded and died later. His father brought his re-
mains home, and they .are interred in the Salem
Cemetery. Richard served throughout the entire
war, and is now a resident farmer of this township.
His wife is Rebecca Rhodes, who has borne six
children. In the frame house Samuel F., the hus-
band of Elizabeth Boj'ce, and Catherine, wife of
James Bicksler, were born.

Many years were spent by our subject and his
family on the Lee Count}' farm, but the advantages
of schools were not very good in the count}, so the
parents concluded to remove to Salem and educate
the children, and removed there a short time before
the war began. Later the children were married and
settled in the vicinity of Salem, and Mr. ^latthews
purchased lands adjoining the village on the north,
where in a I'oomy old house, surrounded by all that
can make enjoyable a ripe old age, and with the
prattle of grMudchildrcn about him, and the knowl-
edge of a well-spent life, his declining years are joy-
ously spent. The loving wife and mother was laid
to rest Jan. 14, 1887. She was a noble woman, up-
right and true, a wife in the fullest sense, and an
honor to social circles. Her death was deeply
mourned, but "as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall
all be made .alive." Her Christian virtues ever
shone bright and pure before the world. She was
by faith a Cumberland I'resliyterian, but for thirty-
five 3'ears both herself and her husband were mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Salem.
Almost fift}' years of wedded life were passed as

t

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HENRY COUNTY.

-•> ■ 4*

463

only those can spend them who love and revere
each other, and the remembrance of such people
became dear to those of their name and kindred.
As pioneers we welcome them, as citizens we praise
them, and as Christians we are pleased to do them
honor.

The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Matthews on
adjoining pages are of two of the best known and
most respected people who ever made Salem their
home.

■*— :55-

eHARLES E. BERGH, a hardware merchant
and tinner, of Wayland, came like many of
the citizens of this and other States, from
across the broad Atlantic, lie arrived here in
1864, and from that date until the present has been
actively engaged in business. Learning the trade of
coppersmith in Sweden, at which he became expert,
the young man found his services in demand upon
his arrival in America, and he has realized a fine
business, and has made a successful and useful
citizen.

Charles E. Bergh, Jr., was born in Orebro,
Sweden, Dec. .31, 18.38, and is a son of Charles E.
and Catherine (Dahm) Bergh. His mother bore
three sons, the second of whom died in infancy.
John, the eldest, married, and his widow remains in
his native village in Sweden. Charles E., our sub-
ject, was left an orphan when two years of age, and
was cared for by his uncle, Andrew Didrickson, and
his good wife, who gave him .ill the love and care
parents usually bestow upon their own ofispring.
By this uncle he was taught the trade of copper-
smith, and remained with him in the village of As-
kersund until his departure for America in 1864.
After the death of his mother his father married
again, and b}' that union became the father of two
other sons, Andrew G. and Peter J., the first of
whom is a carpenter by trade and resides in Texas.
The other still resides in Sweden, and with him the
widowed mother makes her home.

Chicago was the home of our subject during his
first three years' residence in America. Thence he
started West on a prospecting tour, and traveled
extensively through the States and Territories. He
become a resident of Henry County in 1870, locat-

ing at Mt. Pleasant, from which city he went to
Crawfordsville, Washington County, where he made
the acquaintance of Mrs. Caroline E. (Bennett)
Berry, who became his wife in 1871, and their re-
moval to Swedesburg, Wayne Township, Henry
County, was made four years later. Mr. Bergh es-
tablished there a hardware and tin shop, but after a
comparatively short residence there, returned to
Crawfordsville in 1879. During his residence there
Mr. Bergh was the first Noble Grand of Winnemac
Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., of Crawfordsville, and has been
Noble Grand of Wayland Lodge. Three years
later the family became residents of Wayland,
where Mr. Bergh engaged in the hardware trade.
In 1886 he sold his stock to Joseph A. Roth, and
again began business in shelf-hardware, tinware and
groceries, and is accounted one of the successful
merchants and enterprising business men of Way-
land. The first marriage of Miss Bennett was
graced by the birth of a son, D. F. Berry, resident,
operator and agent of the Narrow Gauge Railroad,
at Noble, Iowa. To bless their home four children
came after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bergh :
John C, an expert telegi'aph operator; Carl, de-
ceased; Samuel and Lyman, all bright, intelligent
lads, full of promise, who, under the care of their
parents cannot fail to develop into good young
men.

Mrs. Bergh was born in New Jersey, and is the
daughter of Elmer and Lucy Bennett, pioneers of
Crawford Township, Washington Co., Iowa. They
were the parents of six children, all of whom are
prominent citizens. Mrs. Bergh has been a fre-
quent contributor of poems to the press of this
State and of Ohio, and lier productions have re-
ceived many well-merited compliments.

ylLLIAM H. E
er, residing
ship, is a na

-•*■

<^ Jf/ILLJAM H. BEERY, farmer and stock-rais-
on section 14, Center Town-
ip, IS a native Hawkeye, born in Henry
County, March 12, 1846, and is the sou of L. L.
and Marga?-et (Short) Beery, who emigrated to this
county in 1842. Here the subject of this sketch
was reared upon a farm, and educated in the com-
mon schools, supplemented by an attendance at
Howe's Academy, at Mt. Pleasant. In 1869 he

4

J^

4-

464

HENRY COUNTY.

went to California, and there remainefi until 1872,
in the mining district. In that year he went to
Eureka, Nev., and engaged in business, remain-
ing there until 1S7G, at which time there was great
excitement in consequence of the discovery of gold
in the Black Hills. In company with others he
went to that new Eldorado, and there remained
four 3'ears, going from thence to Colorado and
New Mexico. In 1881 he returned to Henry
County, and purchased his fine farm on sections 13
and 14, which consists of 200 acres of well-improved
land. Although purchasing the farm in 1881, he
did not settle upon it until 1885. On the 3d day
of February, 1884, he was united in marriage to
Miss Lizzie Britton, a daughter of Robert and
Margaret Britton, who were among the pioneers of
this county. Mrs. Beery was born in this county,
Sept. 30, 1861. By this union there is one child,
Agnes.

With the exception of the time spent in the far
West Mr. Beery has been a resident of Henry
County. In the various changes that have taken
place in developing the county from its wild state
to its present prosperous condition he has been an
eye-witness, and at times an active participant. He
is a man well posted in State and county affairs,
and as a citizen is well respected by all who know
him. Politically, he is a Republican.

HARLES A. BURKE, a farmer residing on
jM, section 23, Wayne Township, Henry Co.,

^^^ Iowa, was born in Central Sweden, near
Vadstena, which is a prominent village in Swedish
history. Andrew and Christina (Petersen) Burke
were the parents of our subject. Mr. Burke's name
prior to entering the army was Andrew Johnson,
but on entering into service it was changed to
Burke. He was a farmer in early life, but later
became the owner of a sawmill on the Tranes,
Mr. Burke and his wife both died in Sweden. Tiie>'
had a familj' of nine children, one of whom died
in their native country, and there one j'et resides,
Mary, the wife of Peter Petersen, a farmer.

Our subject, accompanied by his brother, John
P., now a resident of York County, Neb.; Gustoph,

who was a soldier during the war, and died wliile
in service; and Hattie, now the wife of Louis M.
Johnson, of Hitchcock County, Neb., came to
America in 1857, settling in Galesburg, 111. John
P. was the husband of Charlotte Petersen, and
Gustoph, the husband of Gustava Glattie. The
others members of the family were Adolph, Johanna
and Eva. Adolph brought his wife, Marj', and five
children from Sweden in 1865; they reside in
Stanton, Iowa. Johanna wedded Gust Anderson of
this township, before they left Sweden, and iu that
country five children were born. Eva was the
wife of Peter Almgren, both of whom died in
Swedesburg, his death occurring the next year after
coming to this county, she surviving one j'ear,
dying in 1874. Our subject is the youngest of the
family and is, with the exception of Johanna, the
only one of the family now residing in Henry
County. His courtship with the lady who after-
ward became his wife was begun on the ocean as
the voyage to America was made. Charlotte Erick-
son, accompanied by her parents, Charles and Eva.
Erickson, went to Burlington in 1857, locating there
for only a short time. They later moved to ]\Iin-
nesota, where they both died. After a courtship
begun in 1857 and continued for a jjeriod of six
years, Charles Burke and Miss Charlotte Erickson
were married, the ceremonj' taking place iu the
city of Burlington, March 19, 1863, Rev. S. G.
Larson, a Swedish Lutheran minister, performing the
ceremony. The young couple at once went to
Galesburg, 111., where for the first year they resided.
In 1864 Mr. Burke rented a farm near Andover,
Henrj' Co., 111., and five years later came to Henry
County, Iowa, purchasing his farm the same
year. Upon this farm the family have for nineteen
years resided. Edwin and Juvey, the children born
in Henry Count3', 111., are both unmarried. The
death of :Mrs. Burke occurred March 10, 1881,
since which time the daughter Juvey has acted as
housekeeper for her father. When Mr. Burke left
Gotti'uberg lie had only |!l left. From his own
muscle have grown his liroad acres, and it seems
almost incredible that in such a few years a man
could rear a famil}' and make such investments as
have been made b^' our subject. Both himself and
his wife were members of the Swedish Lutheran

HENRY COUNTY.

465

Church of Swedesburg, and their children were
carefully reared in the same faith. To these chil-
dren also is given a place in the history of Henry
County. Both were well educated in Wayne Town-
ship, in both tiie Swedish and English languages.

From the lad who crossed the ocean in 18.57,
without scrip in iiis purse, is found a man possessing
a beautiful farm, upon which hundreds of dollars
have been spent in improvements. The modern
farmhouse, and tlie roomy barn and out-buildings
have been erected since his ownership began, and
among the numerous Swedish families of Wayne
Township none have a wider friendship than the
family named. Mr. Burke became a naturalized
citizen of the United States, Oct. 10, 1865, and is a
man possessing all the good qualities necessarj' to
be one of the best of citizens.

(^ felLLIAM J. H ANNUM, a farmer residing
\/iJ/' '^" ^^'^'t'^^" ^1' Wayne Township, Henry
^^ Co., Iowa, was born in Madison, Ind., al-
though his parents wer^ natives and residents of
Washington County, Pa., where our subject was
reared. His father, James Hannum, was a farmer
in Pennsjdvania, and reared a family of nine chil-
dren in that State, all of whom were sons: John A.,
Alexander, Samuel, William J., James, Joseph,
Finley, Hugh and Thomas. The eldest was mar-
ried in Pennsylvania to Miss Hannah Haj^es, before
the family removed to Des Moines County', Iowa,
but later he, too, with his young wife settled in
Des Moines County. In 1851 the family became
citizens of this State, settling eleven miles north of
Burlington, on a farm. When the war broke out
five of the sons enlisted : John, deceased, became
a member of the 6lli Iowa; Alexander, deceased,
of a Colorado regiment; Samuel, in the 30th Iowa;
Joseph, in the 14lh, and Finley also in the 30th
Iowa. With the exception of Alexander, all served
until the close of the war and were in the most
noted and hotly contested battles. John became a
veteran and was killed at the battle of Kennesaw
Mountain, and his body was laid to rest by the side
of many other brave comrades who had fallen
•^«

pierced by rebel bullets. The three others are liv-
ing, and with our subject complete the family,
except the aged father, who yet resides in Des
Moines County. Samuel wedded Lydia Hannum,
his cousin, and resides near America, Nemaha Co.,
Kan. ; Joseph became the husband of Elizabeth
Robbius, and lives in Des Moines County; Finley
wedded Mrs. Adelia (Shallehammer) Wilson, of
Concordia, Kan., where they reside, and our subject
became the husband of Elinor Wright, Dec. 19,
1867. She is the daughter of Alexander and
Hannah (Marshall) Wright, of Des Moines Count^^
who came from Brown County, Ohio, about 1837,
and purchased a claim of perhaps half a section,
nine miles northwest of Burlington, upon which a
log cabin stood, but he later improved his lands,
and entered a large tract at the land sales held in
Burlington.

Mr. Wright was a very enterprising man and was
one of the best known men of his day, and at an
early day was elected Justice of the Peace. He
lived to a mature age and both himself and wife
were buried side by side in the "Old Stone Church"
Cemetery. Her death occurred first, and he re-
mained true to her memory. They were parents of
nine children, four living, all of whom are married:
John C. is a resident of Oskaloosa, Kan., and is
the husband of Miss McCuUougb ; Wellington mar-
ried INIary Heizer, and is a resident of Kansas; Al-
exander became the husband of Roxalena Hobson,
and resides in Greenwood, Mo. ; Wellington is a
United Presbyterian minister, and is stationed at
Winchester, Jefferson Co., Kan. Those deceased
are Benjamin M., William and Robert J. Benja-
min was a soldier and belonged to the 1st Missouri
Cavalry, and was killed accidentally at the battle of
Pea Ridge; Robert enlisted, and before being
assigned to any regiment died.

After the marriage of our subject, he moved
upon a good farm, which was previously purchased,
and later sold this and bought the Wright home-
stead, and subsequently another farm in Des Moines
County. In 1883 Mr. Hannum purchased the farm
in Henry County upon which the f.iraily now re-
side, removing to it soon after the purchase. Eight
children have graced the union — James A., John
W., Joseph W., Mary L., Robert, Lavara, Roy F.
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r

t

466

HENRY COUNTY.

and Elinor. The family circle is unbroken. The
long cribs of corn and numorous out-buildings show
to the traveler the productiveness of the broad
acres, and the family are heartily welcomed by the
best people of Wayne Township and are counted a
valuable acquisition to the business and social
world in which they enjoy a deserved place. The
birth of our subject occurred May 25, 1837, and
Mrs. Hannum was born in Des Moines County,
Iowa, April 24, 1842. Both are members of the
Winfield United Presbyterian Church.

-'*>■ ^.o*o.-(qJX®-.o*o <<--

'S^ETER BECKLER, a farmer residing on sec-
))) tion 29, Wayne Township, Henry Co.,
(^ ^^ Iowa, was born in Nanchieh, German}', in
1812, and is a son of Christian and Lizzie
Beckler. The former was a farmer in the old conn-
try. Three children were born there — Peter, Jo-
seph and Christian. The children were all small
when the death of the father occurred. The widow
remained true to his memory, and resided in Ger-
many until after Joseph was married. His wife
was Kate Summer. All the sons came later to
America, and the two j'oungest were married in
this country. Joseph and Peter came together in
1836 and located at Cincinnati. Joseph lieing mar-
ried began farming, and our subject secured work
by the month. He made that his home for eight
years and during this time made several trips to
New Orleans, being engaged for some time in fish-
ing at Natchez during the interval. In 1848 he
came to Lee County, Iowa, and in 1852 made a
journey to California across the plains, the trip tak-
ing seven months to complete. He later went to
Oregon and for his board during the winter split
200 rails per day. M. Beckler then went to the
California gold mines and later purchased a team
of oxen, and for twelve years did teaming for the
miners. From the mines he went to Washington
Territory, and teamed for eighteen months, saving
carefully his money, and when he returned to Iowa,
in 1864, a snug sum in cash was invested in lands
in this county and upon them his family reside.
Peter had reached b^' tliislinie the age of fifty-two,
and had never felt the influence of a woman's love,

but time brought great changes later in the old
bachelor's heart. Jonas Beight, with his wife and
four children moved to the country- from Holmes
County, Ohio, and settled in Washington County,
four miles north of where our subject lived, the
same year he returned from California. Her hus-
band died in the spring of 1866, and Peter took a
kindly interest in the widow and her children, so
much so that he proposed and was accepted in
marriage the same autumn, and the ceremony was
performed by Rev. Benjamin Eicher, of Washing-
ton County. When married the lady had but three
children — Moses, David and Minno — of a family of
six, one having died in Ohio, and two in Iowa. A
new house was built on the Beckler farm and the
old bachelor's hall was soon forgotten. Children
of their own came to grace their home: Elizabeth,
John, who died in infancy, and Emma C. The
daughters have both reached a good position in the
social world, and the younger is a graduate of the
Swedesburg school.

Peter Beckler has grown rich as his 3'ears have
sped, and yet in his seventy-fifth year, he is jolly
and social and able to do much labor about the
farm. His wife is a daughter of Joshua and Nancy
Yoder, who were married in Holmes County, Ohio,
and whose parents both came from Somerset
County, Pa. She is one of eleven children. The
family are widely scattered and some of them were
noted men. Noah, Moses and Jacob were soldiers.
Moses was killed at the battle of Kennesaw Mount-
ain, June 28, 1864; Jacob was accidentally drowned,
and Noah was severely wounded at the battle of
Stone River, Jan. 2, 1863. After his discharge,
he practiced his profession, that of medicine, at
Berlin, Ohio. He was first a Lieutenant, then Captain
of the 51st Oliio Infantr}'. Samuel is now a Member
of Congress from Ohio, and prior to his election
was first a teacher, then a practicing physician of
Pluffton, Ohio, later the Probate Judge of Allen
County, Ohio, and was the contractor who erected
the grand court-house at Lima, Ohio. His wife
wa,'< Miss Minerva Maxwell, a native of Ohio.

Christian Beckler was for several years a resi-
dent of Wa^-ne Township, and wedded Barbara
Conrad. He owns a fine farm in this county, but
is a resident of Stuttgart, Ark. Joseph is nt>t liv-

4

t

4

HENRY COUNTY.

467

ing, having died March 11, 1877, but his widow re-
sides near Flemiugton, 111. No nicer family or
happier home can be found than the cosy quarters
our subject has in which to spend his ripe old age.

The following particulars of the death of Dr.
Yoder, of Shanesville, are taken from the Ii-oii Val-
ley Reporter: '-The people of Shanesville and
surrounding country were horrified on Friday
afternoon of last week to learn that Dr. N. W.
Yoder was drowned. The particulars are very
brief. The Doctor started to visit a patient a few
miles in the country, accompanied by a gentleman
named Schen. In attempting to cross the bridge
at Barr's mill, where the road is very narrow and
covered for some distance with water, he drove a
little too far to the right, and the front wheel of his
buggy went over the bridge, throwing himself and
companion into the stream. The current was strong,
and the Doctor being a cripple could not help him-
self. After a brief struggle he sank to rise no
more, and the community lost one of its best and
most honored citizens. His companion, more fort-
unate, succeeded in making his escape. Dr. Yoder
was born near Berlin, Holmes Co., Ohio, and was
about forty years of age. He was in every respect
a self-made man. He had a liberal education pro-
cured by his own exertion; he studied medicine
with Dr. Pomerine, of Berlin. In the latter part
of 1861, on the recommendation of Gen. Ankeny,
he was commissioned by Gov. Todd a First Lieuten-
ant, and recruited a number of men for the army.
These he brought to Camp Meigs and had them
assigned to Company G, olst Ohio Infantry. When
the regiment was ordered to the front Lieut.
Yoder accompanied his command, taking with him
two of his brothers, one of whom was killed in
battle, and the other drowned while assisting to
transfer the wounded from lioatto hospital. At the
battle of Stone River Lieut. Yoder was wounded
eight times, and while lying on the field helpless,
had his foot crushed by the wheels of a cannon
wagon running over it; as a result of these wounds
his right leg was amputated. When recovered he was
assigned to hospital duty at Lexington, Ky. As a
hospital surgeon he was one of the most valuable
agents of the Government, and many a poor soldier
is indebted to him for the life he to-day enjoys.

-^ '

Returning home at the close of the war, he resumed
his profession and located at Berlin, and soon
became popular as a physician. In 1871 he and S.
Sharp bought out the drug business and medical
practice of Dr. Sheldon, and removed to Shanes-
ville, where he remained until his tragic death. Dr.
Yoiler was recognized by the medical fraternity,
and by the people, as one of the foremost physi-
cians of the State. He had a large practice and
was very successful in the treatment of disease.
He was the kindest of men and the most steadfast
of friends."

*HOMAS H. BARTON, a prominent farmer
of Henry County, residing on section 29,
Tippecanoe Township, was born in Tuscara-
was County, Ohio, July 1, 18.37, and is the son of
William and Christiana (Beaber) Barton, both of
whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They emi-
grated to Ohio at an early dixy, and from there
removed to Indiana, and subsequently to Southern
Illinois, where they remained for three years. Re-
solving to emigrate to Iowa, on the 4th of July,
1844, they settled in Henry County, in Center
Township. William Barton erected a sawmill on
Big Creek, south of Mt. Pleasant, engaging in mill-
ing until the time of his death, which occurred in
1845.

Thomas Barton, our subject, during his boyhood
days lived upon a farm. In 1858 he formed a
matrimonial alliance with Miss Elizabeth Hars-
barger, a native of Virginia, born Aug. 17, 1840,
and a daughter of William Harsbarger. After his
marriage, Mr. Barton rented a farm for three years,
at the expiration of which time, in 1862, he pur-
chased a farm of forty acres in Salem Township,
residing on this farm for about a year; then selling
it he purchased fort^' acres on section 29, Tippe-
canoe Township. On his last purchase Thomas
Barton still resides, having added more land until
he has a fine farm of 122 acres. His home, an
elegant and commodious residence, was erected at
a cost of $1,600. Seven children have blessed the
union of this worthy couple: Mary L., born March
11, 1859, is the wife of A. Jay, of Tippecanoe

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f

f

468

HENRY COUNTY.

Township; William H., bom July 25, 1861, married
Minnie Rogers, and is a resident of Tippecanoe
Township; Sarah C, born Oct. 23, 186.3, is the wife
of Walter Stewart, of .Jefferson County, Iowa;
Rebecca J., born Nov. 6, 1865, wedded Nathan
Elliott, also a resident of Tippecanoe Township;
Harriet Ann, born March 27, 1869, is the wife of
Charles Cooper, of Salem Township; Samuel and
Annie A., twins, born Oct. 1, 1871, reside at home.
Politically, Mr. Barton affiliates with the Repub-
lican party. He has held the office of Township
Trustee, Constable, and is at present Justice of the
Peace. Mr. Barton is a pioneer of forty-three years'
stMuding, coming to this county in 1844. He passed
through many of the hardships and privations of
the early settler, but is glad to live to see the grand
improvements in our fair country. INIr. Barton is a
man of considerable intellectual capacity, and is
much respected by the citizens of Henry County.

m^^

4

kEVI HIGGINS. Among the early pioneers
the name of Levi Higgins stands out promi-
nently. He is engaged in farming and gen-
eral stock-raising on section 22, of Tippecanoe
Township, and is a native of Milton County, Vt.,
born May 5, 1835. His parents were James and
Emily (Wait) Higgins, the father a native of Can-
ada, and the mother of Vermont. James Higgins
was a sailor, and a farmer in his younger days, and
during the War of 1812 he fought against the
British. He and his good wife were members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1837 the
family emigrated to Ohio, locating at Paincsville,
vvhere they remained two years, and then came to
Henry County, Iowa, and made their home in Mt.
Pleasant, where the father died in 1865. The
mother survived him eleven years, dying in 1876,
at the age of seventy-five. To them were born
eleven children : Ilenian died Feb. 14, 1852; Alva
is a sailor; Jane married Wall.ace White, and lives
in Tippecanoe Township; John married Mary Ellen
Coburn, and lives in Mt. Pleasant; Moses L. died
in April, 1833; Rodolphin and Rodolphus, twins,
born March 22, 1833, died in infancy; Levi is our
subject; Caroline and Cornelia, twins; the former

married Jesse Smith, and lives in Russell Count}',
Kan.; the latter married Dr. S. D. Cook, and lives
in Sigourney, Iowa.

Levi Higgins, the subject of this sketch, was but
four years of age when the family came to Henry
County. He spent his early daj's in Mt. Pleasant,
and there learned the blacksmith trade, at which he
worked until the breaking out of the Civil AVar.
Responding to the country's call for troops, he
enlisted on the side of the Union in the 4th Iowa
Cavalry, Company C. The company was under
fire during the following engagements: Guntown,
Helena, Memphis, Columbus, uNIechanicsburg, Lit-
tle Blue River, Brownsville, Ripley, Tupelo, Yazoo
River and St. Francis River. He was boss black-
smith of the regiment, and served four years. After
the war Mr. Higgins returned to INIt. Pleasant and
resumed blacksmithing, continuing in this until
1867. He then bought a farm near his present one,
residing there for three years, at the expiration
of which time he sold that farm, purchasing eighty
acres of land on section 22. Tippecanoe Township,
where he still resides. In connection with general
farming Mr. Higgins is eng.aged in blacksmithing,
and is one of the best blacksmiths in the country
round. Politically, he affiliates with the Repub-
lican part}', for which he is an indefatigable worker,
and takes an active interest in all political affairs.
Mr. and Mrs. Higgins celebrated their marriage in
1866. Her maiden name was Nancy Ghalson, and
she was a native of Iowa, and was born in Appa-
noose County, .Tan. 5, 1843. Seven children have
blessed the union of this worthy couple — Charley,
John, Fred, Erwin, and Emma, the only daughter
of the family, are still living. Those deceased are
Carrie and Clarence.

•-^•^ -i^M- •^'^-

OBERT HENRY PETERSON, dealer in gen-
eral mcrciiandisc. New London, Iowa, estab-
lished business in that town in the spring
fcj))of 1871, and carries and manages a stock
of §18,000 value, the largest of the local mercantile
houses of the town, and one of the most important
in the county. He w!is born in Westmoreland
County, Pa., Feb. 22, 1831, and is the son of Eli.is

u

HENRY COUNTY.

^

471

and Margaret (McCall) Peterson. His father was
born in the State of New York, was a blacksmith
by trade, and followed that occupation in early life,
but later on made farming his business. His father,
the grandfather of our subject, was a native of this
country. The familj^ is probably descended from
a member of a Swedish colony that settled in
Eastern New York in Colonial times. The mother
of our subject was of Irish descent. Robert H.
Peterson received his preparatory education in the
public schools, and entered Jacksonville Academy,
in Indiana County, Pa., in 1852, and later entered
Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pa., graduating in
1854, in a class of fifty -six, the largest class ever
graduated from that institution up to that time.
Mr. Peterson had been eng.aged in teaching school
in the winters, with the exception of two years,
from the time he was nineteen years old, and in
1855 he went to Mississippi to serve as assistant
teacher of Blaclv Hawlv Academy in Carroll
County. He taught one term there, and then came
to Iowa, teaching one term in Boone County, two
in Monroe, Jasper County, and then went to Ne-
braska, where he was engaged in various occupa-
tions. He remained there but a short time, how-
ever, when he returned to Iowa and taught at
Eddyville and Albia. While teaching in the public
schools in Monroe, Jasjier County, he formed tiio
acquaintance of Miss Sarah Elizabeth Sheiicdy, who
afterward became his wife. They were married
April 11, ISi)^. jMrs. Peterson was the daughter
of John B. Shelled}', and was born in Coles County,
111. Mr. Peterson was engaged in farming in Mon-
roe County, Iowa, working on the farm in tlic sum-
mer, and teaching school in the winter till 1.S70,
when he sold out and came to New London, in
October of that year. He spent the first winter in
teaching school, and in the spring of 1871 he be-
gan business in a small way as a dealer in general
merchandise. He increased his stock as his capital '
permitted, till he now has one of the best stocked
establishments of the kind in the State.

Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have had four children,
of whom three are living: Robert Howard, the
eldest, died in childhood, aged one year; Jolin
Edgar married Miss Flossie Lee, daughter of Sam-
uel Lee, of New London Township, and is now a

-4*^

partner of his father, under the firm name of R.
H. Peterson & Son. Ida A. and Laura M. are resid-
ing with their father, the elder serving as house-
keeper, and the younger attending school. Their
mother, an estim.able Christian lady, died Oct. 22,
1882.

Mr. Peterson is a Master Mason, a member of
New London Lodge No. 28, A. F. & A. M. He is
a member of the Protestant ISIethodist Church, and
independent in politics, with strong Prohibition
sentiments, and is widely known .and resjiected as
an upright merchant, an honorable man and good
citizen.

We are pleased to present on an adjoining page
a portrait of this well-known citizen of Henry
County and representative morciiant of the village
of New London.

\f7 EWIS JOHNSON, a retired farmer, of Mt.
I (@) Ple.asant, Iowa, has been a resident of Henry
/Al;^^ County since 1853. He was born in Greene
County, Pa., Aug. 2, 1827, and is the son of Isaac
R. and Mary (Barclay) .Tohnson. His father was a
native of Chester County, Pa. His family bad been
residents of Pennsylvania for many years, first in
the eastern and afterward in the western part of the
St.ate. His mother was born in Bucks County, Pa.
Her family also dated their settlement in that
■county from pioneer times.

Lewis w.as reared on his father's farm, and when
not quite twenty-two years of age, April 5, 1849,
he was married to Miss Mary A. Patterson, daugh-
ter of Thomas Patterson. Mrs. Johnson was born
in Washington County, Pa. Two children were
born to them, a daughter and a son. The daugh-
ter, Ella, was born in Greene County, Pa., and is
now the wife of S. D. Wrigiit, residing at Beatrice,
Neb. The sou, Isaac R., was born in Henry
County, low.a. He married Miss Donna Mont-
gomery, and resides on the old homestead near
Winfield, Iowa. Mr. Johnson moved to Henry
County in 1853, and settled in Center Township,
where he farmed one year. He tiien removed to
Marion Township of the same county, and six years
thereafter to Scott Township, where he purchased a

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472

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HENRY COUNTY.

i

farm of 240 acres. He still owns eighty acres of
the old homestead, having sold the balance of it to
his son. Mr. Johnson coutiuued to reside in Scott
Township, engaged in farming and stock-growing
till April, 1887, when he came to ^It. Pleasant to
live. He has voted with the Republican party since
its organization, and has held several minor offices
in the several townships where he has resided. He
is held in high esteem as a neighbor and citizen.

SSAAC J. JENNINGS, farmer, residing on sec-
tion 23, Canaan Township, Henry Co., Iowa,
was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1830, and
is a son of Isaac and Mary (Reese) Jennings, both
natives of Ohio. Isaac Jennings, Sr., was a pio-
neer of Brown Count}'. All the children were born
in Ohio: Elizabeth wedded Israel Ross, a well-
known resident of Scott Township; Israel, husband
of Delilah Ross, a resident of Brown County, Ohio,
died from a wound received in the army; Charity,
widow of David Ross, resides in Iowa; Abel mar-
ried Sarah Bowyer, and lives in Virginia, a decrepit
and aged soldier, who was wounded while in line of
dut}', now an inmate of the Soldiers' Home; De-
Witt died in childhood; Isaac J., our subject;
William died in infancy; Strange also died in child-
hood; Mar}- married William Fithen, a resident of
Scott Township, and Daniel married Elizabeth
Wills. The parents came to this count}' about
1870, and both died at an advanced age.

Our subject was married to ^liss Addie Wood,
Aug. 10, 1855, in Adams County, Ohio. They
came to Henry County in 1868, locating soon after
upon their present farm. No improvements had
been made and the raw land was cultivated to a
high degree by Mr. Jennings. His original dwell-
ing was consumed by lire July 21, 1887, but from
its ashes has risen a handsome frame stru(;ture, now
complete in its appointments, adding largely to the
appearance of the farm.

Three children were bt>rn in Oiiio, two living:
Elmer, husband of Clara Baldwin, residing in
Canaan Township, and Eva, who is yet with her
parents, the life and joy of the household. One
grandchild, Lola, has graced the home of his son.

The original quarter section purchased is still Mr.
Jennings' residence, and as he looks over the fine
farm a feeling of satisfaction comes over him. We
are glad to speak of his enterprise. The loss of a
valuable farmhouse means a great sacrifice of com-
fort and a corresponding loss of money. Without
one dollar of insurance, the fire destroyed every-
thing of value. A fine library, which had t.aken
years to secure, furniture, carpets and even cloth-
ing of inmates was swept away, they barely escap-
ing unharmed. Valuable papers were .also burned,
and that memorable night in July will be long
thought of by the Jennings family. The enter-
prise of our subject is again shown in the erection
of a handsome residence, and his riper years can be
passed in a home pleasantly picturesque, and with
one of the most social and genial wives that ever
graced the hearthstone of a good man, Mr. Jen-
nings' cup of happiness may be considered complete.
Together they have toiled and shared both the hard
and the pleasant lot, and their married life of thir-
ty-three years has brought with it a fitting reward.
With their children within call, and yet scarcely
past the meridian of life, every prospect for many
happy years yet remains to this worthy couple.

<¥)OHN HOLLOWELL, residing on section 35,
I in Tippecanoe Township, is :i native of
^.^ I Ohio, being born in Morgan County, April
(^^^ 8, 1847. His parents were Reuben and
Abigail (Brown) Hollowell, both of whom were
natives of Pennsylvania, and pioneers of Morgan
County, Ohio, moving there in 1 832.

Our subject spent his early years upon the home
farm, and in attending the district schools of his
native State. On the 20tli of April, 1878, he was
united in marriage with Miss Emily Thompson, a
native of Morgan County, Ohio, and a daughter
of Joseph B. and Mary Ann (Wood) Thomjison,
who were natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hollo-
well came to Henry County in 1875, his father
having bought 375 .acres in Salem Township, on
which John lived from the time of his marri.age
until 1885. He and his brother Benjamin purch.ased
ninety-six acres of land on sectii)n 35, Tippecanoe

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HENRY COUNTY.

473

Township, in 1877, and in 1885 he purchased his
brother's interest in the farm, on which he now
resides. Mr. Hollowell is extensively engaged in
farming and stock-raising, mailing a speeialt_y of
breeding Merino sheep. In connection vvith liis
father and brother he has thirty head of recorded
sheep, and alvva3's has specimens of this breed on
his farm for sale. Mr. Hollowell is at present one of
the Board of Trustees of the township, and is also
Secretary of the School Board. Heholds the politi-
cal views of the Republican party. It is to such citi-
zens as Mr. and Mrs. Hollowell that Henry County
owes its prosperity. They are always ready to
aid in the advancement of any public enterprise,
and are greatly esteemed by all. Mr. and Mrs.
Hollowell have a family of four children, two sons
and two daughters: Garfield A., who was born
Aug. 2, 1880; Howard J., Sept. 29, 1881; Anna
Mary, born Oct. 1,1883; and I^dith Emma, born
July 2, 1887.

'ir«4

.«(!)'jj!."«^^g

r

ON. JOHN POSEY GRANTHAM, whose
death occurred May 15, 1887, was a pioneer
of 1837. The following sketch of his life
appeared in the Mt. Pleasant Journal: "Mr.
Grantham was the ninth in a family of nine chil-
dren of John and Elizabeth Grantham, was born in
Henderson County, Kj'., Oct. 25, 1812, emigrating
at the age of fifteen, with his fath"er, to near Hills-
boro, Montgomery Co., 111., in 1827. The name is
essentially' English, and is traceable in this country
back as far as three brothers, two of whom settled
in the higher latitudes of the Eastern Atlantic coast,
the other, following the fortunes of the colony
planted by Oglethorpe, settled in Virginia. John
Posey was descended from the Virginia branch,
his gi'and father having been attracted to the
'dark and bloody ground' which constituted the
theatre of action of the Kentons and Daniel Boone,
probably before the beginning of the present cen-
tury, at the time before the institution of slavery
had established caste and its consequent innova-
tions in Southern society, and when it possessed
men of great natural force of character which was
well sustained in the subject of this sketch.

4*

"Though inured by long indoor life in the vari-
ous public offices, and never of robust constitution,
Mr. Grantham joined with other fortune seekers, in
the spring of 1849, the then untried and unknown
journey to California, when that overland trip
consumed the time of four months, and when a
return along the same route was impossible. He
was the chronicler of the pilgrimage, and the com-
munications he sent back afforded a guide book
for such as might wish to follow. Returning the
next year, 1850, he was elected Clerk of the Dis-
trict Court by a large majority', though a Democrat
and living in a county where his party, politically,
was as much in the minority as it now is, compara-
tively, though the issue has been changed. He
continued in the office through biennial elections
through a period of sixteen years, and at last de-
clined another renomination. He was one among
the number of Democrats who ceased to act vvith
that organization after the rupture the party suf-
fered in the controversj' over the repeal of the
slavery restriction compromise line of 1820. Ally-
ing himself to neither faction, he lent himself act-
ively to the work of organizing the Republican
party. He served the city one term as Mayor, and
was Postmaster by appointment by Fillmore, from
1846 to 1849. He represented Henry County in
the Twelfth General Assembly, 1867-68. Soon
after the close of the session, having been appointed
to a position in the General Land-Office, he removed
his business life to Washington, D. C, where ever
since he was actively employed, until ill-health
incapacitated him from further duty. He claimed
always a residence here, returning each year to cast
his vote with the neighbors and friends of his early
life. Ever faithful and efficient, the change in the
administration wrought no change in the position
he held under Republican rule, but declining
health compelled his resignation, when he and his
life-long and now widowed partner took up their
abode with their son-in-law and daughter at Keokuk,
where he died. His personal and business relations,
and indeed all his personal relations, were entirely
beyond censure and complaint. If he ever had a
personal quarrel, no one, it is believed, can now
recall the recollection of it. He and his widow left I
behind wei-e the parents of ten children, only four &

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k

i

474

HENRY COUNTY.

of whom are now living, three daughters: Mrs.
Irene Ballard, of Hastings, Neb.; Mrs. Julian ]Mc-
Gavic, Keokuk, Iowa, and Mrs. Joanna Sparks,
Washington, D. C, and one son, Charles F., of
Omaha, Neb. IMrs. Grantham was the daughter of
John Jenkins, who came to Iowa in an earl}' day,
bringing with him a large family of children; one
son, Warren L. Jenkins, represented Henry County
in the Territorial Legislature.

»-^tr*>

-NK^=

•«^i<f^

ON. CHARLES W. PAYNE, residing on
section 36, Jefferson Township, Henry Co.,
Iowa, was born in this county, June 1, 1840,
(^) and is a sou of Henry and Margaret J.
(Boak) Payne, both natives of Berkeley Count}',
Va., where they were married, and four daughters
were born to tliem prior to their emigration west.
In the spring of 1836 they left their home in old
Virginia, all their goods packed in covered wagons,
and the journey was completed in the autumn of
that year. Iowa was then a part of the Territoi'y
of Michigan, and as lands were not subject to entry,
Henry Payne claimed the 200 .acres upon which
our subject resides, and eighty acres of timber land
in Trenton Township. He built a hewed-log cabin
in 1837 and moved his family into it, and there the
rest of the children were born. The old cabin was
later weatherboarded, and still stands as a land-
mark of fifty years ago, and a relic of pioneer
days. Its roof covered a family who have risen
to a high position in the social, business and polit-
ical world, and the old homestead was the play-
ground of a family of children who now rank
among the old settlers of the county. Eight children
blessed the union of Henry .and Margaret J. Payne,
as follows: Rebecca, the deceased wife of Joshua
Gardner; Martha, wife of L. M. Rhodes; Isabella,
wife of J. D. Smith; Rachel, wedded to M. M.
Culver, all born in Virginia. Henry, now a farmer
in Jefferson Township, was born in Illinois, while
the family were en route for Iowa; and our subject
was the first child born in this county. His birth
w.as followed by that of Hayden, the husband of
Sarah McPheron; and Elisha, wlio wedded Amanda

Leach. All grew to maturity in this county, and
all but the youngest sister were married here. The
father of our subject reached the age of seventy-
nine, and his wife survived him several years. She
lived to be seventy-three, and saw all her children
happily married and settled in life.

Charles W. Payne was a member of Company B,
'25th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and his two younger
brothers were members of the 4th Iowa Cavalry
during the Civil War. Elisha was severely wounded
at the battle of Guntowu, and was later discharged
on account of the same. Our subject was engaged
in many of the prominent battles of the war, and
at the battle of Arkansas Post he volunteered to
carry the colors (the color bearer being ill), and the
report of Gen. Wood in his History of the Soldiers
of Iowa, pays Mr. Payne a high compliment for
bravery displayed upon that occasion. From that
date he was appointed by Col. George A. Stone
color bearer of his regiment, and served till the end
of his term of enlistment as Sergeant. He was on
duty, with the exception of thirty days, from his
enlistment until his discharge. At the siege of
Vicksburg he faced the shot and shell; at Lookout
Mountain and Missionary Ridge he was at the front;
at the siege of Atlanta, and in every engagement
fought during the campaign he participated. He
was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and
from thence to the surrender of Johnston at Rolla,
N. C, and took part in the great military review
at Washington after the close of the war.

In 1868 his marriage to Miss Maggie Patton was
celebrated. She was born in Ohio County, W. Va.,
in 1841, and is a daughter of Matthew and Nancy
Patton, who came to Iowa in 18ij6, settling in New
London Township, this county. They now live on
a farm adjoining ]Mr. Payne's, and are well ad-
vanced in years. Their living children are: James,
a farmer in Center Township; Agnes, wife of T. J.
Sp.arks, attorney, of Bushnell, 111.; John, living in
Jefferson Township, this county; Etta, wife of
Oliver Newell, a farmer at Bushnell, 111.; Jennie,
unmarried, and living in Lucas County, Iowa; and
Mrs. Payne. Several children died young.

C. W. Payne and wife began their married life
on the old homestead, and in the same cabin in
wliicii lie was Ixirn. Nineteen years of happy

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HENRY COUNTY.

475

wedded life have brought great changes to this
couple. An interestiug famil_y has graced their
home. The old cabin has been exchanged for a
mansion of more modern architecture. The husband
has been honored by the people of his county with
one of the highest places the_v could bestow. He
was the choice of the Republican party, and was
elected member of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth
General Assemblies, receiving a popular vote far in
advance of his ticket. His official acts were satis-
factory to his constituents, and Mr. Payne retired
from his position with the esteem of the people
he had faithfully represented. As a farmer Mr.
Payne has been successful. His farm is well
stocked, and no happier home can be found in the
township, and everything about the place betokens
prosperity.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Payne .are named :
Frank, Clyde, Blanche and Mabel. The eldest son
is a graduate of the Bushnell (111.) High School, .and
all are at home. His many friends will read with
interest this sketch of the family of the soldier, the
legislator, and the useful and well-known citizen and
representative of one of the pioneer families, and a
son born upon her soil, and we welcome him to a
place in the history of Henry County.

'>ta£af!S^^

^^—y^^^l/cmn^-

'f^ ENNIS HUMIMELL, a prominent citizen
I jjl of Center Township, was born in Henrj'
oij^^ County, Iowa, in 1840, and is the son of
^'^ Jacob and Mary (Barton) Hummell, the

former born July 8, 1814, in Pennsylvania, and the
latter June 18, 1814, in the State of Ohio. They
were the parents of seven children, six of whom
are now living: Dennis, our subject; John, now re-
siding in Jewell County, Kan., was a soldier In the
late war, enlisting in the 25th Iowa Volunteers, serv-
ing three years, and taking part in all the battles with
his regiment; William, who also served his country
for four years, in the 1 1th Iowa Volunteer Infantrj',
was captured at Atlanta, Ga., July 28, 18(j4, and
sent to Andersonville Prison six months, is now
Principal of the South Boundary Schools of Bur-
lington, which position he has held for nineteen

years; Thomas, now a farmer in Marion County,
Mo., enlisted in the 14th Iowa Volunteer Infantry,
serving four years; George, who enlisted in the
1 1 th Iowa Volunteer Infantry in the spring of
1864, served until July 22, when he was wounded
in the arm at the battle of Atlanta, and died from
the effects of his wound ; Joseph, who enlisted in
the 45th Iowa Volunteers, serving three months,
now resides in Bureau County, 111.; and Henry is
a farmer in this county.

The record of this familj' for patriotism has not
often been equ.aled. Of the seven sons all but
Henry, who was too young, gave themselves to
their country in her hour of need, and all proved
brave and gallant soldieis. One jielded up his life
in her service, and all were willing to if needed.
They shunned no lisks, and ever bore themselves
as brave soldiers and good citizens, and among the
families of Henry County none are more worthy of
recognition than they.

Our subject received his education in the district
schools of his native State. He remained upon the
farm until the age of twenty, when he went to Bu-
reau County, III., working on a farm until the
breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in
Maj', 1861. On account of the quota being full he
was not accepted, so he returned home, and on the
11th of October he again enlisted in the 14th Iowa
Volunteer Infantry. He was with his regiment
through the following engagements: The battle of
Ft. Donelson; at Pittsburg Landing, where he
was captured and held as prisoner for fift^^-two
days; at Macon, Ga., ne.arly all of the time, then
paroled and sent to St. Louis, where he remained
until he was exchanged. Returning to his regi-
ment he was engaged in the battle of Ft. DeRussey,
also at Pleasant Hill, La., Marksville Plains, Old
Oaks, Yellow Bayou, Old Town Creek, Tupelo,
Miss., and in numerous skirmishes of less note. He
was mustered out in November, 1864, at Daven-
port. On returning home he again gave his atten-
tion to farming, in which business he has since
been engaged.

He was united in marriage, on the ICtliof Feb-
ruar3', 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Jane Faucett, a
native of Indiana, and the daughter of Isaac and
Mary (Southern) Faucett, the former a native of

4JU

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476

4

HENRY COUNTY.

North Carolina, and the latter of Indiana. Mr. and
Mrs. Hummel are the parents of six children:
George W., who resides in Center Township; Mar-
tha Florence, James F., Charles, Minnie and Isaac
J. In politics Mr. Hummel is a Republican, and
has been Township Assessor, serving with credit to
himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Mr.
Hummel is one of the pioneer settlers of Henry
County, and has witnessed the many changes civili-
zation has made, and has done much toward plac-
ing the county in its present position among the
first of the State.

*i?S^^»S^

<f5«£^-»«^*«f-<

^^s^ AMUEL R. HAINES, residing on section
^^^ 26, Trenton Township, Henry Co., Iowa,
\\^J\JJ is a native of Champaign County, Ohio,
born March 13, 1831, and is a son of Job
and Mary (Black) Haines, the former a native of
New Jersey, and the latter of Pennsylvania. They
were pioneer settlers of this county, locating on a
rented farm in Tippecanoe Township in 1838,
where they remained for two years. Job^Haines
entered a farm of IGO .icres on section 26, Trenton
Township, where he made his home until his death,
which occurred in tlie winter of 1856, when sixty-
one years of .ige. At his death he owned 230
acres of land. He was a man who took great in-
terest in political affairs. He and his wife were
both members of the Methodist Protestant Church.
She died in December, 1864. They reared a fainiij'
of eleven children, all of whom j'et live : Charit}',
wife of Allen Jay, now in tlie Indian Territory;
Mary Jane, wife of Jose|)h Jay, a resident of Tren-
ton Township; Josciih, of IMills County, Iowa, is a
farmer; our subject; James, now living in Mills
County, Iowa; Elizabeth, wife of Mell Petty,
now a resident of Dakota; Sarah, wife of Obod
Ward, resides in Dakota; Barbara Ellen, wife of
Arthur Clarkson, of Mills County, Iowa; Jonathan,
also a resident of IMills County ; Job, residing in
Pottawattamie County, Iowa, :in<l Jerusha Susan,
wife of Asbury Ford, of this townsiii|).

Our subject grew to maniu)od upon a farm in
this county, receiving iiis education at the district
schools. At the age of twenty-two he began work-

ing as a farm hand, continuing for a year, and for
several years afterward rented farms. Ilis first pur-
chase of land consisted of sistj- acres on Mud Creek.
Samuel R. Haines was united in marriage, Feb. 22,
1857, with Eliza Jane Mercer, a native of Guern-
sey Countj', Ohio, where she was born Nov. 8,
1837, and is a daughter of Hiram and Barbara
(Miller) Mercer, both of whom were natives of
Pennsylvania, though the mother was of German
descent. The young couple began their domestic
life on the estate of his father, he bu3'ing the inter-
ests of the other heirs, until he owned the place,
adding to this until he now has 334 acres of land.
Mrs. Haines owns forty acres, making 374 acres all
told ; the}' have one of the finest residences in the
township, it being erected at a cost of $2,200. His
principal business is raising stock, shipping a car-
load per year. Mr. and Mrs. Haines are members
of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which thej''
are earnest workers. Among the citizens of Henry
Count}' none stand higher in the esteem and con-
fidence of all than this worthy couple. Mr. Haines
affiliates with the Republican party.

Fourteen children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Haines: Mary Agues died when ten months
old; Eliza, wife of George Golston, of Trenton;
John William is a farmer of Warren County, Neb.;
Melvina died in childhood ; Jonathan, a resident
of Warren County, Neb. ; Martha A., wife of
Richard L.Tue, of this county; Ada Belle died when
sixteen months old ; Charlie resides in Warren
County, Neb.; Carrie still lives with her parents;
Samuel died at the age of four; Scneth and llama,
yet inmates of the paternal mansion; Geneva died
in childhood, and Barbara Ellen is yet living with
her parents.

^^ IIARLES A. IIOI.WICK. dealer in boots and
(1(^1 slioes, and junior partner of tlic lirm of
^^^ Penn & Holwiik, dealers in dry-good.-, car-
pets, notions, etc., was born in Stark County, Ohio,
Dec. 23, 184!), and is the son of John and Martlia
(Kelley) Ilolwick, both natives of Ohio. The
father was of German and the mother of English
descent. The father was a manufacturer and coal
merchant, and died in October, 1879, aged about

•*-♦'

4

f^

-«» II ^

HENRY COUNTY.

477

sixty. His mother survived her husband several
years, dying at the old home in Stark County, on
Feb. 3, 1888, aged sixty-three. Our subject re-
ceived a common-school education and went to
Louisville, Ohio, where he was engaged in the
manufacture of baskets, till he came to Mt. Pleas-
ant in July, 1870. On coming to this city he en-
gaged with Mr. E. L. Penn, a prominent merchant,
dealing in general dry-goods, boots and shoes, the
latter establishment being known as the "Boston
Boot and Shoe Store." In 1873 Mr. Holwick pur-
chased an interest in the business, the firm becom-
ing Penn & Holwick. In February, 1885, Mr. Hol-
wick purchased Mr. Penn's interest in the boot and
shoe store, of which he has since been sole proprie-
tor, and which is now known as the '"North Side
Boot and Shoe store," in which the average stock
carried is worth about ¥8,000. Penn & Hol-
wick carry about a $15,000 stock of dry-goods,
carpets, etc.

Mr. Holwick w.as married at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
Oct. 3, 1883, to Miss Carrie Potter, a daughter of
Andrew Potter. Mrs. Holwick was born in Cleve-
land, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Holwick are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Holwick
is a Republican in politics, but has never sought
public office, preferring to give his undivided at-
tention to business. Mr. Peim having withdrawn
from active participation in the details of the busi-
ness, Mr. Holwick has had the general management
for the past few years, and has proved himself an
energetic, capable business man.

ON. A. J. BUFFINGTON, a farmer of Salem
Township, is the subject of this sketch, and
was among the later emigrants who came
\!^ west to settle in Iowa, and was compelled
to endure all the hardships of car travel and reclin-
ing chairs, and the upper berth of a sleeper. The
family had nothing to eat for a wiiole day but hotel
fare. They occupied a house for more than a year
made of nothing but burnt clay, stone, mortar and
wood, and contained but seven rooms and a kitchen.
They were compelled to go to the cellar for potatoes,
and to the orchard for fruits, and had to pay for
their privileges to an own aunt of Mrs. Buffing-

■t-^

ton's, Caroline McMillain, the unusual and unrea-
sonable charge of — nothing.

Our subject was born Aug. 17, 1832, near Bealls-
ville, Washington Co., Pa. His parents, both of
whom are now living near where he was born,
are Joseph and Mary (Tliompson) Bufflngton.
Joseph was one of ten children of Seth and Sarah
(Millison) Bufflngton. He was a tanner by trade
and a Postmaster during the administration of
Jackson, and is now a farmer. Seth and Sarah Buf-
flngton came to Iowa in an early day, and are bur-
ied in the Friends' graveyard at Salem, Iowa.
Sarah was the daughter of James Millison, a Friend
and early settler in Western Pennsylvania, who was
noted as an extensive fruit and fine wool grower.
The maternal ancestry is traced back to the jMillison
family, of whom James was one.

The mother of our subject was the daughter of John
and Ruth (Lewis) Thompson, who were energetic
and prosperous farmers, the father a native of New
Jersey, and the mother of Pennsylvania. A. J. Buf-
flngton worked on a farm duiing tlie summer and
attended the country schools during the winter,
after which he entered Greene Academy, in
which he remained for flve sessions. He then
taught first in the rural district, then in a vill.age, and
next .as Principal of the Monongahela City schools.
AVhile in that position he was appointed County
Superintendent, and elected to fill the next term.
At its close he was chosen Principal of the South-
western Normal School. He had been connected
with this school from its infancy as an instructor,
and was mainly instrumental in having it perma-
nently located and established in California, Pa.
He was tvrice elected to the Pennsylvania Legisla-
ture, and served in the sessions of 1869 and 1870,
securing an appropriation of $15,000 for the above
mentioned school, which placed it on a solid finan-
cial basis and secured its recognition as a State
Normal School. In 1878 he was again elected
County Superintendent and served for the term of
three years. The year after he came to Salem,
Iowa, and taught for three years in the public
schools of Salem, since which time he has been
engaged in stock-raising and farming.

In 1856 he married Elizabeth Taylor, daughter
of Samuel and Rebecca (Morris) Taylor, the latter

t

-•►

478

HENRY COUNTY.

i

of whom claimed kindred with Robert Morris, the
financier of tlie Revolution, and also of Benjamin
West, the distinguished painter. Eight children
were boin to them : Lulu, educated in Washington
Seminary; Rebecca, now deceased; Flora, educated
in the Washington High School; Anna, in South-
western Normal School, all teachers in Western
Pennsylvania; George L., a senior in the veterinary
course of the Iowa Agricultural College; Emma,
Ella and ]Maud are dividing their time between
home duties and school. His wife died July 21),
1872, and Nov. 3, 1875, he m.irried the widow of
Bailey Fritz Randolph, of Achor, Columbiana C'o.,
Ohio, Mrs. Caroline M. Fritz Randolph, who still
graces his home by her fine social qualities, her
model housekeeping and cooking, her love of music
and flowers, and her whole-hearted hospitality. She
was born in East Carmel, Columbiana Co., Ohio,
and received a good common-school education.
Slie gave especial attention to and excelled in vocal
music, and was married at the age of seventeen.
On account of her anti-slavery convictions, she
united with the Free Presbyterian Church, but
after that issue was settled she united with the
mother church, of which she has ever since been a
member. Mrs. Burtington is the daughter of
George and Deborah (Vale) Ashford. The other
members of the family were William, Ammon,
Thomas M., John V., Oliver G., Rebecca and
Virginia D. The father was a native of Virginia,
and a son of Aaron and Rebecca (Nutt) Ashford.
(ieorge Ashford emigrated to Ohio in early life, and
at the age of twent^'-one was united in marriage
with Patience Whitaker, who died three years after,
leaving two children. Mr. Ashford was a kind
father, a good friend and neighbor, and was noted
for his honesty. He lived and died a consistent
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs.
Bullington's mother was born in York County, Pa.
As she was by birth of that ancestry, the sketch of
Amos McMillan will give the early history of her
family. She was tlie daughter of John and Debo-
rah (McMillan) \n\c. The paternal grandfather,
Robert Vale, crossed the ocean in company with
William Penn, and was instrumental in founding
the Society of Friends in the United States. He
was a native of London, England, and conmiandcd
■^m

a merchant vessel in early life for fifteen 3'ears.
Mrs. Buffington had one child b^' her first hus-
band, Lemoyne F. Randolph, who was born in
Clarkson, Columbiana Co., Ohio, Jan. 31,1852.
He was educated at the Poland Academy and at
Mt. Union College, of Ohio. He studied law, was
admitted to the bar, and commenced practicing in
New Lisbon, Ohio. He married Kate Hoover, the
only child of Dr. and C. (Allen) Hoover, and they
removed to Bloomington, 111., and subsequently to
Des Moines, Iowa, where he engaged in the banking
business for five yearsi He is now chief of the col-
lection department in the Plans Manufacturing
Company. One child, a daughter in her tenth year,
was born to them. Mr. Randolph is an active busi-
ness man, but never fails, amid the throng of other
duties, to write his weekly letter to his mother.

EDWARD C. HINKLE, editor and proprietor
of the Winfield Beacon, of Winfleld, Iowa,
was born in Calhoun Countj', Mich., Dec.
28. 1840. His father, Charles Hinkle, was born in
Philadelphia Count}', Pa., in 1800. His mother,
Lucy (Callender) Hinkle, was a native of Living-
ston County, N. Y. When young people the^' emi-
grated to Michigan, where they were married, and
where their only son, our subject, was born. Mrs.
Hinkle departed this life in Michigan, and her hus-
band was again married, to Loviua Chase. By this
union two children were born, one living, Dora,
and Laura, deceased. In 1855 Charles Hinkle de-
cided to make Henry County his home, and located
on a farm in Scott Township. He died in Henry
County in .June, 1 8cS2. A man of more than ordi-
nary ability, delighting in reading, he kept well
posted on all the affairs of his country. He stood
high in the community where he resided, and was
everywhere noted for his honest and upright life.
His wife died in Winfield in 1885. They were
both members of the New Swedenborgian Church.
In politics, Mr. Hinkle was a Democrat, and a great
admirer of Stephen A. Douglas.

Edward Hinkle received a common-school edu-
cation. He w:is reared upon a farm and commenced

4^

f

HENRY COUNTY.

481

life in limited circumstances. In 1864 he enlisted
in the 1 2th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company C,
and was mustered into service at Davenport, and
from there proceeded to Cairo, and from thence via
New York to Savannah, Ga., where he expected to
meet the regiment. On his arrival at Savannah, he
learned that the regiment was at Eastport, Miss.,
to which place he proceeded and joined his regi-
ment. With the regiment he went to New Orleans
and from there to Dauphin Island. He was after-
ward engaged in the sieges of Mobile and the Span-
ish Fort, and received his discharge at Mobile.

Returning home, Mr. Hinkle again engaged in
farming until 1882, at which time he retired from
that business and purchased the Beacon, which
paper he has ever since conducted. He is a mem-
ber of the Mort Hobart Post No. 280, G. A. R.,
and has acted as Adjutant since its organization.
He has held several local offices and has been Town
Recorder continuously since the town was organ-
ized. In June, 1884, the marriage of E. C. Hinkle
and Franc Wise, a daughter of Morgan and Jane
Wise, was celebrated. She was born in LaSalle
County, III., and is the mother of a little daughter,
Ethel. Although comparatively' young in years,
Mr. Hinkle has witnessed almost the entire devel-
opement of Henry County, and has the universal
respect of all her citizens. As an editor, he has
shown considerable talent, the Beacon being one
of the best local papers in this section of the State.

^^^^^i^^^y^^^^

jICHARD SPURRIER, merchant, deceased,
Salem, Iowa. Prominent among the early
,/li W settlers of Henry County, and pioneers in
W^ business, was Richard Spurrier, who was
born in Harrison Count}-, Ohio. Sept. 5, 1812, and
was a son of Ralph and Eleanor (Cleary) Spurrier,
who were natives of Maryland. Ralph Spurrier
was bj' trade a carpenter, but his principal occupa-
tion was farming, and his son Richard learned that
business in detail. His parents both lived and died
in Ohio, having reared five sons and six daughters,
of whom six are now living: Samuel is a resident
physician of Clearfield, Iowa: Warner lives in New
Lisbon, Linn Co., Iowa, and is married to a cousin

of the late President, James A. Garfield ; William
married Miss Dungan, and is a resident farmer of
Iowa County; Matilda wedded George Heberling,
a fanner of Harrison Countj", Ohio: Elizabeth is
the widow of John Matson. and resides in Ne-
braska: Mary A. became the wife of Hezekiah Har-
rison, now deceased, and is a resident of New
Lisbon. The remainder of the children lived to be
married, but those mentioned constitute the mem-
bers of the family now living. Warner was the
first of the children to become a citizen of Iowa,
coming in 1839, settling fourteen miles north of
Iowa City.

The subject of this memoir was married in Cadiz,
Ohio, in 1833, to Miss Amj- Barrett, whose parents,
Thomas and Margaret Barrett, were Quakers of the
strictest sort. They were natives of Virginia, and
when the removal from that State to Ohio was made
bj' the Barrett brothers, to get to their entry of
lands they were forced to cut their waj- five miles
through the dense woods. In 1842 Richard and
his young wife made the journey from Ohio to
Iowa, by w.aj- of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers,
and made their first location fourteen miles north
of Iowa City, and eighteen months later' removed
to this county. After farming a short time Mr.
Spurrier began clerking for John Andrews, a mer-
chant of Salem, continuing till 1853, when he con-
cluded to take an overland trip to California,
making the journey with an ox-team, and the trip was
made doublj' eventful bj- his having that dread
disease, cholera, while en route. After recovering,
he tried mining, and later engaged as a general
trader, and had in charge a flume which furnished
water for the miners. For his services ?13 per
month was paid, and he also purchased and sold
claims. On his return, the suspension bridge being
not yet completed at Niagara Falls, he walked over
the falls on the sheeting-boards, and was one of the
few men who could tell that storj'. After reaching
Salem he lay sick for almost a year with the
Panama fever, and after recovering, engaged for
some time as clerk for J. W. H^-att, and in 1857 pur-
chased the stock, and with the exception of a few
months, was continuously engaged in the mercan-
tile trade up to his death, which occurred Sept. 30,
1 887. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
_ m^

i

i

482

HENRY COUNTY.

Spurrier, two (laughters and five sons: Thomas,
married to Lavina AA^oodmanse, is a resident of
Wichita, Kan.; John died when two years of age;
Mary, now deceased, was the wife of Thomas Rook ;
William H. is a resident of Decatur County, Iowa,
and the husband of Jane Canimaek; Ralph C. wed-
ded Josephine Barton, and also resides in the same
county, where the brothers own farms. William
owns a section of excellent land that adjoins that
of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Elder's son. Joseph,
the youngest son, and the only one born to Mr. and
Mrs. Spurrier in Iowa, died when eight j^ears of
age, a victim of the first cholera epidemic appearing
in Salem. Thomas and Ralph were both members
of Company D, 14tli Iowa Infantry-, and partici-
pated in many of the most noted battles of the wai-.
Ralph was wounded at Shiloh, and after recovery
was appointed clerk of the military' court, and later
Hospital Steward of his regiment. Both were dis-
charged at the expiration of their term of service,
and Ralph was offered a good position by his Regi-
mental Surgeon, at Dubuque, but this was declined.
Tlie children were all given a substantial start in
life by their father, and have made a success in
every sense.

Richard Spurrier was the oldest continuous mer-
chant in Salem. lie resided in Salem since 1845,
and saw the town built up, later destroyed by
fire, and again rebuilt. As a man of business he
had no superior, and a large fortune was the result
of his life's work. He kept no clerk, and managed
his store alone, and he could measure calico and do
up the bundles as neatlj' and quickly as a lad
twenty years old. His fifty-fourth wedding anni-
versary had been passed, and many happy years had
this honored pair passed together. Mr. Spurrier and
Lloyd Chambers were the originators of the project
and charter members of Salem Lodge No. 48, I. 0.
O. F., and he was the oldest member of that order
in the village. He was also a member of Salem Lodge
No. 17, A. V. & A. M., and I'resident of the Old
Settlers' Association of Henry, Lee, Van Buren and
Jefferson Counties, to which position, since its or-
ganization, with the exception of one year, he had
been successively elected, and the last meeting,
held at Salem Aug. 18, 1887, was its fifth and most
successful reunion. It gives us pleasure to give

-«-^.

full mention of this association elsewhere ; also to
give Mr. Spurrier a deserved place among the old
settlers in the history of his chosen countj'.

Richard Spurrier was seventy-five j'ears and
twenty-five days of age at the time of his deatli,
and liis remains were interred at Salem by the Ma-
sonic and Odd Fellow fraternities, of which he was
so long an honored member. He was a noble, gen-
erous man, and without placing his name on sub-
scription jxipers for money to relieve those in dis-
tress, he in advance found his way to their homes,
and with arms loaded witii the necessar}' articles to
relieve their present necessities, brought tears of
gladness to manj' eyes since his residence in .Salem.
He was a member of no church, but liberal in theo-
logical and social matters. He sleeps that dream-
less sleep from which none awaken, and the last
tribute of respect was paid his remains by hundreds
of his pioneer friends and old acquaintances, when
the funeral rites were held.

The life-like portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Spurrier,
on an adjoining page, will add value to this sketch
of their history, and will be a source of great
gratification to their many friends.

^ OHN ABRAHAM, deceased, was numbered
among the pioneers of Henry County of 1 SI 1 .
He was a native of Butler County, Ohio,
born in 1 80."), and there grew to manhood, and
received a limited education in the old log school-
house. By reason and reflection, in after years he
became well read and posted in general affairs. In
about 1827 he was united in marriage, in Butler
County, Ohio, with Miss Sarah McCue, a native of
Pennsylvania. Lot Abraham, his father, w.is an
extensive dealer in hogs, and in consequence of the
hard times following the panic of 1837, failed in
business. John, not willing to see his father suffer,
or be harrassed by creditors in his old age, sold his
farm, and divi<led the proceeds with him, thus en-
abling him to settle with his creditors. With the
sum remaining, amounting to about 81,400, in 1841
John Abraham emigrated to Hcnr}' Count}-, Iowa,
and purchased 400 acres of land, for which he paid
$1,G00. He at once commenced to improve the

4-

HENRY COUNTY.

483

land but was not long permitted to enjoj' the fruits
of it. He died in 184:5, leaving a wife and seven
children, of whom six j-et remain : Susan, residing
in Center Township; Rebecca, wife of A. H. Jack-
man, now of Ft. Robinson, Neb. ; Sarah is the wife
of Noah Johnson, of this county ; Lot resides on the
old homestead ; John M. lives in Douglas County,
Neb. ; Catherine married E. W. Roberts, and died
in this count}' in 1 87 1 ; Margaret is the wife of
Samuel Grafft, of Butler County, Ohio. Politically
Mr. Abraham was an ardent Democrat. Mrs. Abra-
ham was a member of the Christian Church for
twenty years prior to her death.

-w-v, -'>Aaj2£/©^^

*g|.a/2rOT>\» -vw-.

ON. LOT ABRAHAM, section 35, Center
Township, was born in Butler Connty, Ohio,
April 18, 1838. In 1841, when but three
'0) years of age, he came with his parents to
Henry County, Iowa, where he grew to man-
hood, and received his education in the common
schools. In September, 1861, he enlisted as a pri-
vate in Company D, 4th Iowa Cavalry, and was
mustered into the United States service at Camp
Harlan. After remaining in camp for a short time,
the company was ordered to Benton Barracks near
St. Louis, from which place it was sent to Rollaand
Springfield, Mo., and at Pea Ridge joined the com-
mand of Gen. Curtis. It was next ordered to Bates-
ville. Ark., and then to Helena, in the same State,
operating as scouts. From Helena the regiment
was sent to Vicksburg, participating in the siege of
that city. Il was next ordered to Jackson, Miss.,
where it took part in two battles. Returning to
Vicksburg, it was sent up the Yazoo River, and was
on what is known as the Winslow raid, engaged in
destroying railroads, being in the saddle thirteen
days and nights, stopping only long enough to feed
their horses, and returning north to ^Memphis, Tenn.
In this raid 300 cars and fifty engines were cap-
tured, some of which they destroyed. From Mem-
phis the regiment was sent by boat to Vicksburg,
where it went into winter quarters. The Meridian
raid nest occupied their attention, from which they
again returned to Vicksburg, where almost the en-
tire regiment re-enlisted, after which they received

a furlough to return home. Much of the credit for
the re-enlistment of the regiment was due to Capt.
Abraham, who worked hard among the men for that
purpose.

On their return from veteran furlough, the regi-
ment was sent on the raid to Bolivar and Guntown.
Their next fight was at Tupelo, where they fought
and defeated Forrest. Returning to Memphis, it
was next sent to Holly Springs, and was there when
Forrest made his raid. Sept. 2, 1864. they crossed
the river and went to intercept Price, and partici-
pated in all the fights of that campaign. The regi-
ment was next ordered to St. Louis, where it was
supplied with new uniforms. Here. Capt. Abraham
was left in command of the regiment, and it was
ordered to Nashville, Tenn., and subsequently was
sent to Louisville, Ky., where they refitted, and
later was on the Wilson raid. After the close of the
war, and while the armistice was still pending, Capt.
Abraham being at Macon, Ga., with his command,
with Lieut. L. Mann and fifty enlisted men, he was
sent to Washington, Ga., to parole Wheeler's cav-
alry, which consisted of 4,000 men and eight Gen-
erals, among whom were Gen. John Vaughn, who
had displeased Jeff Davis, and was under arrest,
Gen. G. G. Gibbrel, Gen. Williams of Kentucky,
and others. They arrived there the day after the
last cabinet meeting of the Southern Confederacy
was held. At Washington Capt. Abraham met
Toombs and had a long talk with him, and was re-
quested by the latter to come down and get some
money which he had at his house. The Captain
got the money and gave his receipt for $5,180,
which he soon after turned over to the General
Government. At Washington he remained for ten
days, and then reported to Gen. Wilson at Macon,
Ga., but was sent back with his company to look
after rebel property, and there remained until the
4th of July. They were then sent to Atlanta, Ga.,
where they were mustered out Aug. 8, 1865, re-
ceiving their final discharge at Davenport, Iowa,
August 24 of the same year.

On receiving his discharge, Capt. Abraham re-
turned to Henry County, where, on the 13th day
of September, 1865, he was united in marriage with
Miss Sarah C. Alden, a daughter of Zephaniah and
Damaris (Thompson) Alden. She is a native of
: •^

i

■i*

4

484

HENRY COUNTY.

Guernsey County, Ohio, and came with her parents
to Henry County, Iowa, in 1841. Four children
have been born unto them: John G., now a student
in the Ames Agricultural College, in the class of
1888; Sallie, also attending the same school; and
Mary and Katie at home.

On her father's side Mrs. Abraham traces her
ancesUy back to the celebrated .John Alden, who
came over from England in the "Mayflower," in
1620, and who has been immortalized by Longfel-
low in his celebrated poem, "Tiie Courtsliip of Miles
Standish," where John was pleading the cause of
Miles to the Iieautiful and loving Priscilia, urging
her to wed his friend, while at the same time his
heart had been lost to the one with whom he was so
eloquently pleading, and who, unknown to him, re-
turned his love, and in reply said: "Why don'tyou
speak for yourself, John?" The result of this ques-
tion was, that John did speak for himself, and of
their union was born Joseph Alden, of Bridgewater.
Mass., who was the father of a son, also named
Joseph, and who died at the age of seventy-three.
The second Joseph also lived in Bridgewater, and
died at the age of eighty, leaving a son Daniel, who
resided at Hartford, Conn., and who also lived to
the ripe old age of eighty. He had a son Daniel,
who made his home in Lebanon, Ma.ss., and who
lived to the age of seventy. Both Daniels were
well known in their native State, and for many years
held the honorable position of Justice of the Peace.
Daniel, of Lebanon, had a son Barnabas, who died
aged sixty, leaving a son bearing the same name,
who passed away at the age of seventy. His son,
Jonathan, lived to be eighty years of age. Jonathan
was the father of Zeplmniah, the father of Mrs.
Abraham.

Zcphaniah Alden was born in Massachusetts, in
1812, and there learned the trade of a stone-cutter.
In 1837 he wedded Damaris Thompson, in Guern-
sey County, Ohio, to which place he had previously
removed, and four years later the young couple
removed to Henry Comity, Iowa, where Mr. Alden
died in 1850, at tlie age of thirty-eight, being the
youngest member of the family to ever pass away.
On coming to this county, for a time he combined
farming with his trade of stone-cutter, but in con-
sequence of ill-health could not follow the plow,
M»

and therefore gave his attention solely to his trade.
He dressed the first marble in Henr}' Count}-, and
put the first lettering on tombstones. He was a
man of excellent character, and was respected by
all who knew him. His widow is still living, and
makes her home with her daughter. Of their six
children, but two are now living: Mrs. Atirahani
and John B. Alden, the well-known book publisher
of New York City. The latter, though yet com-
parativel}' a young man, has ma<le his name a house-
hold word, his catalogue of publications comprising
the best standard works, and all sold at a price bring-
ing them within the reach of the very poorest.

The grandfather of Mrs. Abraham, on her mother's
side, was a well-known pioneer and minister. Sam-
uel Thompson was a native of Maine, born in 1782.
He grew to manhood in his native State, his early
life being spent upon the farm, while his educa-
tional advanttges were meager, indeed. .Making
the best use of all the advantages within his roach,
reading little, and reflecting more, he became well
posted upon all topics of general interest. At the
age of twenty he made a profession of religion,
and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and, showing an aptness for public speaking, he was
at once licensed as an exhorter, and one yeav later
united with the conference, was ordained, and as-
signed to the Cape Cod district. He continued to
labor as a minister in his native State until about
the close of the war with Great Britain, when he re-
moved with his family to AV est Virginia, where he
remained about five years, and then removed to
Guernsey County, Ohio. In 1 847 he came to Henry
County, Iowa, and located in what is now Tippe-
canoe Township, where he combined farming with
preaching, continuing activelj' in the latter work
until within four j'ears of his death, which occurred
in 18CG. In about 1803 he was united in mar-
riage with Miss Sarah Harrington, by whom he had
twelve children, seven boys and five girls, of whom
seven are yet living. For nineteen years lie was a
citizen of Ilenr}' County, and few among the older
citizens but well remembered the good old man.
Of tiiat rugged nature peculiar to those born among
the hills of Maine, he w:is not afraid to express liim-
self freely upon all questions affecting the pul)lic in-
terests. Living for a time in a slave State, and

,11 I

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,t

HENRY COUNTY.

485

witnessing the beauties of the "peculiar institution,"
he came to abhor slavery, and therefore deter-
mined to do all he could for its aliolition. He was
not afraid to be called an Abolitionist, but rather
gloried in the name. He left the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, and united with the Protestant Meth-
odists on account of the more radical position of
the latter bod^- on the slavery question. On the
temperance question he was likewise radical, and,
believing the use of intoxicating liquors hurtful, he
waged continual warfare against tiieir use. No un-
certain sound came from his lips on this question.
As a minister of the Gospel, he believed in "declar-
ing the whole counsels of God" as he understood
them, and therefore was a most earnest laborer in
the Lord's vine3'ard. He was by nature an elo-
quent man, with a good command of language, and
was eagerly listened to by the thousands who sat
under the sound of his voice.

In early life Capt. Abraham was politically a
Democrat, but since 1864 he has affiliated with the
Republican part}', at that time casting his vote for
Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency. In political
matters he has usually taken an active part, and in
1881 received the nomination from his party to the
State Senate, was elected and served in the Nine-
teenth and Twentieth General Assemblies with credit
to himself and his constituents. A member of Mc-
Farland Post No. 20, G. A. R., he takes an active
interest in all its works. In the temperance cause
he is also quite active, and is never afraid to ex-
press his opinions freely upon that question. Capt.
Abraham, with his family, occupies a beautiful
home on section 35, Center Township, where he is
the owner of 345 acres of land, allot which is under
a high state of cultivation.

ON. WASHINGTON L BABB, of the law
firm of Woolson & Babb, Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa, was born in Des Moines County, Iowa,
Oct. 2, 1844, and is the son of Mites and
Mary (Moyers) Babb. His father was born in
Wilkesbarre, Pa., and was of German descent. He
went to California during the gold excitement of
1850, and was killed in the mines Dec. 21, 1852, by

-<•

the caving in of a tunnel. His widow survives her
husband and resides with her son, W. I., at Mt.
Pleasant.

Our subject received his primary education in the
public schools of his native county, and when six-
teen years of age came to Mt. Pleasant (1860) and
entered the Iowa Wesleyan University as a student,
and prosecuted his studies till the spring of 1 863,
when he yielded to the patriotic desire to aid in
the defense of the Union, and enlisted as a private
of Company E, 8th Iowa Cavalry, and served till
the close of the war. His regiment was assigned to
the Arm}' of the Cumberland under Gen. Thomas,
and participated in the memorable and severe cam-
paigns of the last years of the war. He participated
in the battles before Atlanta, at Franklin, Nash-
ville, and in Wilson's raid through Alabama and
Georgia in the spring of 1865. He was slightly
wounded in the attack on Atlanta, but was not con-
fined to the hospital a single day during the entire
service. He was mustered out as a non-commis-
sioned officer Aug. 13, 1865. On his return from
the war, he re-entered the Iowa Wesleyan Univer-
sity at Mt. Pleasant, and graduated with high honor
in the classical course in June, 1866. He at once
entered upon the study of law with Henry Ambler,
a well-known attorney of Mt. Pleasant, and was
admitted to the bar in December, 1867. On gradu-
ating, he formed a law partnership with Mr. Am-
bler and entered upon the practice of his profession
in January, 1868. That connection continued
until 1872, when he formed the existing partner-
ship with Hon. John S. Woolson, under the firm
name of Woolson & Babb. Mr. Babb has been a
close student, and possessing sterling ability, has
won a foremost place among the leading lawyers of
the State. His well-known integrity and fairness,
coupled with a thorough knowledge of his profes-
sion and careful attention to details, has won the
confidence of his clients and the respect of his
brethren of the bar, the courts and juries. His suc-
cess has been the result of close application and
persevering industry, as well .as good natural
ability.

Mr. Babb cast his first vote while a soldier in
the field, during the campaign of 1864, voting for
Lincoln and Johnson. He continued to vote with
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t

486

HENRY COUNTY.

the Republican party till 18tj8, when becoming dis-
satisfied with the reconstruction polic}' of the party,
and favor.iblj' impressed by the National policy of
the Democratic party, he renounced his allegiance
to tLe former and cast his lot with the latter. He
has since been an earnest and eloquent advocate of
the principles of the Democracy. In 1876 he was
nominated as the Democratic candidate for Circuit
Judge, but positively declined to allow his name to
be used. In 1878 he was nominated for District
Judge, and yieldiug to the earnest solicitation of
friends in both parties, made the race and was de-
feated by only 115 votes in a district that usually
gave a Republican majority of about 1,200. While
defeated, he had reason to be proud of the result,
which demonstrated his personal popularity among
the members of both parties. He was again ten-
dered the nomination for District Judge in 1882, at
a time when the Republicans, through dissentions
over the prohibition question, had fallen into a
minoritj", but declined the honor, preferring to pur-
sue his extensive practice. In 1883 he was strongly
urged by influential party friends to become a can-
didate for the General Assembly, but he refused to
accede to their wishes. However, when the con-
vention assembled, he was unanimously nominated,
and much against his wish, and at considerable sac-
rifice, he was induced to make the canvass, which
resulted in his election by nearly 100 majority. His
course in the Assembly fully justified the warmest
expectations of his friends. He soon demonstrated
his ability as a legislator and served on important
committees, his legal training having prepared him
for the rigid investigation of measures under con-
sideration. His conclusions, based on sound rea-
soning, won the respect and concurrence of his
fellow legislators, and he proved a valuable and
influential member.

Mr. Babb was inairicd at Mt. Pleasant, Oct. 9,
1873, to Miss Alice liird, a daughter of Dr. Well-
ington Bird, a prominent physician of that city.
Mrs. Babb was born at Mt. Pleasant. Tliej' are
the j)arents of four children, two sons and two
daughters: Max W., aged thirteen years; Miles
T., aged nine years; Clara Belle, aged four years,
and Alice, an infant. Mrs. Babb is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Babb is a

Knight Templar Mason, a member of Mt. Pleasant
Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A. M., of Henry Chapter No.
8, R. A. M., and of Jerusalem Commandery No. 7,
K. T., all of Mt. Pleasant. At one time he was a
member of the Board of Trustees of the lovva State
Hospital for the Insane, at Mt. Pleasant. He has
always taken a warm interest in the cause of edu-
cation, and has done his part in the promotion of
learning. At present he is one of the Trustees of
the Iowa Wesleyan University, a member of the
Executive Committee and its Treasurer. He was
elected a Trustee of that institution in 1876, and
made a member of the Executive Committee and
Treasurer in 1877, which position he has since con-
tinuously held.

-A.W>'<ji££7®'J@'

»/^Na/-zwj^v.-vv~-

ROF. MATHEW H. BARNES, section 23,
Center Township, is a pioneer of 1839.
He was born in Spencer Township, Guern-
sey Co., Ohio, Jan. 12, 1815, and is a son
of Ford and Jane (Hennen) Barnes, who emigrated
from Greene County, Pa., to Guernsey County,
Ohio, in about 1811. In that new country Ford
Barnes built a mill on Will Creek, which for many
years was known as Barnes' Stone Jlill, it being
among the first mills in that section of the countrj-.
In addition to milling he improved a farm and also
laid out the town of Claysville in Guernsey County,
naming it in honor of Henry Claj', he being a great
admirer of that Statesman. In the second war with
Great Britain, Ford Barnes served his country faith-
fully, as did his father, Job Barnes, thcgrandfatiier
of our subject, during the Revolutionary War. Of
the family <»f eight children of Ford and .Jane
Barnes, there are now living: Elizabeth, wife of
Francis Dailey, of Guernsey County, Ohio; Mathew
II., of Henry County: and Ford Barnes, also of this
county. .Mrs. Jane Barnes dying about 1825, Ford
Barnes subsequently married Mary Roberts, by
whom he had a large family, three of whom are now
living: .Margaret, now residing in Center Township;
Sarah, now the wife of Mr. Babcock, of Mt. Pleas-
ant; Mary, now the wife of Edwin Lockwood.
Politically^ Ford Barnes was an old-line Whig, and
religiously, was a member of the Methodist Episco-

►HM^

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HENRY COUNTY.

487

pal Church. For many years his house was tlie
home of traveling preachers and a place for hold-
ing meetings in an early day.

The subject of this sketch was reared in Guernsey
County, Ohio, and received his education in the
pioneer log school-house, the schools being held
upon the subscription plan. On the 10th day of
August, 1837, in Musliingum County, Ohio, he
wedded Miss Martha Monroe, a distant relative
of President Monroe. She was born in Muskingum
County, Ohio, in 1818. By this uuiou there was
one child who died in infancy.

In April, 1839, Mr. Barnes came with his wife to
Henry County, Iowa, and settled on the east half
of the southwest quarter of section 23, township 71,
range 6 west, now known as Center Township.
Here be has since continued to live a period of
nearly a half century, and is one of the best known
citizens of Henry County. In addition to general
farming, for forty-four years he has been engaged
as a general auctioneer, attending the greater num-
ber of sales within a circuit of twenty miles. In
an early da3' he was engaged in teaching music,
using the old buckwheat notes, and was then given
the title of professor, a title which has since clung
to him. Though never an office-seeker, he has yet
held several offices of trust and was Justice of the
Peace for many years. In politics he is a stanch
Republican.

JAMES BIGELOW, of Mt. Pleasant, Henry
Co., Iowa, was born in Penobscot, Me., May
13, 1828. His father, James Bigelow, was
also a native of Maine, though of P^nglish
descent. The three brothers of the Bigelow family
came to America at an early day and settled in the
New England States. From one of these brothers
James Bigelow is a direct descendant. His mother,
Louisa (Abbey) Bigelow, wasa native of Massachu-
setts. James Bigelow, Sr., and Louisa Abbey were
married in 1827, and settled in Penobscot, Me.
They were the parents of thirteen children, eight of
whom are now living: James is the subject of this
sketch; Bessie, Amos and Alfred are deceased;
Melissa is now the wife of Joseph Davis, a resident

of Maine; Calvin, one of the brave boys in blue,
enlisted and served through the war; Melvin and
Jerome were also soldiers in the war of the Rebel-
lion; Maria is the wife of George Davis; Susan is
the wife of Mr. Jones, and Joan is single; two
children died in infancy. James Bigelow, Sr., was
politically a Whig and a great admirer of Henry
Clay and Daniel W(jbster, two of the great States-
men of our country. He was well informed on aU
public affairs, whether political or otherwise. Mr.
and Mrs. Bigelow were people highly respected, not
only in the immediate vieinitj' where thej' lived,
but wherever they were known. They were both
members of the Baptist Church. He was once a
Selectman of his town and represented his district
in the Legislature. Mr. Bigelow died in 1878, but
Mrs. Bigelow is still living in Penobscot, Me., at
the advanced age of seventj'-seven.

The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in
his native State, and received his education at the
Skowhegan Academy, supplemented by a partial
course in the Skowhegan College. In 1857 Mr.
Bigelow left Maine and settled in Niagara County,
N. Y., where he engaged in the buying and selling
of horses. While there he was joined in wedlock
with Miss Louisa Drum, a daughter of John Drum,
a journeyman printer of Niagara Count}'. In 1862
the}' removed to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where Mr.
Bigelow was largely engaged in buying horses for
the Government until the close of the war, since
which time he has been engaged in buying and sell-
ing line stock. Politically he is a Republican, and so-
cially he is a Master Mason. Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow
are well known in the community where they reside,
and are higlily respected. They are the parents of
two children, a son Frank, who is clerking in Chi-
cago, and Mabel, living in Mt. Pleasant.

^1,^ EV. SEBASTIAN GERIG was born in Mill-
l|Li>^ housen, France, in 1838, and is a son of
/CAV Jacob and Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Gerig.
WiQ^Jacob was a farmer, and he and his wife
reared a family of thirteen children, of whom our
subject was the second youngest. The parents
lived and died in France. Sebastian Gerig came to

4

.t

488

HENRY COUNTY.

America in 1857 and settled in Davis County, Iowa.
From there he went to Wayne County, Ohio, in
1862, and two years later returned to Iowa and
made his home in Henry County. For five years
he rented lands, and in liSGO purchased a farm of
his own. He sold that farm and purchased his
present homestead in 1872. In 1805 Miss Magda-
lena Goldsmith, of this count}', became his wife, and
eleven children have graced their union, nine of
whom arc living, and all were born in Henry County
— .Joseph, Jacob, Elizabeth, Lydia, Anna, Mar}', La-
vina, Eva and Emma. In 1869 Mr. Gerig, who had
been for years an acceptable uiember of the Men-
nonite Church, was elected by the congregation of
Prospect Church as their minister, and from that
time to this date has been their pastor. Since his
creation by the church as Bishop in 187',), he has
taken into the church over 100 persons; the con-
gregation now numbers sevent3'-flve families. Serv-
ices are held the second and fourth Sunday in each
month and Sunday-school every Sunday. Chris-
tianer and .Jacob Kable are Sujierintendents. The
assistant jjastor is Rev. Stejjhen Miller, who is men-
tioned elsewhere in this worlv. The church was
organized by Rev. Joseph Goldsmith in 1850, who
moved from Lee County, Iowa,4o Hepry County.
At that time about half a dozen families composed
the society, but it has always been a prosperous
one. Rev. Goldsmith died in 1875 in Ins,"eigbty-
first year, firm in the faith in which he lived.

-<3=

7~^r

y^

=£>-

<|1 )*;ILLIAM HOBART, one of Ihc^ c-.n-ly set-
\aj// tiers of Henry County, Iowa, was born in
V^^ Ireland in 1792. When a young man he
came to America, and located in Oneida County,
N. Y. He was united in marriage to Miss Aclisah
Ingram, and in 1850 they emigrated to Illinois,
settling in McDonough County. In 1856 the}' re-
moved from that county, coming to Henry County,
Iowa, and settled on section 18, Scott Township.
Mr. Hobart was an enthusiastic Republican, and
gavesix sons for the service of hiscountry. Mr. and
Mrs. Hobart were the parents of eight children, who

<«• ■

grew to maturity: Fredericiv enlisted in Company
F, 1 7th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, served but a
short time, and was discharged for disability; Milo
enlisted in the 124th Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
and is now pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church at Mt. Pleasant. Harriet became the wife
of Hugii Wilson, of McDonough County, 111. ; AVill-
iam K. enlisted in the 1st Iowa Infantry, Company
F, and three months afterward he became a mem-
ber of the 17th Iowa A'olunteer Infantry, serving
until the close of the war, and participating in all
the engagements of the regiment; he is now a
carpenter, residing in Mt. Pleasant. Franklin was a
member of the 1st Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and
when bis term of service expired he re-enlisted in
the 17th. serving until the close of the war; Mor-
timer became a member of Company G, 11th Iowa
Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of
Shiloh, being the first to fall from Scott Township.
The G. A. R. Post of Winfield took its name from
him. Joseph was also a member of the 17th Iowa
Infantry, Company F. He was mustered into serv-
ice, and participated in the following engage-
ments: luka, Sept. 19, 1862; second battle of
Corintii, Oct. 4. 1862; Ft. Gibson, May 10, 1862;
Raymond, also in May, 1862; Champion Hills,
May 16, 1862; the siege and capture of Vicksburg,
where he was under fire forty-six days; Missionary
Ridge, in November, 1863; Tilton, Ga., where his
regiment defending a bridge against Hood, was
captured. He, with his regiment, was taken to
Catawba, remaining there two weeks, from there to
Milan, also remaining there two weeks, then subse-
quently to Savannah, where the}' were run down to
Blackshire, in the Oak Fire Swamp for two weelvs.
Sherman was following them up, and they were
taken down the gulf ro.ad to Thomasville, then to
Andersonville, where they were confined from the
25th day of December until tiie 28th of April fol-
lowing, suffering all the hardships of that most hor-
rible prison. While in prison the war closed, and
31r. Hobart was set at liberty. He returned to
Davenport, where he was nuislered out May 26,
1865, and subsequently returned to his home in
Henry County. Jenny, the eighth child of W'iU.-
iam Hobart, is the wife of Isaac Byers, of Lincoln,
Neb. William Hobart died in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, T

i

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:;^i-

HENRY COUNTY.

491

in 1873, and his wife is still living in McDonougli
County, 111.

Joseph Hobavt -was united in marriage, in 1867,
with Miss Anna Wilson, a daughter of Jacob and
Matilda (Marsh) Wilson, both of whom were na-
tives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hobart are the par-
ents of seven children: Alice, born Oct. 26, 1868;
Rozelnia, born Dec. 9, 1870; Ada, born March 15,
1872; Franklin, born April 27, 1874; Viola, born
March 3, 1877; Corda, born Nov. 5, 1879; Geor-
gia, July 31, 1883. Mr. Hobart has a fine farm of
eighty acres on section 18, Scott Township. He is
a member of the G. A. R. Post and Commander of
the same. In politics he is a sUmch Republican.
He is serving his second term as Assessor. Mr.
Hobart has witnessed the changes which have trans-
formed Henry County from a wild prairie to one
of the finest counties in the State. He and his
estimable wife have the respect and confidence of
all who know them, and as citizens none rank higher.

W^ELLS ANDREWS, an honored pioneer of
Henr3' County, Iowa, of 1837, and a farmer
of New London Township, residing on sec-
tion 20, was born in Hartford, Trumbull Co., Ohio,
April 10, 1810. His father, Cliesler Andrews, was
born near Hartland, Conn., was of Scotch descent,
and a farmer by occupation. He married Miss
Hannah Gates in 1804, and a few weeks later emi-
grated with ox-teams to the Western Reservation,
Ohio, then almost a wilderness of heavy timber.
He cleared up a large farm in Trumbull County,
and reared a family of nine children, six sons and
three daughters, three only of whom are living at
this writing (1888). Besides our subject, there is
Asa, of Warren County, Ohio, and Noyes, residing
at Terre Haute, Ind. The parents passed the re-
mainder of their days in their Ohio home.

Wells, the subject of our sketch, learned the car-
penter's trade, and in 1836 went to Mississippi,
where he worked at the same until the following
spring, when he returned to Ohio, and in July of
that year came to Iowa, purchasing a claim in what
is now known as New London Township, situated
on section 20, and again went South, and spent the

-<• ■

winter in Mississippi at Vicksburg, and the follow-
ing spring returned to his claim. Mr. Andrews
improved his land and added to the original pur-
chase until he now has 400 acres of choice and
well-improved land, with a tasty residence and ex-
tensive barns, making it one of the most attractive
places in the township. When he took his claim
the Government had not yet surveyed the land
with the exception of township lines. Claims were
adjusted after the section lines were run, and the
land did not come into market until 1839. Under
the squatter law, claims were limited to 240 acres,
and the additional acreage Mr. Andrews acquired bj'^
private purchase.

He was united in marriage, in Lee County, Iowa,
June 30, 1839, with Miss Laura Brockway, daughter
of Titus Brockway. Mrs. Audrews was a native of
the same township that her luisband was born in,
the date of her birth being Nov. 20, 1819. Her
people were from New York and settled in Ohio,
from which place they moved to Iowa. 31r. and
Mrs. Andrews had five children, three sons and two
daughters: Asa Edwin was born Aug. 2, 1841,
and married Mary Waller, and is now employed at
the penitentiarj- at Anamosa; he was a soldier of
the late war, and served as a member of Company
D, 4th Iowa Cavalry, and was wounded near Ray-
mond, Miss., by a gunshot through the cheek and
neck, and was captured and paroled. Nelson B.
was born Dec. 7, 1843, and married Maggie J. Van
Voast, and is a dealer in china and queeusware at
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa (see sketch) ; Albert D. was
born Julj' 3, 1840, and married Editha Borden, and
is a farmer of New London Township; Almira
Fidelia was born March 27, 1850, and died in
infancy; Laura Emeline, born Sept. 12, 1853, is the
wife of George Lee, express messenger, residing at
Des Moines, Iowa. Mrs. Audrews died May 5,
1854. Mr. Andrews was married again, in Warren,
Ohio, to Mrs. Helen H. Beach, widow of Edwin
Beach, and daughter of Milton Holcomb, of Ohio.
Mrs. Andrews is a member of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, and was born in Granby, Hartford
Co., Conn., Sept. 16, 1825, coming to Ohio in child-
hood. Mr. Andrews was a Whig in earlj' life, but
is now a Republican. He is one of the most highly
respected of Henry County's early pioneers.
—^

tl

T

i

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492

i

HENRY COUNTY.

Mr. Andrews claims to be the only man now liv-
ing on the road from Burlington to Mt. Pleasant
who took up an original claim and still lives upon
it, he holding by the original Government title.
When became to this section of country, in 1837,
it was part of the Territory of Wisconsin. A car-
penter by trade, his first worii was on the Territo-
rial House in Burlington, intended for meetings of
the Territorial Legislature, John Smith being the
contracting builder, and Esquire Davidson master
mechanic. Moses .Jordan, long a well-known resi-
dent of Burlington, who died in 188G, also worked
on the same building. This building was occu-
pied by the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature the
following winter, and in the spring of 1838 was
burned down.

It affords us much pleasure to present the por-
trait of this pioneer to the patrons of the Album.
Of all the men ivpresented, none are more deserv-
ing than Wells Andrews.

ILLIAM ANDERSON HUTCHINSON is
a farmer of Baltimore Township. Only
"^' two men are residents of this township who
have reached the age of forty -five, that were boi'n
within rifle-shot of their present residence, and one
of these is the gentleman whose name heads this
sketch. He takes not only front rank as a pio-
neer, but also has the distinction of being a son of
Henry County, born on her virgin soil before Iowa
was a State.. While yet a Territory, and only a
few families had made a location, Amos llutcliiu-
son, with Ids wife, Julia A. (Shannon) Hutchinson,
and their only daughter, Elizab(^th, moved into Balti-
more Township, and took a claim of 120 acres. In
the autumn of 1839 lie built a log cabin about
forty rods northwest of the place where his son
William now lives. Tiiis cabin was of the rudest
pattern, built with round logs, puncheon floor, and
stick and clay chimney. Into tins they moved, and
their personal pi'operty was next to nothing. Amos
was by trade a wagon-maker in Hamilton County,
Ohio, but deciding to give up his trade and become
a farmer, it was necessary that more land be secured

than a man in his limited circumstances was able to
buy in a country already developed. In fact that
was the prime cause that brought to the West such
a large emigration, and peopled this country with
many men who made not onl}' a home for their
families, but became distinguished later as soldiers,
politicians, professional men and the best of citizens.
Not long after their arrival in this county, the
deatii of their infant daughter occurred, but their
sorrow was succeeded by the joy which came with
the birth of Sylvester, their oldest son, now the
husband of Iluldah Short, and a prominent farmer
of Baltimore Township. Other children followed,
the first one being our subject, born Oct. 11, 1842;
then George, who married Lucinda Thorneburg;
Mary, who died at the age of twenty-two, unmar-
ried ; and Margaret, wife of Clark Newby.

After getting his lands finely cleared and culti-
vated, Amos Hutchinson moved with his family to
Lowell, Iowa, iu 1851, where he opened a wagon-
shop, intending to make that his business, and in
fact he had worked more or less at his trade from
the time he came to the county, and many of the
early settlers had wagons of his make. After a
residence of two years in Lowell, Amos Hutchin-
son died, and the family returned to the old home-
stead. Mrs. Hutchinson remained a widow until
18G7, then became the wife of N. P. Poster, a well-
known resident of Baltimore Township, and her
death occurred in 1 886, having reached the age of
sixty-eight.

Our subject was married, in 1865, to Rachel P'os-
ter, a daughter of N. P. and Delilah (Moberly)
Poster. Miss Rachel was born in Highland County,
Ohio, and her parents came to Iowa in 1850. Mr.
Hutchinson and his young wife began their domestic
life on the old homestead, and remained the suc-
ceeding four years in the same neighborhood. The^'
then returned to the Hutchinson homestead and are
liere to stay, Mr. Hutchinson having purchased the
interest of tlie other heirs, and recently purchased
eighty acres on section 29, making a farm of 200,
and since then has made verj- fine and extensive
improvements, consisting of commodious barns
and other out-buildings, and an elegant country
residence. Tlie farm, which in his boyhood was a
favorite pasture for deer and other wild game,

i

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HENRY COUNTY.

493

brings undei' his successful management a fine
revenue.

Tlie children gracing their union are: Fernando,
husband of Rena Stoner, residents of Lee Countj',
Iowa ; Charles C, Frank A. and Alda L. The latter
is the only daughter, and upon her a wealth of love
is lavished. The children have been carefully
educated, and Fernando makes teaching his profes-
sion. He received his classical education at Whit-
tier College, and is now Principal of the Pleasant
Ridge Township school of Lee County. The chil-
dren have been inmates of a happy and pleasant
home since their birth. Their father has been an
enterprising and very successful man, and has ac-
cumulated a handsome property. He is lavish in
his expenditures for that which makes a home cheer-
ful, and no expense or care has been spared in mak-
ing his children proficient in education, and in the
management of the farm. The old log cabin stands
in tlie yard, the same in which their grandsire lived
for years, and in which most of the success which
came to the father transpired. In the old cabin all
the children except Cliarley were born, and their
glad shouts of childish glee added enthusiasm to
the young couple who have lived so manj' years in
domestic life, and now after a married life of nearly
a quarter of a century, find themselves in the most
comfortable circumstances, surrounded by their
children, who do honor to them and to the name of
Hutchinson, which for almost half a century has
been familiar to every resident of the countj^.

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'JI^'RANCT.S R. FLEAGLE, merchant. New
Ir^®) ^'J'l'^^*^"' Iowa, was born in Carroll County,
'Li Md., Aug. 15, 1846, and is the son of Henry

and Rebecca (Rudolph) Fleagle. The grandpaients
of our subject on both sides were natives of Ger-
many. Francis R. emigrated with his parents to
Iowa in October, 185G, and settled on a farm in
Jefferson Township, Henry County. The family
consisted of his father and mother, three brotliers
and a sister: Miranda, who was the eldest, and
is now the wife of Simon P. Haifley, of Jefferson
Township, in this county; Jacob, the eldest son,
enlisted in the late war as a private of Company

B, 2d Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and died at Helena,
Ark., the same year; William, the next younger,
married Susan Smith, daughter of Jacob Smith,
a pioneer of Henry County, and is a farmer of
Jefferson Township, same county ; Charles married
Belle Boss, and is also a farmer of Jefferson Town-
ship. The father had but 11,100 capital, and after
spending the fli'st year on a farm in Jefferson Town-
ship, he purchased a farm in Jefferson County,
Iowa, of 210 acres, for $2,200, on which he paid
$1,000 down, going in debt for the balance. Tlie
result was that all had to work hard and live
sparingly, to save money and pay the debt. Money
was hard to get, and was made by splitting rails and
working out. The farm had to be cleared and
fenced, so the boyhood of our subject was not a
path of roses; but he learned habits of industry
and frugality that were worth more than money.
He worked faithfully for his father until twenty-
one years of age. He was educated at Howe's
Academy, at Mt. Pleasant, and engaged in teaching
school, being employed in that way for three _years.
He then engaged as clerk with Templin Brothers &
Woods, merchants of Mt. Pleasant. Later he en-
gaged with T. P. Twinting, grocer,, as book-keeper,
and spent three years in clerking and book-keeping
in Mt. Pleasant. He was married in that city, Sept.
f>, 1875, to Miss Laura Smith, daughter of R. N.
Smith, of Lowell, Iowa, of which town Mrs. Flea-
gle is a native. Four childreu were born of this
union, three sons and a daughter: Harry was born
Aug. 7, 187G; Robert Henry, Nov. 11), 1879; Jesse,
Sept. 27, 1883; Nellie, Sept. 19, 1886. Mr.
Fleagle removed to Cotton Grove, Canaan Town-
ship, Henry County, in 187G, where his wife has a
farm of eighty acres, and there engaged in merchan-
dising. He was appointed Postmaster of Cotton
Grove, and continued to reside at that place till
1881, when he came to New London and engaged
in his present business. He has a well-stocked
store of general merchandise, and has built up a
good trade. Mr. Fleagle is a Republican in poli-
tics, and has held various local official positions.
He was twice chosen Township Clerk of Canaan
Township, and has been Director of the New Lon-
don School Board several years. He was made a
Master Mason in Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 8, A. F.

t;

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494

a

HENRY COUNTY.

& A. M., April 14, 1873. He was also a member
of Henry Lodge No. 10, I. O. O. F., and of Indus-
trial Encampment No. 18, all of Mt. Pleasant. Mr.
Fleagle is one who has had to be the architect of
his own fortune. He has by perseverance and
strict integrity won a good name and a fair start in
the world. That which he has accumulated has
been the result of patient and persevering effort,
and he is now classed as one of the leading business
men of the town.

Mr. Fleagle's mother died in Jefferson County in
the winter of 1870-71. His father, who was born
in October, 1802, died in October, 1877. He re-
turned to Henry County soon after his wife's death,
in 1 870, and made his home with his son "William,
in Jefferson Township, until the time of his death.

WILLIAM R. HILL, merchant, Mt. Pleasant,
and a pioneer of Iowa of 1838, was born
in New York City, May 9, 1834. His par-
ents, Enoch S. and Delia A. (Stillwell) Hill, were
also pioneers of Iowa. (See sketch.) Our subject
accompanied his parents to Iowa in 1838, arriving
in Burlington in the fall of that j'ear. Two years
later the family removed to Skunk River, four
miles below Mt. Pleasant, and in 1842 removed to
that city. Mr. Hill was bred to strict business
habits, and was connected with his father in an
extensive mercantile trade, as well as in other lines
of business. He has been in business for himself
almost continuously during the past twont^'-five
years.

Mr. Hill was married in Jersey' ville. 111., May 17,
1870, to Miss Catherine E. Snedeker, a daughter of
Samuel and Harriet (Sunderland) Snedeker. Mrs.
Hill was born in Trenton, N. J., and while in iier
infancy accomiianied her parents to Jersey Count3',
111. Her father and mother were both natives of
New Jersey, and her mother's father was a promi-
nent man in Trenton, where the family were among
the earliest settlers and large property holders, the
street on wiiich they resided being still known as
"Sunderland's Lane." Mr. .Sunderland was de-
scended from an old English family of that name.

Her father was of Holland descent, though several
generations were born in America. Mrs. Hill was
educated at the Mouticello Seminary at Godfrey, 111.,
of which she is a graduate. She completed both
the literary and theological courses, and is as able
to write a sermon as an essaj'. The strict habits of
systematic industry acquired in that institution
have fitted her for the successful discharge of tasks
that would seem too great to be undertaken by any
person of ordinary ability. She is a lady of super-
ior accomplishments and culture, and possesses ar-
tistic talents of a high order. Her home and those
of many of her relatives and friends are adorned by
beautiful pictures and elegant fancy work, the result
of her labors. Siie has a taste for the lesthetic and
beautiful, and her home is attractive and interesting.
Mr. and Mrs. Hill are the parents of three children,
one son and two daughters. The son, John Snede-
ker, was born in Jersey ville, 111., April .5, 1871.
The eldest daughter, [rma Aramiuta, was born
Dec. 11, 1875, and the younger, Harriet Adelia,
was born March 19, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Hill
spent the first year of their married life in travel,
and in 1872 located in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where
they have since resided. Mr. Hill has made many
substantial improvements at Mt. Pleasant. He has
built and still owns several good buildings in that
city. He is the proprietor of a large double store,
where he carries a general stock of drj'^-goods and
groceries.

#^

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LBERT WASHINGTON KINKEAD,

County Attorney for Henry County, Iowa,
and a resident of Mt. Ple.'isant, was born
(«« at Homer, Licking Co., Ohio, Feb. 22, 1853,
and is the son of Robert and Jerusha (Smith) Kin-
kead. His father, who was of Scotch-Irish de-
scent, was also a native of Ohio, and was born in
Muskingum County Feb. 25, 1817, now a resident
of Sharon. Iowa. His mother was a native of Ire-
land and emigrated to America with her pai'ents in
childhood. Her death occurred during the youth
of our subject. Albert W. received his primary
education in the public schools, and in the spring
of 1870 came to Mt. Pleasant and l)ecame astudent

T

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HENRY COUNTY.

495

r

of Prof. Hone's Academy. After completing his
studies in tliat institution, he entered upon the
study of law in the office of Messrs. Henry and
Bichard Ambler, of Mt. Pleasant, beginning in tlie
spring of 1875. He was admitted to practice in
August, 1877, in the local courts, and to the Su-
preme Court in 1881.

In the fall of 1879 he formed a law partnership with
Mr. C. B. Whitford, at Mt. Pleasant, under the firm
name of "Kinkead & Whitford," which connec-
tion continued four years. .Since the expiration
of that time Mr. Kinkead has been alone in practice.
Mr. Kinkead is a Republican in politics, and was
elected City Solicitor in 1879, which office he held
two years. In the fall of 1886 he was elected
County Attorney for Henry County, being the first
to hold that office in the history of the county, the
district system having previously been in force.

Mr. Kinkead is a lawyer of superior ability and
fine legal attainments, and during the eleven years
that he has been connected with the Henry County
bar he has won the confidence of the community
and the respect of his brethren of the legal profes-
sion.

\f7=5) NOCH S. HILL, deceased, was an early pio-
neer of Henry County, Iowa, and one of the
most active, influential and respected citizens
of this region. He was born near Trenton, N. J.,
April 8, 1802, and was the fifth in a family of nine
children. His parents were Richard and Elizabeth
Hill. The father was born in New Jersey, Sept. 27,
1759, and died Nov. 3, 1826. The mother was
born Oct. 10, 1777.

Enoch S. Hill was trained from his boyhood to
mercantile pursuits in his father's store. About
1825, he engaged in merchandising for himself in
New York City, where be was married, Jan. 30,
1827, to Miss Delia A. Still well, daughter of Dr.
William Stillwell, a prominent phj'sician of that
city. Mrs. Hill's family history is peculiar and in-
teresting. Her parents were of English origin and
of noble blood. It is well authenticated that on
her father's side the family were of the royal House
of .Stuart; that notwithstanding their consanguin-
ity, they were of Cromwell's party, and one of them
4*

E

was even one of the regicides. On the accession
of Charles the Second to the throne, three brothers
of this family escaped to Holland; they had agreed
with friends at home that a niess.ige of two words,
"Still well," should be'a token of their safety. The
better to conceal their identity, they adopted tlie
name of Stillwell. The brothers were Nicholas,
Jasper and John, named in the order of their ages.
The eldest brother married a Holland wife, and
with his wife and two brothers joined a party of
Holland emigi-ants and came to the New World in
1638. The}' landed in New J^ngland, where the
second brother, .Jasper, married, and founded the
town of Gifford, Conn., in which place he died,
leaving two daughters, who married two men
named Graves, and were the founders of Hartford,
Conn. The elder and younger brothers did not
tarrj' in New England, but accompanied their
friends to the Dutch settlement of IManhattan.
Nicholas Stillwell, the eldest, settled on Long Isl-
and, where he reared a large family, and formed a
colony of his own. John, the youngest, married a
Holland lady and settled in Manhattan. He longed
to visit his old home in England, and much against
the advice and wishes of his brother, took his wife
and only child, a daughter, back to England. He
was soon recognized, arrested, and executed by being
beheaded. His wife died of the shock, and the
daughter, by the kindness of friends, returned to
New York. She married a cousin, the son of Nich-
olas Stillwell, and from this union Mrs. Hill's father
was descended. Her mother was a daughter of
Maj. Saybrook, a son of Lord Saybrook, of En-
gland. Mr. and Mrs. Hill were blessed with three
children, two sons and a daughter : William R., now
a merchant of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa (see sketch) ; Jas-
per S. died at Trenton, N. J., Sept. 19, 1858; and
Cordelia, who is the widow of Er.astus Chamberlain,
of Burlington, Iowa. Mr. Hill continued business
in New York, where he was one of the leading
merchants, until 1838, when he emigrated to Iowa.
They landed in the night on the bank of the Mis-
sissippi River at Burlington, then only a hamlet of
log houses. The first night was spent in the open
air, lying on buffalo robes. Mr. Hill spent two
years in the mercantile business at Burlington, then,
having purchased a tract of several hundred acres

I

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496

HENRY COUNTY.

^

on the river about four miles below Mt. Pleasant,
be removed there and built a sawmill and flouring-
mill, and made other substantial improvements. In
1842 he came to Mt. Pleasant, where he engaged
extensivel_y in mercantile business, having branch
stores in neighboring towns. He also Ijought and
improved real estate on a large scale. He was a
m:in of broad views, financially and otherwise;
was bold in business ventures, but sagacious. A
man of Lirge stature, and great physical and mental
force, ho pushed his enterprises with vigor. He
was liberal in all matters of public welf.are, con-
tributed largely to the support of churches and
schools, and all worthy matters of public interest.
He was a Democrat of the old school, and believed
in maintaining the laws made in accordance with
the Constitution, whether he liked them or not. He
was a good citizen, a kind husband and father.
His death occurred at Mt. Pleasant, June 12, 1880.
His wife survived him six years, d^'ing Jan. 2, 1886.
She was a remarkable woman. She possessed rare
artistic genius, and was highly accomplished in
many ways. Her skill in fancy work is attested by
the many beautiful articles of her handiwork now
in possession of her daughter and daughter-in-law;
while the many fine paintings, most of them works of
her later years, prove her to have been an ai'tist of
superior talent. Her first portrait in oil was that
of her husband, which is conceded by all his ac-
quaintances to be a remarkable likeness. One small
picture, a snow scene, was painted when she was
eighty-two years of age. The perspective is good,
and the execution fine. Mrs. Hill was not only a
brilliant woman, but one of the best of wives and
mothers.

-^' :=? — ^-^ir-^ — $=: ■<»-

^ mUAAM BASIIFORD, a well-known and
\/iJ// ^''8''''}' I'espected citizen of Scott Townshij),
W^ residing on section 19, came to Henry
County in the spring of 1855. He was born in
Jefferson County, Ohio, May 20, 1821, and is a son
of John and Margaret (l)unlap) Hashford, both of
whom were natives of Pennsylvania, of Scotch-
Irish ancestry. John Bashford was a pioneer of
Marion County, Ohio, having settled therein June,
1822. Marion County was still his residence at

the time of bis death, which occurred July 7,
1847, when sixty-six years of age. His wife de-
parted this life about the year 1858. They reared
a family of nine children, of whom only three
are now living, namely: Eli D., who now resides
in Louisa County, Iowa, but formanj' 3'ears was a
miner in the Rocky Mountains; John M., a resi-
dent farmer of Louisa County, Iowa, and Will-
iam, our subject. Those deceased are Robert
C, James, Joseph, Elizabeth, Sarah, and one who
died in infancy.

At the common schools, such as the new coun-
tries afforded, the education of our subject was
received. He remained upon the farm until twenty-
five years of age, when he went to Seneca County,
Ohio, where he spent one winter as a laborer on
the railroad. He then proceeded to Columbus,
Ohio, and from thence returned home, where he
was engaged as a farm-hand until April 10, 1851,
with the exception of two summers, during which
he worked at the carpenter's trade.

Mr. Bashford was united in marriage with Nellie
Jane Tuttle, a native of Penns}'lvania, born Sept.
7, 1830,1 and a daughter of Milton and Laua
(Cooper) Tuttle, both natives of the same State.
After his marriage Jlr. Bashford rented a farm for
four years, at the end of which time he emigrated
to Iowa, stopping first in Cedar County, where he
spent one winter, and in the following spring came
to Henry Count}'. Purchasing ninet}' acres of land
on section 19, Scott Township, he and his wife
soon made for themselves a home. A handsome
and commodious residence has been erected upon
their nicely improved farm. Industry and perse-
verence are elements necessarj' to success in life,
and Mr. Bashford has both. His fine farm and his
eleg-.int residence were secured through his own
efforts. He earned his first money bj- chopping
wood at twenty-five cents per day, but now he has
a comfortable competencj' laid up for old age.

The jiatriotism that caused so many to lay down
their lives on the altar of their country was not
wanting in Mr. Bashford. He enlisted in the 8th
Iowa Volunteer Infant^3^ Dec. 1, 1864. and was
mustered out May 8, 1866, at Davenport, Iowa.
He was in the famous battle fought at Mobile, Ala.
In politics he is a Jacksonian Democrat.

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HENRY COUNTY.

497

Mr. and Mrs. Bnshford have been the parents of
eight children: Lavilda, born Feb. 22, 1852, died
at the age of thirteen years; Melissa, now the wife
of .Tohn Kenshaw, born Oct. 25, 185.3, residing in
.Jewell County, Kan. ; Ella, wife of Owen Crispin,
of Jewell County, Kan., born April 2, 1857; John
Milton, born March 2, 1859, whose home is in
Logan County, Kan.; William, Jr., born Oct. JM,
1861, married Jennie E. Chamberlain, still residing
with his i)arents; Lana, wife of William Marple,
born Aug. 12, 18G5, also of Jewell County, Kan.;
Levina, born Oct. 3, 1808, residing at home, and
Eli Dunlap, born March 18, 1871, who died at the
age of one year. Mr. and Mrs. Bashford .are mem-
bers of the Presbyterian Church.

\f^OHN H. HOCHREITER is a farmer of
Scott Township, residing on section 9. We
present with pleasure the biography of the
youngest son of the fh'st settler of Scott
Township. He was born Oct. 26, 1854, and is a
son of Bartholomew and Eliza C. (Keen) Hochrei-
ter, daughter of Gen. W. C. Keen, who served in the
War of 181 2, under Commodore Perry. She was
twice a widow before she became the wife of
Mr. Hochreiter, to whom she was married in Bur-
lington. He was first married in Philadelphia, Pa.,
and removed to Lancaster, Ohio, remaining there
ten years, from whence he emigrated to Monmoutii,
111., where he was a pioneer settler. hi the spring
of 1836 he again took up the line of march for the
West, and found a permanent location upon the
farm now owned by our subject. Bartholomew had
previously visited this State, and the natural beauty
of the country so pleased him that he laid a claim
upon 240 acres, and Ijuilt a log house upon the site
of the elegant farm residence recently erected by
his son. Arrangements being thus comi)leted, Mr.
Hochreiter returned to Monmouth for his family,
which consisted of his wife and four children.
Slowly they wended their way through the country
where but few roads were laid out, and none of the
creeks bridged, but full of the enterprise and
enthusiasm which prevailed among the pioneers of
this new country. The work of development of a

farm was not to be compared to that in the country
of his birth, where great trees, stumps and stones
were to be removed. Coming in the springtime,
opportunity was given for breaking ground, and
that year a crop was planted and harvested. This
was the first in the township and was perhaps raised
upon the lands now the property of his son Edward.

After residing in the new country for about ten
years, the de.ith of his wife occurred, and the lady
before mentioned later became his wife, .and three
children were born to them: Edward, husband of
Julia, daughter of Samuel Felgar; Caroline, who
died in infancy; and our subject. After living
many 3-ears .an honored and respected citizen of
Henry Count}', all that was mortal of Bartholomew
Hochreiter was laid to rest on the farm which he
had first claimed, then entered and improved. He
gave the lands for a cemetery upon his farm and
several bodies were there interred, but the property
is again vested in his son. Bartholomew Hochrei-
ter was aged eighty-two, and his wife survived him
three years and died at the age of sixty. He was
born in Bavaria, and while yet a young man came
to America. He was an early official of Scott
Township, and was a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church at Winfleld. Mr. Hochreiter was
liberal in purse and sentiment, and gave freely for
the support and erection of churches in the neigh-
borhood. With his demise came universal regret
at the loss of a valued citizen, a loving husband and
a kind father.

Our subject waseducated in Scott Township, and
grew to manhood upon the same farm that he
now owns. He wedded Miss Edith C. Latta, their
nuptials being celebrated Dec. 24, 1879, at the
home of her grandfather, Moses Latta, of Scott
Township. She was born in Ross County, Ohio,
and is a daughter of William M. and Mary (Teeter)
Latta, both natives of Ohio, where Mr. Latta was
a farmer. He was one of the brave men whose
life was given for his country, a member of the 89th
Ohio Infantry. At the bloody battle of Chicka-
mauga he was captured, taken to Andersonville
Prison, and after a torturing confinement of more
than a year death came to his relief, leaving his
poor, emaciated body a sacrifice to the country he
loved, and a monument which spoke volumes against

I"

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498

HENRY COTJNTT.

the cruelty and inhumanity of those who in history
have been christened fiends incarnate. He was the
father only of the wife of our subject, and his
widow afterward married James W. Trimble, of
Ross County. She became the mother of two chil-
dren— Lizzie and John. The first wedded Alonzo
Wilhite, of Saline County, Mo. Mrs. Hochreiter,
at thirteen years of age, became an inmate of th6
home of her paternal grandfather, who educated
and cared for her until her marriage, and gave with
pleasure to our subject a wife of whom he may well
be proud.

In one of the cosiest of homes, where music and
everything that makes home inviting and pleasant
may be found, Mrs. Hochreiter reigns as a model
hostess. Only one son, ?:dvvard, born Dec. 12,
1 880, has graced the union. With the respect due the
pioneer father, and as a fitting tribute to a worthy
son, the publishers offer this brief sketch to the
good people of Henry County, knowing it will
meet with a cordial recei)tion, and give a correct
account of the settlement and enterprise of a family,
one of the best kunwu in .Scott Township.

'iw OHN HOLT, a farmer residing on section
21, Wayne Townshi|), Henry Co., Iowa,
was born in Sweden in 1840, and his parents
came to America in 1853, and settled in
Jefferson County, Iowa, the same year. Daniel
Holt and his wife Annie were the parents of our
subject, and the two eldest children, John and
Annie S., were born before the family left Sweden.
A farm was pureliased in Jefl:'erson County, Iowa,
by Daniel Holt, and upon this he resided during his-
lifetime. In Sweden he lielonged to the regular
army, and before he could leave for America w.as
obliged to secure a substitute. From the time he
arrived hero until his death, Mr. Holt was a farmer,
and his widow, who married after the death of her
first husband, yet resides on tiic Holt homestead.
Three children were born after the emigration to
America: l^ouisa, wife of C. J. Burke, a hardware
merchant of Kearney, Neb. ; Henry, husband of
Matilda [>iud, is a partner of Mr. Hurke; Kmnia,
wife of John Lynn, a resident of Kearney, Neb. ;
Annie, the sister born in Sweden, became the wife

r-

of Gust Johnson, also a farmer of Kearney County,
Neb. After the death of Daniel Holt, his widow
married Henry Anderson. They are parents of one
son, Albert, yet single.

Our subject was reared and educated in Jefferson
Count}', and was there married, March 19, 1873,
Miss Anna Seablom becoming his wife. She was
born in Eksjo, Sweden, in 1854, and is the daughter
of John P. and Eva (Israelson) Seablom. They
came to America in 1866, stopping first in Jeffer-
son County, but after the marriage of their d.iugh-
ter Anna, removed to Page County, and purchased
the farm where they yet reside. The}' were parents
of nine children, all born in Sweden except the
youngest: Charles, deceased; Charlotte, wife of Sam
Linstrom, a resident of Essex, Iowa; Peter, husband
of Ellen Anderson, also a resident of Essex; Annie,
wife of our subject; Aaron, deceased; Antoine mar-
ried Josephine Lindburg; David; Sadie, a teacher,
and Alice, a dry-goods clerk in Shenandoah, are un-
married and all residents of Page County.

John Holt purchased his farm in this county
before he was married, and had a home for his
young bride to which they came. For fifteen years
they have been residents of Wayne Township,
ranking among the best families, and for their
kindness, enterprise and Christian virtues, they are
entitled to a place with those of their neighbors
and friends in this volume. Four children have
blessed their home — John W., Lydia, Alice and
Aletha. Death invaded the family circle and car-
ried away their baby girl Alice in the autumn of
1884. Mr. Holt has made handsome and substan-
tial improvements on his farm during the last few-
years, having erected a fine two-story farmhouse of
modern arcliitecture, besides the expenditure of
large sums in other improvements. As a gcntle-
ni;ui, a citizen of real worth, and a family of the
best repute, we are jileased to thus do thcni honor.

>>-

^^

.-.,1 O. HUNT, a prominent farmer and stock-
raiser residing on section 6, Scott Town-
ship, Henry Co., Iowa, is a native of Jeffer-
son County, N. Y.. born Dec. 20, 1817. His par-
ents were Lyman and Laura (Lovel) Hunt, who

1

HENRY COUNTY.

601

were natives of Massachusetts. The earlj' boyhood
days of our subject were spent upon a farm in
New York, but at the age of seven years his par-
ents emigrated to Ohio, settling on a farm in Port-
age County. Mr. Hunt was educated in the
common schools of his adopted count}'. For twelve
years he w.as engaged in buying horses, which he
drove to the East. While on one of these trips,
passing through Huntington, Vt., he became ac-
quainted with Mary Norton, a daughter of Na-
thaniel and Mary (Bewer) Norton, the father a
native of Massachusetts, and mother of Vermont.
The acquaintance thus formed soon ripened into
love, and they were married. The grandfather of
Mrs. Hunt was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
In March, 1854, Mr. Hunt with his young wife
moved to Iowa, settling near Denmark, where he
purchased 180 acres of land partially improved.
At the expiration of a year they removed to West
Point, making that their home for seven years.
At that place Mr. Hunt was engaged in stock-rais-
ing. Removing to Mt. Pleasant, he began the
livery business, continuing that from 1862 until
1869, then purchasing 300 acres of land, he re-
moved to his farm, residing there for seven years.
Desiring to give his children -better educational
advantages than country schools afforded, they
went to Iowa City, but subsequently returned to
his farm in .Scott Township, and with the exception
of two years spent at Columbus Junction, there he
has since resided.

Three children have brought joy and gladness to
the. home of Mr. and Mrs. V. O. Hunt: Lillian,
wife of Isaac B. Turner, a farmer of Scott Town-
ship; Charles N., a practicing attorney at Minne-
apolis, Minn. ; George L., who is a stenographer in
that city. Politically, Mr. Hunt indorses the princi-
ples advocated by the Union Labor party. Mr.
Hunt has one of the best farms in Henry County,
consisting of 450 acres of fine land. He is well
known and universally respected.

ELAM HOCKETT, one of the prominent
and representative farmers of Henry County,
was born in Salem Township, in this county,
on the 18th of November, 1846, and is the son of

Jehu and Hannah (Frazier) Hockett, both of whom
are natives of Indiana, and were among the first
settlers of Henry County, Iowa. They came to
this county when it was hardly more than a
wilderness, while yet the deer might be seen on
the prairies, or the wolf be heard howling at
night. Edward Hockett, the grandfather of our
subject, came to this county in 1834, and was the
father of ten children, of whom the second was
Jehu, the father of our subject, who reared a fam-
ily of twelve children, all of whom are now
living.

Mr. Elam Hockett was the eldest of this
family, and was reared upon tlie fann where he
now lives, on section 36, Tippecanoe Township.
He attended a private school, the district not yet
being organized, and at that time the county was
very thinly settled. On the 21st of February,
1869, he formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss
Sarah E. Stephenson, a native of Wayne County,
Ind. They were the parents of five children: Mary
Ellen, who is now the wife of M. H. Doan, of this
county; Alfonso, Eluora, Fred and Edgar are at
home.

Mr. Hockett in early life learned the carpenter's
trade, which business he now carries on in connec-
tion with general farming. He and wife belong
to the Society of Friends, and are always ready to
lend a helping hand to the needy, and to comfort
the afflicted. In politics Mr. Hockett holds very
liberal views.

^ EUBEN ESHELMAN, merchant tailor, deal-
er in ready-made clothing, gents' furnishing
1^% goods, hats and caps, etc., commenced busi-
w^ ness in Mt. Pleasant in 1848, and has carried
it on continuously ever since, while his wife is at
present engaged in the millinery business in the
same establishment. Mr. Eshelman was born in
Union County, Pa., July 10, 1829, and is the son
of John and Elizabeth (Suavely) Eshelman, who
were also born in Pennsylvania, the family having
resided there for several successive generations,

and being descendants of the original German set-
. •^

1

t

502

HENRY COUNTY.

Hr

tiers of that colony. His maternal grandfather was
a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

Reuben Eshelraan left his native State in 1848
for the West, traveling by boat and stage, and was
twenty-two days on his way to Iowa. Here he
located at Mt. Pleasant, where he had a brother
engaged in the merchant tailoring business. After
working for awhile for his brother he returned to
Pennsylvania, and for the next few years he was
rather migratory in his habits, traveling back and
forth between the East and the West, the South and
the North, until 18.t7, when he again settled at Mt.
Pleasant and eng.iged in the clothing business. His
is the oldest established house in this line in the
county. In 1867 he started a branch house at
Fairfield, Iowa, and others also in neighboring
towns. The store in Fairfield he sold out, after
three years, to his business manager there. He now
has a branch store at Malvern, Iowa, where he car-
ries a stock of goods valued at $7,000 or $8,000.
His Mt. Pleasant house is thirty-three feet front
and 105 feet deep, and he carries an average stock
of about $25,000.

Mr. pjShelman has held various local offices, and
was Alderman from his ward three terms in suc-
cession. He was one of the Directors of the St. L.,
K. <fe W. R. R., is at present one of the Directors of
the National State Bank, and has been President of
the Executive Committee of the Old Settlers' Asso-
ciation, and is at present Treasurer. He was mar-
ried at Mt. Pleasant, Jan. 10, 1866, to Miss Annie
B. Hilderbrand, (laughter of Michael Hilderbrand,
and a native of Pennsylvania. They had six chil-
dren, four boys and two girls: Franklin Reuben,
born Nov. 14, 1871, died Jan. 24, 1875; Daniel
Frederick, born Feb. 8, 1874; Anna May and Hat-
tie Mabel, twins, born May 16, 1877, and who are
extremely bright; Reuben, born May a, 1881, and
Ralph, Oct. 24, 1884.

Mr. Eshelman is a member of the I. O. O. F., and
in politics is a Democrat. He is one of the most
enterprising and successful citizens of IMt. Pleasant,
liberal and public-spirited, and is genial and affable
in his manners, and has won a safe place in the
estimation and regard of his fellow-citizens. The
portrait of such a man is well worthy- of a place in
the PouTUAiT AND BiooKAi'iiiCAi. Album of Heury

County, and it is with pleasure that we present it
to the readers of this volume, knowing that it will
be appreciated by all.

!><=»M8»>^;®><

\1

OIIN WILLEFORD, one of the pioneers of
Henry County, Iowa, was born in Clay
County, Ky., in 1807. His parents were
/ James and Jane (Bales) Willeford, natives
of North Carolina, who settled in Clay CouiUy in
an early da}'. John Willeford was united in mar-
riage with Miss Susana Sraallwood, by whom he had
eight children: Henderson M., a farmer of Center
Township, Henry County; Paulina, wife of David
Hitt, of Swift County, Minn.; Belinda, (loce.ised ;
Celia, deceased; Amanda J., wife of J. D. Trow-
bridge, of Henry Countj'; William II. H., of this
county; Sarah A., wife of Hiram Jones, of Mt.
Pleasant; Adeline A., Wife of George Pixlej', of
California; she died in 1887.

Mr. John Willeford left his home in Kentucky in
the spring of 1834, and with his wife and three
small children, took passage on board a boat for
Burlington, and from thence proceeded to Henry
County, locating on land in what is now Center
Township. He was compelled to live in a camp
three months after reaching Henry County, until
he could build a cabin. This was slow and labor-
ious work as there was no one in that section of the
country that he could get to help him. A log cabin
with puncheon floor and a chimney made of nuid
and sticks, was finally erected, the family living
some time in this cabin before there was a door,
but a quilt or blanket served the purpose. Their
nearest neighbor at this time lived many miles
away, gristmills were unknown, and for the first
year the only meal thej- had was povuided out in
the top of a stump, a hole being dug in the stump
for that purpose. The first milling they had done
was at the mill on Henderson River, Mr. Wille-
ford passing down the Skunk River, embarking at
Oakl.-md in a canoe borrowed of the Indians, then
up the Mississippi to Henderson, where he loaded
his canoe and returned home.

When Mr. Willeford came to this county he was
in limited circumstances, and only by hard labor
could he make enough to support his family. AVhen

i

HENRY COUNTY.

503

I

they fame, tlie country was so thinly settled that
tribes of Indians might almost daily be seen, but
as the country became more thickly populated, they
were driven farther AVest. Mr. Willeford was a
man who stood high in the community and was
ever ready to do a neighbor a kind action. He was, in
politics, an old-liue Whig and a great admirer of
Henry Clay and William Henry Harrison. Mr.
Willeford died in Center Township on the Uth of
March, 1845. Mrs. Willeford is still living and is
now seventy-seven years of age, and is the first
white woman who came into Henry County. She
is a woman of remarkable memory for her age, and
is loved and respected by all her neighbors, whom
she has so long lived among. At the time she came
to Henry County there were many wolves, and
many times at night they would come and scratch
at her door. Chickens and sheep had to be well
guarded or they would have been carried away by
the wolves. Now all this has changed, civilization
has advanced step by step, the log cabin is trans-
formed into a comfortable home, and the timber
lands into well cultivated farms.

?RANCIS McCRAY, an influential and in-
telligent citizen of Hem-y County, Iowa,
/llj was born in Warren County, Ohio, July 10,
1815, and is ason of John and Sarah (Dill) McCray,
His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother
of Pennsylvania, though of Irish descent. John
McCray served in the War of 1812 as a teamster.
He and his wife emigrated to Warren County,
Ohio, in an early day, living in true pioneer style.
In connection with farming Mr. McCray also
worked at his trade of carpentering. Politically,
he was a Whig, and was a very conservative man.
He departed this life in 1838. His wife came to
this county with our subject, remaining here until
her death, which occurred in 1858. She was a
member of the Presbyterian Church. Seven chil-
dren, all of whom grew to maturity, graced the
union of John McCray and Sarah Dill. Their
names are: Samuel, a farmer residing in Mont-
gomery County, Ohio; Ann, wife of Garrett I.

Jeffery, died in Jefferson Township, Henr}' County;
Jane, widow of Elam Bone, resides in Mt. Pleasant;
Francis, our subject; David D., who came to this
county in 1840, and died in 1842; Joseph, residing
in Center Township; and John, who was drowned
at the age of twenty-two, while in bathing, in
Warren County, Ohio.

In 1842 Francis McCray made his first purchase
of land of 240 acres in this county. After making
some improvements on this place, he sold it and
bought 160 acres on section 3, Trenton Township, in
1850. Here he built a house in which he still
resides. He had taught five terms of school in
Ohio, prior to 1840, in which year he went to Mis-
sissippi, remaining until 1843, engaged in teaching.
He then went back to Warren County, Ohio, and in
the winter of 1843 taught school in that county.
In 1844 he came to this county, as above stated,
and also taught in this county in 1845-46. He was
married, Dec. 20, 1849, to Hester M. Van Voast, a
native of Indiana, and a daughter of Nicholas and
Sarah (Coryell) Van Voast, Her father was a
native of New York, and her mother of Pennsyl-
vania, and both were of German origin. Mrs.
McCray's grandfather served as a soldier during
the French and Indian War. Her father died in
1882, at Mt. Pleasant, when seventy-three years of
age. Her mother died in November, 1873, at the
age of sixty-seven. They were members of the
Presbyterian Church, and respected people.

Mr. and Mrs. Francis McCray have been the
parents of eight children, namely : Orlando P., en-
gaged as a clerk in the office of the Home Insurance
Company, of Sioux City, Iowa, who graduated at
Ames' College in 1874, and prior to that was a
teacher; Albert F. died in 1866, at the age of
thirteen years; Nettie, who was also a teacher, is
the wife of J. A. Roth, now of Wayland, this
county ; John N., formerly a teacher in this county,
is now farming in Sully Count}', Dak. ; Mary E.,
wife of W. R. Hart, teacher at Iloldredge, Neb., is
a graduate of the Union School of Mt. Pleasant;
Martha died Jan. 28, 1880, at the age of eighteen;
Joseph G. conducts the home farm; Frank H., also
a farmer, resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. McCray
are attendants of the Universalist Church.

Mr. McCray was reared in the Presbyterian

^-H|^4^-

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t

faith, taught the catechism at his mother's knee,
and attended Presbyterian meetings until the year
1846, when he read " Combs' Constitution of Man,"
"which so unsettled his faith in what is called the
orthodox doctrine of the Bible, that for a time he
became very unhappy. It seemed to him as if
forsaking the doctrines of the fathers would tear up
the very foundations of society. A friend finding
him in this state of mind, offered to loan him
"Rogers' Pro and Con of Universalism," earnestly
requesting him to read it. He read it with a great
deal of caution and care, as he had been taught to
look on the doctrine as very deceitful and dangerous,
but the arguments for it seemed to be so strong
and convincing that he was induced to make a
very thorough and searching examination of the
Bible teachings of the doctrine. The final outcome
was a firm belief, educed from the fatherhood of
God, the brotherhood of man, and the textual
teachings of the Bible, that all souls would finally be
delivered from the bondage of sin and corruption,
and made holy and happy in a state of immortality.
Although the separation from old associations and
the alienation of friends was painful, his deliver-
ance from the fear of death, which had all his life
long subjected him to bondage, filled him with joy
unspeakable, and in all his trials and disappoint-
ments this faith has been a sure refuge for comfort
and consolation. Though a sectarian, he was not
intolerant of other denominations, but loved the
association of all good people of every name and
creed, believing the true test of Christian character
to be in the life and not in the profession.

Seeing the danger and evil resulting from tlie
use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, he has
never used them in that way since he left the
parental home. In the winter of 1848-49, he
and Frank Brady, who was then teaching school in
Trenton, organized the first temperance society in
that village. It was on the Washingtonian plan,
and operated successfully for some years, sowing
the seeds of temperance, which resulted in much
good to some of the youth in the neighborhood.
The following song was written for the society by
Mr. MeCray, and i)ublisli('d in the Mt. Pleasant
i^Vee Democrat. The word " rum " is meant to
denote all intoxicating drinks:
^

Tune — •' Lovely Sonnet."

Come all who sip the tempting bowl,
Come spurn King Alcohol's control;
Though now you loathe the drunkard's course,
Your's soon may be as bad, or worse.
Then sign the pledge, dethrone the king.
And loud the temperance anthem sing,
I'm free from rum.

Ye sots who to the dram shops go.
Thus causing untold grief and woe,
Ye cause your wives to wail and weep,
And livelong nights tlieir vigils keep.
Lest drunken revelry should bring
Their husband's corpse, a ghastlj' thing,
All bleeding home.

Oh! think of home, and children too,
Now beggared and disgraced by j'ou ;
They'll soon be orphans, lone and drear.
Without a parent's guardian care.
Then sign the pledge, true penance bring.
And loud the temperance anthem sing,
I'm safe from rum.

Come all who poisonous liquid sell.
That draws your brother down to hell,
That gives the drunkard's widow woe,
And causes orphan tears to flow ;
Desist from this ungodly thing.
And loud the temperance anthem sing,
I'll sell no rum.

C'ome old, come young, come one, come all,
And help roll on the temperance ball,
Reclaim the advocates of rum.
Until a jubilee shall come,
When all the world with jo}' shall ring,
All loud the temperance anthem sing,
We're free from rum.

Was there a saloon to suppress, or any tcniiierance
work to be done, he has always been called to the
front, to get the odium of the oi)ponent.s and
receive the approbation of the friends of prohi-
bition.

Mr. McCray's vote was given in 1836 for Gen.
William Henry Harrison, the Whig candidate for
President, and he continued to vote that ticket until
1844. He afterward thought the party was be-
coming so pro-slavery that he ceased to vote the
National Whig ticket, and in 1848 he voted for J.
G. liirney, the Free-Soil candidate for President,
there being but one other vote cast for him in the
township. From the time he was capable of think-
■►

..J^

HENRY COUNTY.

4-

505 "

ing on the subject of slaveiy, he thought it an
unjust, cruel institution, with God's displeasure
resting upon it, for which the nation and slave-
owners would some day be severel3' scourged. His
residence in the South so strengthened and con-
firmed his opposition to skvery as to nttich to him
the then odious appellation of " fanatical Aboli-
tionist." When, in 1844, he heard the result of the
Presidential election he wrote the following lines to
a friend in Ohio:

Ohio, my native State, of thee I'm proud to boast,
In freedom's just and righteous cause, thou hast

shown thyself a host.
Thou hast battled bravely for the free, the men

of honest toil.
Thou dost not hold that odious faith — the victors

claim the spoil ;
But bravely for the people's rights, thou hast formed

a noble van.
Thou hast routed Tod, Medary, too, witli all their

free-trade clan.
Colonel Polk tliou dost disown, with Tyler-Texas

thunder;
To claim for Polk Ohio's vote, was an eggTegious

blunder.
Calhoun and Cass, and Jackson, too, with England

for a scarecrow.
With Qua Si Qui, to boast and lie, ohl Sam, how

dare you do so!
Could not persuade Ohio's sons it would be no dis-
honor.
To mingle Texas' black-starred flag with our own

National banner.
And yet New York, with Van and Wright, to lead

the people wrong.
Has late declared to all the world, by some six

thoTisand strong.
That slavery's just, and should be wide extended.
That Texas with her slavery laws by us siiould be

defended."

Ohl shame upon the Empire State! let darkness

sliroud her banner,
And shame on Pennsylvania too, with blackness and

dishonor;
Let shame be proud Virginia's lot, the land of John,

the traitor.
And shame on all the smaller fry will sure come

soon or later.
I mourn my country's destiny, to find she will

uphold.
The wickedness of slavery with suffrages, thus

bold ;
To find her people tamely yield, to Calhoun and

dictation,

-4»

Bows low my spirit for her weal and final destina-
tion.

But when my native State I view, with stars and
stripes all flying.

It cheers me that she did not yield to loco foco

lying;

Yes! my native State, Ohio, there's not a stain

upon her.
She won a noble victor}', to her immortal honor.

Little did the writer of the foregoing lines think
when he was writing them that the shame, black-
ness and dishonor would be so soon and so terribly
inflicted on the nation for its support of slavery.
Past the meridian of life, unused to war and blood-
shed, the conflict came upon him with a force as
crushing and terrible as it was unexpected. After
the war began — not being able to serve in the ranks,
and feeling it his duty to do something — he .at
different times assisted in raising sanitary supplies.
Watching the pi ogress of the war with great anxiety,
and often with much dread, he felt unbounded
satisfaction when the Rebellion was suppressed and
the Union restored.

But Mr. McCray's interest in politics did not sub-
side with the restoration of the Union, and never
will so long as he is able to take part, until man's
right to life, liberty, and the pursuit iu the legiti-
mate and peaceable enjoyment of the fruits of his
own labor, is securely and firmly established. His
motive for political work has been principle, and
not personal preferment of himself or others, and
believing the principles of the party he supported
to be right, he always voted for the candidate of
his party, when he was fairly nominated, though he
was not always his personal choice. He has often
been solicited by his friends to become a candidate
for office, but, though grateful for their partiality,
he never felt it to be his duty, or for the best interest
of his country, to accept. He believes every
citizen — in the way his best judgment directs — owes
his best services to his country; but he also believes
it is better to be a good blacksmith than a poor
preacher, a good shoemaker than a bad lawyer, and
a good farmer than a bad statesman.

Mr. McCray served his school district as Director
for many years, and helped work the school to so
high a grade, that it was recognized as the best
public school iu the county outside of Mt. Pleas-

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506

HENRY COUNTY.

4

ant. He was told by the County Superintendent
that no one outside of the city of Mt. Pleasant took
more interest in, or understood better the work-
ings of the public schools, than he did.

Mr. McCray is a self-made man, whose success
in life is due to his own efforts, assisted bj^ those of
his wife. He takes great interest in all educational
affairs, having a good education himself, and has
tried to give his children such. He is a man of
more than ordinary literary ability, has written
many articles on prohibition, and is a member of
the Henry County Institute of Science. Among the
older citizens of the county, especially, he is well
known, and deservedly bears a high reputation.
Passionately fond of home, with children obedient
and wife affectionate and true, his home life has
been a very happy one.

,EV. DEWITT CLINTON HOWARD, Rec-
tor of St. Michael's Episcojjal Church, Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa, was born in Belmont County,
fegOhio, Aug. 22, 1825. The family are of
English origin and were among the earliest settlers
of Nortli Carolina, where they became Quakers
through the influence and teachings of the cele-
brated George Fox. The gi-eat-grandfather of the
subject of this sketch was Bartholomew Howard, a
planter near Beaufort, N. C. His son, Horton
Howard, was a large slave-owner, but being sincere
in the Friends' belief, of whieh sect he was an
eminent i)reachcr, emancii)ated all his slaves and
removed to Ohio. He had been educated to the
l)rofession of a |)liysiciaii and Iiad become eminent
in it. He adoiileil the Tlionipsonian system of
practice, in which, however, he discovered serious
defects, and became hi effect one <if the founders
of the Eclectic S3'stein, publishing a work entitled
" Howard's Improved System of Botanic Medi-
cine," which became a standard in that branch of
the medical profession. He died in Ohio. His
son Henry, father of Devvitt Clinton, was born in
North Carolina, June l-'S, 1702, and was tlie eldest
of the family, and a young man wlien his jiareuts
removed to the North. He was originally a

farmer, but after his father's death took charge of
the large botanic drug-store which the latter had
established at Columbus, Ohio, carrying it on until
his decease, which took place Aug. 30, 1840. Henrj'
Howard was a reader and a student, and a man of
more than ordinary information. He took much
interest in public affairs. He was a leading Whig
in his district, but never held any office except that
of Justice of the Peace. In his religious views he
was liberal, being practicallj^ a Universalist. An
honorable, upright man, he had the esteem of the
community in which he lived. His wife, Elizabeth
Wilson, was a native of Loudoun Count}', Ya., born
May 15, 1794, and died in 1870, aged seventy -six
3'ears. Her father, Robert Wilson, was a soldier in
the Revolutionarj' War, and lived to be over one
hundred years old. He settled in Ohio in an earlj^ day.
Henry Howard and wife had thirteen children, of
whom the following four are now living: Quincy
is a resident of Belmont County, Ohio, now over
seventy-five years of age: Cyrus is a civil engineer
and contractor at Pittsburgh, Pa.; Robert W. is a
resident of Brown County, Ind., and Dewitt C,
our subject. The latter was educated in the Ohio
Wosleyan University, Delaware, Ohio. He received
his early religious training among the Hicksite
Quakers. About 1841 he united with the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, and for ten years, from
1850, served as a minister of that denomination.
In 1865 he severed his connection with the Meth-
odist Church and united with the Episcopal Church,
under Bishop Whitehouse, of Illinois. He was
ordained and assigned to the parish of Elgin, 111.,
where he served one year. He tllen went ICast and
served as Rector at Tiffin and Monroeville, Ohio.
From there he went to St. John's Church, Pitts-
burgh, Pa. He came to Mt. Pleasant in tiie winter
of 1876-77, and served four mouths as Rector of
St. MicliacFs Church, his present charge, and in the
spring of 1^77 accepted a call from the parish of
Bloomington, 111., where he served two years, then
returned to Iowa, and served four years as Rector
of the parisii of Oskaloosa. He resigned that posi-
tion on account of impaired health, and accejited
his |iresent charge at JIt. Pleasant, where his duties
were lighter, and entered upon the discharge of the
same Dec. 1, 1883.

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a

HENRY COUNTY.

507

Mr. Howard has been twice married; first at
Newark, Ohio, May 1, 1851. to Miss Christiana
Rankin, daughter of James Rankin. Mrs. How-
ard was born at Newark, Ohio, July 21, 1827. Six
children blessed their union, of whom only three
are living: Snowden R., born Aug. 14, 1854, died
Sept. 10, 1855; Lizzie Ella, born July 11, 185G,
died Jan. 22, 1863; Charles Crews, born Oct. 22,
1858, died Jan. 18, 1863; James Henry, born Aug.
20, 1861, is a homesteader in Thomas County, Kan. ;
Clinton Woodbury, born Aug. 25, 1864, has just
graduated from the law school of the State Univer-
sity of Michigan, and is in the office of Woolson &
Babb, of Mt. Pleasant; Frederick Kendal is in his
last year of a regular course at Grisvvold College,
Davenport, Iowa. Mr. Howard lost his wife in
1874, her death occurring at Lima, Ohio, November
13 of that year. He was married again, June 6,
187G, at St. John's Church, Pittsburgh, Pa., by the
Rt. Rev. Bishop Kerfoot, to Miss Emma McClure,
daughter of James McClure, of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mrs. Howard was born and married in the same
house in that city. Since locating in Mt. Pleasant,
Mr. Howard has won the respect and love of his
congregation by his sincere interest in the welfare
of the church and people, and his consistent Chris-
tian life and character have given him the respect
of all who know him. He has been a member of
the Masonic fraternity since 1849, and has affiliated
with Jerusalem Commandery No. 7, K. T., of Mt.
Pleasant.

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EDWARD S. HOWARD, Assistant Cashier of
the National State Bank, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
J -■ w.as born in McKean County, Pa., Nov. 19,

1853, and is a son of David C. and Mary M. (Free-
man) Howard. The family were originally settlers
of Connecticut, whence Eliphalet M., grandfather
of our subject, removed to Watertown, N. Y., and
from there to McKean County, Pa., which was
then a wilderness. There he lived until his death
in 1876, in his eighty -second year. His wife, Mar-
tha Hines, is still living, and was eighty -eight years
of age Jan. 1, 1888. Of their seven children three
ai"e yet living: Mary A. IL, wife of William

Totten, of Sargent, McKean Co., Pa. ; Daniel W.,
a farmer near the same place, and Emma J., widow
of Charles B. Gillis, formerly of Mt. Pleasant, where
she now resides. David C, father of Edward S.,
was born near Watertown, Jefferson Co., N. Y.,-
Dec. 13, 1825, and was quite 3'oung when his par-
ents removed to Pennsylvania, and thereafter lived
all of his life in McKean County, dying at Sargent
Oct. 16, 1862. He was elected County Commis-
sioner in 1861, and was one of the Commissioners
sent to Harrisburg to arrange about the pay of the
celebrated "Buektail" regiment. He returned
from that trip sick and died shortly thereafter, at
the time stated. He took considerable interest in
public affairs, in which he was well posted, and was
a man of integrity, who had the respect of people
who knew him. He was married at Smethport,
McKean County, Oct. 19, 1848, to Mary M., daugh-
ter of Brewster Freeman, of that place, where she
was born April 15, 1829. Her father was born in
Connecticut, but the family were originally from
Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Howard had four
children, two of whom, Frank and Fannie, died in
childhood. Emma, a daughter, lives in Mt. Pleas-
ant with her brother Edward S., as does her mother.
Our subject lived in the place of his birth until
ten years old, when he came to Mt. Pleasant with
his aunt, Mrs. Emma J. Gillis, his father having died
the year previous. He there received a good edu-
cation, and after leaving school worked in a news-
paper office for a year, and in September, 1872, was
offered a position as assistant bookkeeper in the
bank where he now is. Faithful service brought
promotion, and he was raised to the position of
bookkeeper, and subsequently was made Assistant
Cashier. Mr. Howard has attained considerable
prominence in the Masonic fraternity', which he
joined in 1881. He is a member of Mt. Pleasant
Lodge No. 8, A. F. ife A. M.,in which he has passed
all the chairs, and is now serving his second term
as W. M.; he is also Secretary of Henry Chapter
No. 8, R. A. M., and a Worthy Sir Knight of Jeru-
alem Commandery No. 7, K. T., of which he is
Recorder. He is also a member of the Presyte-
rian Church, of which he is one of the Trustees. In
politics he is a supporter of the Democratic party,
by whom he has twice been nominated for Clerk of
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508

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HENRY COUNTY.

the Courts, and ran largely ahead of his ticket, but
the Republican majority was too large to be over-
come. For four years he has been City Treasurer.
Mr. Howard is unmarried, and is a young man of
unblemished character and high reputation.

EDWARD HOCHREITER is a prominent
farmer I'esiding on section 9, Scott Town-
ship, on the original homestead. Dec. 5,
1851, he, the eldest son of Bartholomew Hochreiter,
w-as born. He was reared and educated in this
county and is one of the few men of his years who
is yet in possession and residing upon a part of the
lands which have descended unentailed to the chil-
dren of a pioneer, who braved all the vicissitudes
of a new country to make a home for his family in
the great Northwest.

Our subject was not sitting idly by while the vir-
gin soil was being put under cultivation, but in his
early years aided largelj- in the work. As he grew
to manhood he became noted as a prince of good
fellows, and no social gathering was considered
complete without his presence. Possessed of a
fine voice and ever ready to entertain with vocal
music, he achieved quite a reputation as a comic
vocalist, and many of the old citizens and young
ones too, relate with glee how "p]d" used to favor
them with productions "rich, rare and racy." Lit-
erary societies were his especial pride, and in the
furtherance of the benefits to be derived from that
source, he was one of the most important factors.
Although a man of mature years now, he is still as
fond of amusement as in the old-time days, when
his witty repartee and good humor made him the
center of all the gatherings for social pleasure in the
neighborhood.

The marriage of Mr. Hochreiter to Miss Julia
Felgar was an event of considerable importance in
the neighborhood, he thus becoming a part of the
more solid element in societ}'. She was a daughter
of Samuel and Lucretia (Trout) Felgar, who emi-
grated from Westmoreland County, Pa., at an early
date in the history of this count}'. They settled
near Trenton upon a farm at least forty years ago,
and remained ujjon the same farm until their death,

•^t"

which occurred in 1887. Samuel Felgar died June

1, and his wife intended to make her home with Mr.
Hochreiter, but she, too, sickened and died August

2 . She reached her seventy-fifth and he his eightieth
year. Both were highly respected people. They
had nine children : Catherine manned Peter Black,
and resides in Champaign County, Ohio; Margaret
is the wife of John Marquis, of Clarke County, Iowa;
Elizabeth is the wife of Washington Mullen, one of
the best known and most influential men of Scott
Township; Mary wedded William Morehouse, of
Trenton Township; John, deceased, married Jane
Evans, who had for her second husband Hamilton
Brewington; Samuel resides in Trenton Township;
Henry died in 18G3; Jacob died in infancy; and
Julia, wife of our subject.

The marriage of Edward Hochreiter w.as cele-
brated Dec. 5, 1872, the same day that he became
of age. Rev. Bradrick, a Methodist Episcopal min-
ister, performing the ceremony at the home of the
bride in Trenton Township. They have two chil-
dren— Vernie M., a daughter of fourteen, and John,
who died in infancy. In 1877 the young couple
moved into a handsome countr}' residence, erected
by Mr. Hochreiter, exactly opposite the spot upon
which he was born, and here they live amid happi-
ness and plenty. IMr. Hochreiter is a successful
farmer, and since his boyhood the attractive village
of Winfield has beeu platted, has grown to respect-
able dimensions, and three railroads pass within
sight of his home, one of which crosses a part of
the original homestead. We gladly give this gen-
tleman and his family a place in the history of his
native county.

ON. H. D. WALKER, Grand Keeper of the
Records and Seal of the Knights of Pythias
since 1874, and a member of the order
pv since 1870, is engaged in the general insur-
ance business, on the south side of the Public
Square in Mt. Pleasant. He was born near Cham-
bersburg, Pa., Oct. 16, 1831, his parents being
William and M.ary (Houghtelin) Walker. The
father of William Walker was born in Ireland, and
came to this country with his parents in his youth,

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HENRY COUNTY.

511

the family settling near Carlisle, Pa., at an early
d.ay. His mother was born on the Island of Man-
hattan, N. Y., and was the daughter of Holland
parents. WilliMm Walker was born in Franklin
County, Pa., and learned the trade of shoemaking
at Carlisle, in that State, carrying it on for many
years in the borough of Newville, Cumberland
Co., Pa. He finally gave up the business, and
bought a farm in the adjoining county of Adams,
on which he lived until his death in 1854. His wife
came to Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa, after her
husband's decease, and lived with her son II. D.
until the time of her demise, in 1878, at the ripe
age of eighty-four years. Both were strict mem-
bers of the United Presbyterian Church, and highly
respected in the community where they resided.
The subject of this sketch, H. D. Walker, was
reared on a farm on the site of the battle of Get-
tj'sburg. When eighteen years of age he began an
apprenticeship to the plasterer's trade, which he mas-
tered, and traveled, working as a journeyman in
several States, in Ohio, Indiana, Arkansas, Louisiana,
Tennessee and Texas, until the autumn of 1854,
when he located at Piqua, Miami Co., Ohio, where
he was married, March 13, 1856, to Miss Isabella
Redman, daughter of David and Esther Redman.
Mrs. Walker was born at Cherry town. Pa. Four
children were born to them, all of whom except the
youngest are living: Charles D. is married to Mamie
Hobart, and is a plasterer by trade, residing at Mt.
Pleas.int; Minnie B. is the wife of H. B. Adams, of
Aurora, 111.; llattie M. is the wife of H. J. DeLau-
benfels, a civil engineer of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa;
William B., the youngest, died Feb. 14, 1886, aged
twenty years and three months.

Mr. Walker has been for years prominently iden-
tified with the I. O. O. F. and Knights of Pythias,
being initiated into the former in Piqua Lodge
No. 8, under the Grand Jurisdiction of Ohio. He
emigrated to Iowa in October, 1856, and located
at Mt. Pleasant, where he has since resided. On
coming to Mt. Pleasant he deposited his with-
drawal card with Henry Lodge No. 10, I. O. O. F.
After filling all the minor offices in the lodge, he
became a Past Grand Master in 1860, and was
elected Grand Master of the State in 1873. He be-
came a Patriarch by uniting with Industry Encamp-

ment No. 18, at its institution in October, 1857,
and was promoted to the Chair of Grand Patriarch
in 1869. In 1870, having become much interested
in the rapidly growing order of the Knights of
Pythias, he joined with twenty -five others in a peti-
tion to the Supreme Lodge of the world for a dis-
pensation to organize Eastern Star Lodge No. 6, K.
of P., at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and was thereafter
unanimously elected the first Chancellor Commander.
He became a Past Chancellor on July 1, 1870, and
in the year 1872 was duly elected a representative
to the Grand Lodge, and at the session of that
body at Burlington, Iowa, July 9 and 10, fol-
lowing, he was elected and dulj' installed Grand
Vice Chancellor, and served in such capacity till
Jan. 29, 1873, on which day he was elected Grand
Chancellor and served one year. During his ad-
ministration of the office the interests of the order
were materially advanced. The ability and zeal
displayed by him won for him a reputation that
resulted in his election to the responsible position
of Grand Keeper of Records and Seal of this
jurisdiction. He was elected in 1874 to that
office, and has been re-elected at each succeeding
election to this date, covering a period of fourteen
years. Lately his salary has been increased so that
he can devote his attention almost exclusively to
the interests of the order. In his relations to these
two great charitable institutions Mr. Walker has
borne a conspicuous part, and has developed pecul-
iar ability as an administrative officer, that has
won for him the title of the "Model Knight."
Mr. Walker is a Republican in i)ulitics, and has
voted with that party since its organization.

On the adjoining page will be found the portrait
of Mr. Walker, which will be regarded with great
gratification by his many friends.

NOCH GRAVES, Mt. Pleasant, one of the
pioneer settlers of Henry County, Iowa, was
born in Bedford County, Pa., of which place
his parents, Joseph and Elizabetii (Stilhvell) (1 raves,
were also natives. He was one of a family of eight
children, of whom he is now the only surviving
one. Joseph Graves was a farmer by occupation,

•^H-?-:

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512

HENRY COUNTY.

and during the time of the Revolutionary War nobly
served in his father's place. In politics he was
a Jackson Democrat, and an active worker for his
party.

The subject of this sketch received his education
in a log school-house, with its huge fireplace,
greased paper windows, puncheon floor and seats,
while his boolcs consisted of a Testament and spel-
ler. He was only able to attend school in the win-
ter, as all boys in those days had to work on the
farm in the summer after they were large enough
to plow. In the year 1827, Mr. Graves went
to Butler County, Ohio, where, in 1829, he
was married to Miss Mary Spencer, who was born
in 1812, in Westmoreland County, Pa. Remaining
in Ohio till 184:3, became to Iowa, which was then
but a Territorj', coming by water part of the way,
and completing the journey with teams to Henry
County, locating in Wayne Township. At this
time the county was very thinly settled, there being
only twelve voters in the township, five of whom
were Democrats and seven Whigs. Mr. Graves
took a claim and developed a fine farm in the wil-
derness.

Mr. and Mrs. (iraves have had a family of thir-
teen children, five of wh6m are living: Gideon now
resides in California; Washington is a resident of
Red Oak, Iowa; William, of Ilaj-es County, Neb.;
Margaret, the wife of John Crawford, of Wayne
Township; Eliza, the wife of W. K. Herbert, of Mt.
Pleasant. The}' had one son among those who so
gallantly defended their country during the late
war. He was wounded by a piece of shell at Pitts-
burg Landing. He served through the war and
was discharged, but died in Kansas from disease
contracted by exposure while in the service.

Mr. Graves has always taken an active interest
in educational and church work, and together with
his wife, has long been earnestly laboring in the
vine3-ard of the INIaster. They have been membeis
of the Methodist Episcopal Church for liftj' years,
three years of which time Mr. Graves has been a
Class-Leader. He is a zealous Republican, and has
held liie oflice of Constable for three years.

Mr. and Mrs. Graves have long been residents of
this county, and have witnessed its growth almost
from the beginning. They have seen the progress

which civilization has made and have taken an act-
ive part in this same progress. They have helped
to mold its present form, till it ranks among the
first of the counties which make up the great State
of Iowa, and have gained their competency by in-
dustry and economy. Many a time has Mr. Graves
been compelled to shoulder his rifle and kill the
deer or turkey which furnished their next meal.
It thus appears how they have toiled to make a
start in life, and have made many sacrifices, 3'et by
these very saca-ifices the}' can now the more fully
appreciate their comfortable surroundings, and have
the satisfaction of a home honestly won, a compe-
tency fairl}' gained. They removed to Mt. Pleas-
ant in 1872, since which time Mr. Graves has lived
a retired life.

—^ -4^-^ ^

- AVID F. JONES, editor and proprietor of
the Salem News, an independent weekly
journal, was born in Upper Middletown,
Fayette Co., Pa., Dec. 23, 1839, and is the
son of Edward and Hannah (Woodward) Jones.
He was educated at George's Creek Academy,
Smithfield, Pa., and served an apprenticeship to the
printer's trade in the office of the Genius of Liberty
of Uniontown, Pa. He was subsequently employed
at various times on the different journals published
in Pittsburgh, Pa. In the spring of 1882 he emi-
grated to Illinois and spent several months at
Nakomis, whence on Jan. 1, 1883, he came to Salem,
in this count}', and purchased the paper he now
owns, which is a seven-column folio, established in
September, 1880, by II. Armstrong, who subse-
quently sold it to W. S. Withrow, from whom it
was purchased by Mr. Jones. The paper is inde-
pendent in politics, newsy and well printed, and
has a circul;ition of over 800 copies weekly. The
oflice is well e(inipped for job work and is doing a
good business.

Mr. Jones was married at Uniontown, Pa., May
10, 18(;(;, to Sarah C., daughter of Mr. B. Collier.
She w.as born in Johnstown, Pa. Ten children
were born of their union, of whom five died in
childhood. The five living are — Albert C, Will-
iam F., Robert F., George Rex and \V alter R.

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HENRY COUNTY.

513 1^

Those who died were named Mary B., Allen,
Charles, John P. and Laura B.

Mr. Jones is an energetic, practical printer, and
is building up a flue business. The Salem News is
one of the most {lopular local papers of Henry
County.

<jf OHN HULINGS, one of the enterprising
farmers and stock-raisers of Henry County,
residing on section 32, Center Township, was
(^|/ born Nov. 18, 1818, in Crawford County,
Pa. His parents were Marcus Hulings, a native of
Pennsylvania, born Jan. 7, 1791, and Sally (Myers)
Hulings, born May 12, 1792, also a native of Penn-
sylvania. His paternal grandfather, John Hulings,
born Feb. 14, 1767, was among the first, if not the
very first, who made a trip u\> the Alleghany River
in a boat. He married Agnes Bell, by whom he had
six children — Marcus, P0II3', Mercer, Michael,
James and Seely. Marcus Hulings and Sally Myers
were married in Pennsylvania, and were the par-
ents of ten children, nine of whom grew to man
and womanhood : Agnes, wife of Frederick Stein-
brook, of Lee County, 111. ; Thomas, of Pennsyl-
vania; John, of this sketch; Jefferson, deceased;
Alfred, of Armstrong County, Pa.; Marcus, en-
gaged in the oil business at Oil City, Pa. ; Rebecca,
wife of Allen Barnabee, a resident of Armstrong
County, Pa.; Sarah, wife of Thom.as Armstrong;
Seth, of Clarion County, Pa. Mr. Hulings served
during the War of 1812, and was at Erie when the
victorious Commodore Perry arrived. In 1813,
Mr. Hulings with his family emigrated to Arm-
strong County, Pa., where he remained until his
death, which was caused by being run over by the
cars, he not hearing their approach on account of
deafness. Mrs. Hulings has also gone to join her
husb.nnd in that better land. He was a member of
the Uuiversalist Church, and his wife of the Ger-
man Lutheran.

The subject of this sketch was reared in Arm-
strong County, Pa., attending the subscription
school or the log school-house, with no floor, seats
of slabs, a slab or pins driven into the wall serving
for a writing-desk, and with its greased j^aper wiu-
.^0 —

dows. John Hulings was first m.arried in Arm-
strong County, Pa., on the 17th of April, 1843, to
Miss Elizabeth A. Templeton, born in Armstrong
County, Pa., Nov. 12, 1825. By this union there
were five children: Sarah, born July 19, 1844,
died April 2, 1860; Thomas, born June 12, 1846,
died March 26, 1860; Albert, born June 12, 1849,
died March 30, 1860; Clara, born Nov. 5, 1851,
died ISIarch 4, 1860. All of these children died of
diphtlieria. Seth S., born Dec. 25, 1853, was the
onlj- one who survived the disease. He now resides
in Adams County, Neb., and is the husband of
Mary Hudson. In April, 1856, Mr. Hulings came
by water to Burlington and from thence to Henry
County with teams. It was vevy muddy and he
had to p.ay $13 for a team with which to move his
family that short distance, and the mud being so
deep at one time they had to pry the wagon out
with rails. He settled in Center Township, where
he worked at his trade as carpenter, his first work
being the building of a ferry-boat. He worked at
his trade for some time and then took charge of a
ferry-boat that was known as Hulings Ferry.

On the 23d of December, 1868, Mrs. Elizabeth
Hulings died. She was a sincere Christian, a kind
wife and mother, and was highly esteemed through-
out the community. Mr. Hulings was again mar-
ried, to Miss Sally Ross, June 6, 1869. They are
the happy parents of four children: one child died
in infancy; Ralph, born May 13, 1872; Marcus,
born Nov. 11, 1874; Maud, born Jlarch 5, 1877.
In 1875 Mr. Hulings purchased his present farm,
which consists of 129 acres of well-cultivated land.
In politics he is a Republican, having aHiliated
with that party since its organization. He cast his
first vote for Henry Clay and is always ready to
aid in anj' enterprise for the advancement of edu-
cation.

DDISON JOHNSON, a farmer residing on
WllM section 13, Jefferson Township, Henry Co.,
Iowa, is a Trustee of that township. He
was born in Hendricks County, Ind., Jan.
1, 1837, and is a son of Jonathan and Ann (Curtis)
Johnson. Both were natives of Randolph County,

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514

HENRY COUNTY.

N. C, the parents of both emigrating to Indiana at
an early day in the history of that State. The
grandparents on both sides lived and died in Hen-
dricks County, and but little history can be given
of the family. Both reared large families and
some of the children of both families came to Iowa.
Mention will first be made of tbe Johnson family:
Elihii married Euth Iladley, and came to Keokuk
County, Iowa, and settled in Richland, where he
was for twenty years a miller; Charity wedded
Aaron McPherson, who also became a resident of
Richland ; Jonathan, the father of our subject, set-
tled in Jefferson Township, Henry County, in 1857,
on section 14. His death occurred one month
after his coming to this county. lie was the father
of Caroline, widow of James Wright; Emily, wife
of William Harlan; then our subject, followed by
Alfred, who died during the war; he was a mem-
ber of Company B, 25th Regiment Iowa Volun-
teers. Amanda wedded John Klyon; Mary E., wife
of B. F. Nichell, and Tillman II., who married Eva
Perkins, completed the family except some chil-
dren who died in infancy. After the death of Mr.
Johnson, his widow became the wife of John Har-
lan. She died at the age of sixty-four and was
buried at the Finley Chapel Cemetery'. She was a
member of that church for many years and part of
her children were also members. Her second hus-
band, John Harlan, is also deceased.

Addison Johnson, our subject, was married in
1857 to Miss Veturia Harlan, a daughter of John
and Rebecca Harlan. The relationship becomes
novv somewhat complicated, as John Harlan after-
ward became the step-father of his son-in-law. The
married life of our subject and his young wife was
begun in .lefferson Township upon a farm, and to
this date they have ever been numbered among her
best citizens. In 18G;! Mr. Johnson purcliased his
present farm, and almost all the improvements upon
it have been made since he purchased it. Thej'
moved into an old log cabin, which has since been
replaced by a modern farmhouse, and the broad
acres which have brought back large returns have
been mosll3' broken since he became their owner.
Mr. and Mrs Johnson are the parents of five chil-
dren: Harvey, the husl)and of Emma Mathews,
youngest daughter of Madison Mathews, who has a

sketch elsewhere in this work ; William E. married
Lilian Roberts, a daughter of Robert Roberts, of
this county ; Jonathan, Johnson and Ada are yet
unmarried.

Since 1875 Mr. Johnson has been a member of
the School Board, and in October, 1884, w.as elected
a Trustee of his township .and his official acts have
been highly appreciated by the public, and .at the
last election held in the township he was elected
ills own successor, to serve for a term of three
years by a vote in excess of his party ticket. Mr.
Johnson and his family hold a high social position
in the community and are held in high regard by
their friends and neighbors.

m^.

WiILLIAM BALL, a farmer residing on sec-
tion 33, Scott Township, Henry Co., Iowa,
was born on board the steamboat " James
M. White," on the Mississippi River near Natchez,
Miss., March 17, 1845. His parents, William
and Mary (Bakewell) Ball, both natives of Trent,
England, were en route for America when our
subject was born, having been transferred from the
ocean steamer to a Mississippi river packet at New
Orleans. They finally settled in Mercer County,
111., where the father purchiised eighty acres of
Government land, and there he resided until the
time of his de.ath, which occurred June 25, 1872,
when fifty -seven years of age. His wife still sur-
vives him, and resides in Mercer Count}', 111.

Our subject received his education in the dis-
trict schools, and when but seventeen years of age
enlisted in the War for the Union, Sept. 17, 1861,
becoming a member of Company G, 30th Illinois
Volunteer Infantry. He served twenty-one months
and participated in the b.attles of Ft. Henry, Ft.
Donelson, Corinth and Briton Lane. Mr. Ball w.as
discharged on account of disabilities received ^dur-
ing the service.

Returning to Mercer County, 111., June 20, 1863,
William Ball attended school in Keithsburg for a
year. Ijcarning tiie harness-maker's trade, he fol-
lowed that occupation for four years, and later
worked on a farm fov two years. Emigrating to
Henry County in 1872, he settled in Canaan Town-

JU

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HENRY COUNTY.

515

J

■f

ship, purchasing eighty acres of unimproved land.
Developing a farm, he there lived for two years,
but in 1876 he sold and purchased eighty .acres on
section 3.3, of Scott Township, where he yet resides.
On the 10th of September, 1872, the marriage of
William Ball and Dorcas Patterson, a native of
Greene County, Pa., was celebrated. Her p.arents,
William and Maria (Briclser) Patterson, were also
natives of Pennsylvania, and now reside at Win-
field, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Ball are the parents of
seven children — Mary Ann, George W., Jenny and
Jesse, twins, William, Edward and Thomas Clif-
ford. Mr. Ball is a meml ler of the A. F. & A. M., and
the G. A. R. Post. Politically he is a Democrat.
Mrs. Ball is a member of the Baptist Church.
Though comparatively a j'oungman, Mr. Ball is one
of the enterprising farmers of Scott Township.

^^^ATHANIEL HOBBS, residing on section
I j) 16, Tippecanoe Township, Henry County,
\VsM-) is a native of Wixshington County, Pa.,
born April 14, 1830, .and is a son of Nathaniel and
Elizabeth (Hamilton) Hobbs, the father a native of
MaryLand, and the mother of Virginia. When
Nathaniel was a lad of seven, his parents emigrated
to Knox County, Ohio, residing there until the
spring of 1844. They then came to Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa, and his father i^urehased 140 acres of wild
land, on which he made extensive improvements,
and resided there until his death. At the age of
seventy-two, Aug. 12, 1862, he was called home.
His widow still survives, and is residing with her
son-in-law, Isaac Wallcer, in Tippecanoe Township.
If she should live until March, 1888, and in all
probability she will, liaving excellent health for a
lady of her .age, she will be eighty-four years old.
Mr. Hobbs, Sr., was a carpenter by trade, and was
scrupulously honest in all his dealings. It was his
pride to make his word respected by everyone,
and none knowing the m.an ever doubted his sin-
cerity. Politically he was a Democrat, and always
took an active interest in all public affairs. At his
death he had considerable property, all of which
was made by his own labor, having commenced
life a poor boy. To this worthy couple were born
A*

eight children, six of whom are still living. They
were: John, who died in 1853, at the .age of twen-
ty-eight, leaving a wife and four children, who are
still residing on a farm in Warren County, Iowa;
Mary Ann, wife of Jacob Baltzley, residing in
Shawnee County, Kan.; Nath.aniel, our subject;
Albert, living in Center Township, Henry County;
Isabel, who wedded Harvey Willeford, of Stock-
ton, Cal., and died in that city in May, 1887, at
the age of forty-six; Rachel, widow of Merritt
Welch, is residing in Tippecanoe Township; Hen-
rietta, wife of Isaac Walker, also lives in Tippe-
canoe Township, .and Amanda, wife of David
Norton, a farmer of Washington Territory-.

Nathaniel Hobbs, the subject of our sketch, was
reared upon a farm, but in early life learned the
trade of a plasterer. On the 30th of November,
1865, he was joined in marriage with Lydia Roark,
a native of Indiana. Her parents were Theodore
and Phiebe (Smith) Roark, both of whom were
natives of Cincinnati, Ohio. To this union four
children have been born: Louisa, wife of Warner
Freeman, residing in Tippecanee Township ; Pha'be,
wife of La Fayette llousel, also of Tippecanoe
Township; John ^V^esley and Cora May are still
inmates of the paternal home. Mr. Hobbs is one
of the enterprising and prominent farmers of Tip-
pecanoe Township. Financially he is a self-made
man, and is the owner of one of the finest farms
in the county, consisting of 211 acres. He has
always done his part in all educational and other
enterprises for the common good of the county.
He and his estimable wife are sincere Christians,
and earnest workers for their M.aster, and we gladly
welcome them to a place in the history of Henry
County.

W. HANNA, M. D., of Winfield, Iowa, was
born in Washington County, Pa., on the
23d of September, 1846. His parents,
(^^/i Thomas and Jane (Cooper) Hanna, were
also natives of the same county, and his father was
a farmer by occupation. Dr. Hanna grew to man-
hood in his native county, receiving there a com-
mon-school and academic education. At the age
of twenty-two he entered upon the study of his

f

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516

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HENRY COUNTY.

chospii profession under the tutorship of Dr. D. W.
Robinson, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. He also attended
the medical department of the Iowa State Univer-
sity at Iowa City, receiving a diploma of gradua-
tion from there in 1873. He afterward received
special instructions at the hospital in St. Louis. On
completing his studies, Dr. Hanna immediately be-
gan practicing, lie went to Solon, Iowa, but
remained there only a short time, when he went to
Cedar Rapids, where he practiced his profession
until 1875. He then went to St. Louis, and in 1879
came to Winfield, Iowa.

On the 2Gtli of October, 1882, Dr. Hanna led to
the marriage altar Miss Carrie E. Duncan, of Coun-
cil Bluffs, Iowa, a daughter of Wilson and Mary
(Butler) Duncan. At the time of the breaking out
of the yellow fever at St. Louis in 1878, our sub-
ject vvas an assistant at the quarantine hospital in
that city, at which time his health became poor and
has never been fully regained. The Doctor is a
member of the Central Medical Society. He is a
strong Democrat, always read}' to aid in the ad-
vancement of his party. He was appointed Post-
master under the present administration, Sept. 13,
1885, and has been a candidate for the Legislature
and is at i)resent Mayor of Winfield. He is a
Master Mason, a meml)er of Good Faith Lodge
No. 235, and of the Royal Arch Chapter at Wash-
ington. The Doctor is one of the jirominent
citizens of Henry County. He has been in jiractiee
here since 1879, and his patronage each jear grows
larger, as the respect of the citizens for Dr. Hanna
grows larger. He has been for years Assistant
Surgeon of the B. & N. W., and B. & W. R. R.,and
is Surgeon-in-Chief of the two systems.

*^S^...;>S^ .1^.^68'^^ .«c«f-««=fe-*

GEORGE A. KING is one of the prominent
, citizens and pioneer settlers of IIcnr\' County,
Iowa, residing on section 36, Scott Town-
ship. He is a native of Broome County, N. Y.,
born Aug. 12, 1820. His father, William W. King,
was of English descent, though born in Broome
County, and his mother, Edna (Adams) King, was
of German and English descent. Lyman King, the
grandfather of our subject, was a native of Massa-

fc:<?!

i

chusetts. William W. King was a farmer, and
reared a family of seven children: Eliza, who
wedded Lucius Eldridge, deceased, resides in
Broome County, N. Y. ; Amos, a painter, also of
Broome County ; Lyman, deceased ; Harry, a farmer
of Broome County; Mary, who wedded Calvin
Tyler, deceased, now resides in Chenango County.
N. Y. ; Lydia L., wife of Clark Ferguson, of
Broome County. N. Y. ; Zenas was killed in the
liattle of the Wilderness during the Rebellion, and
Franklin died in childhood.

Our subject was reared on the home farm, and at
the age of twenty left home, going to Hillsdale
County, IMich., where he engaged as a farm hand
for ten years, teaching school in the winter time,
when work was scarce. At the end of that time he
purchased a farm which he cultivated for three years.
In 185G Mr. King came to Henry County, Iowa,
purch.asing eighty acres of land on section 36 of
Scott Township. Bj' care and cultivation the raw
land has been transformed into one of the finest
farms in the township. Every tree upon the place
was set out by Mr. King, and the farm jnirchased
in 1 856 could scarcely be recognized as the one of
to-day.

On the 17th of June, 1845, Mr. King led to the
marriage altar Mary Lauder, a native of ISIontgom-
erj' County, N. Y., and a daughter of John Lauder,
who was of Scotch descent. Their union has been
blessed with two children : Edna C, wife of Allen
Swan, of Scott Township, and Harry G., residing
at home.

Mr. King held the office of Township Clerk for
one 3'ear in Michigan, and of Township Trustee of
Scott Township. He is at present Notai-y Public,
having received his appointment from Gov. Sher-
man. He has also held the office of Postm.ister of
Mt. Union for a year. In politics he is a stalwart
Reiniblican, and in early life was a Whig, and cast
his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay in 1844.
He was a delegate to the State Convention, June 27,
1881, which nominated Gov. Sherman. Such men
as Mr. King niaj' well furnish an example for rising
generations. His business, social and moral life is
free from reproach. Commencing life with no
pecuniary aid he has yet by his own honest labor
accumulated a comfortable competence, and is the

u

^ii^Hh-^

HENRY COUNTY.

517

owner of 120 acres of land, all under cultivation,
and none of Henry County's citizens are more uni-
versally respected than is George A. King.

^*-^-*t^^

WILLIAM A. JESSUP is a farmer residing
on section 12, Jefferson Township, Henry
Co., Iowa. One of the oldest families in
this part of the county is the Jessup family, who
came in the spring of 1850. William A., the sub-
ject of this sketch, was born in Guilford County, N.
C, Jan. 2C, 1821, and is a son of Levi and Jemima
(Unthank) Jessup. Both were natives of North
Carolina, of English parentage, and the ceremony
which united them for life was performed accord-
ing to the customs of the Friends, of which denom-
ination they were members. In that State their
two eldest children were born — Emily and William.
Emily is now the widow of George Snoddy; she
was first married to Dr. David Wade, by whom she
had three children : William, a physician in Los
Angeles, Cal. ; Robert D., also in Los Angeles, and
Anna, deceased. In 1821 the family removed to
Indiana, and located on Government land, which
Levi purchased at the first land sale. The Jessup
family were residents of Indiana before Hendricks
County was organized, and Levi Je.ssup was the
first County Clerk elected of that county, the term
lasting seven years. He became a very popular
man in this county, and in 1831 was elected a
member of the State Senate, which office he accept-
ably filled. During their residence in Indiana,
Levi cleared up a farm in Hendricks County, and
also engaged in the mercantile business for a num-
ber of years at Stilesville, from which village they
removed to Henry County, Iowa, in 1850. Six
children were born to them in Indiana: Calvin,
who died in Henry County, unmarried ; Kuth A.,
wife of Dr. William Mathews, deceased, of Putnam
County, Ind. ; Jonathan, who married Elizabeth
Walker, of Jefferson Township, Henry Co., Iowa;
S. M. Jessup, who married Minerva Dann, of Al-
bany, Gentry Co., Mo. ; he was a member of the
33d Missouri Infantry, and was wounded at Tu-
pelo, Miss., and died soon after from the effects
of the wounds; Oliver, a resident of Jefferson

■-4»-

Township, is the husband of Kate Adams, and
Solon, a practicing physician of Salem, Ore; he
married his wife in that State.

William, our sul>ject, accompanied by his brother
Jonathan, located first in Jefferson Township in the
fall of 1849, and was followed by the remainder
of the family in the spring of 1850. Levi Jessup
purchased eighty acres, now the home farm of his
son Oliver, while our subject purchased the eighty
acres on which he now resides, to which he later
added other purchases. Upon this he built a log
house immediately north of his present residence,
but in the same yard. The old cabin still stands
and is used .as an out-building. Levi Jessup became
as popular in Henry County as in his own county
(Hendricks) in Indiana, and in 1852 was nominated
by the Whig part\' of Henr^' County and elected a
member of the General Assembly. He became a
member of the Christi.in Church, being by reason
of his official positions disenfranchised as a member
of the Society of Friends. To the Christian Church
both himself and wife belonged from that date
until the time of their death. During the progress
of the war two of the sons, Jonathan and Merrill,
enlisted. Jonathan was first a member of the 4th
Iowa Cavalry, but was transferred to the C8th Col-
ored Troops, being commissioned Second Lieuten-
ant, serving in that capacity until his discharge from
the service.

The aged father was as full of patriotism as were
his sons, and upon the organization of the cele-
brated "Graybea.rd" regiment of Iowa, he enlisted
and served for several months, being discharged
later on account of ill-health. His death occurred
in 1866. He lived to see the principles long advo-
cated by him become a permanency. The death of
the tender wife and loving mother occurred in
1861 at the age of sixty-six years, while her hus-
band, Hon. Levi Jessup, reached the mature age of
seventy-four years. Only four of the Jessup family
are now living: Oliver and William, in Jefferson
Township; Dr. Solon, in Oregon, and Jonathan in
Washington, D. C.

William A., our subject, was married, Oct. 13,

1851, to Miss Julia A. Roads, a daughter of George

and Elizabeth (Boyd) Roads, who were also a

promment family in Henry County, one of the sons,

.^

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518

HENRY COUNTY.

I

Addison Roads, being County Treasurer for two
terms. Both her parents died in Jefferson Town-
ship. They reared four children : Mary, the wife of
Arthur MeCIure, Esq.; Addison wedded Nancy
McClure; Julia, the wife of our subject, and Lind-
ley M., who became the husband of Martha Payne,
a sister of the Hon. C. W. Payne. Two daughters
have come to the home of William A. Jessup and
his wife : Ada, wife of J. S. Mathews, and Viola,
still at home with her parents. There are no sons
to bear the name of their ancestors. The Jessujis
can trace their ancestry back to Old England, but
the early history of the family cannot be given.

William A. Jessup has served his township in
about all the positions the people can give. He
was elected Township Clerk in 1851, the next year
Township Trustee, followed by the office of Justice
of the Peace, later serving four j'ears as County
Supervisor, and upon his election later, as Justice,
he refused to serve and failed to qualify, preferring
to give his attention to his own business. His
home is presided over by a hospitable wife, and we
are pleased to give this sketch a deserved place in
this volume.

UR. HARKNEKS, one of the prominent citi-
zens and early settlers of Henry Count}',
^^f^ Iowa, residing on section 2, Scott Town-
ship, was born in Delaware County, N. Y., Nov. 27,
1842. His parents, J. B. and Margaret (Fleming)
Harkness, emigrated to Berry County, Mich., in
1852, and two years later they came to Henry
County, Iowa, making this their home until the
time of their death. Six children blessed their
union: Mary E. became the wife of A. I. Beam, of
Woodson County, Kan. ; Margaret A. married
William Bennett, a resident of Scott Township ; W.
R., the subject of this sketch; James E., a resident
of Union County, Iowa; Sarah J., wife of Dr. B. B.
Shockey, a practicing physician of Scotia, Neb. ;
and (ieorge T., residing in Yates Center, Kan. In
politics J. B. Harkness was a Democrat, strong in
his convictions. He and his wife were members of
the Presbyterian Church, and were active workers

in their Master's vineyard. Mr. Harkness departed
this life in 1881, his wife surviving him until 1886.
Their union was of the happiest; they lived to-
gether for more than half a century, saw their
children all comfortably settled in life, and when
their work here on earth was finished they cheer-
fully responded to their Master's call.

Of the many prominent citizens of Scott Town-
ship, none are more truly deserving of a place in
Henry County's history than W. R. Harkness, and
his interesting family. Mr. Harkness came with his
family to this county in 1854, and here has been
his home ever since. He was reared upon her
virgin soil, and received his education in the com-
mon schools and Howe's Academy. His love for
his country caused him to take up arms for the
Union, and he enlisted in Company H, 45th Iowa
Volunteer Infantry, in 1864. He was mustered into
service at Keokuk, and then went to Benton Bar-
racks, St. Louis, and subsequently proceeded to
Memphis, Tenn. While at Moscow, Tenn., he did
guard duty on the railroad, being in the 16th
Corps. Serving until the close of the war, he was
mustered out at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1865.

In 1868 Mary E. Thompson became the wife of
Mr. Harkness. She was a native of Ohio, born Jan. 27,
1848. Five children have been born to them, three
daughters and two sons: Mary, Eva and William
Glenn, deceased; those living are Maggie L., Lois
and Elmo. Mr. Harkness has always been a Re-
publican, and cast his first Presidential vote for
Abraham Lincoln. He has held the office of Trus-
tee of his township. He is a member of the Mort
llobart Post, G. A. R. Mr. and Mrs. Harkness are
bcth members of the United Presbyterian Church.
On a fine farm of eight}- acres, all under cultiva-
tion, Mr. Harkness and his estimable wife reside.

DWIN llOBSON is one of the earliest set-
tiers of Henry County, Iowa, and was born
in Morgan County, Ind., in 1835. His
parents were William and Sarah (Dyson) Hobson,
both natives of North Carolina, who emigrated at
an early daj' to Ohio, where thcj- lived five j'ears,

1 at
irs, J

4

f

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HENRY COUNTY.

521

I

subsequently removing to Morgan Countj', Ind.,
residing there until the fall of 1839, then emigrated
to Henry County, Iowa, settling on section 22 of
Tippecanoe Township. Here the father bought 1 60
acres of raw land, and engaged in farming until the
time of his death, which occurred in 1869. Mrs.
Hobson is still living, in Albia, Iowa. She was born
Jan. 10, 1800. Mr. and Mrs. Hobson had a family
of nine children: Corwin, who died .it H.annibal,
Mo., was a cooper by trade, and had an extensive
business; Elmira, wife of Charles Lyons, residing
in Sedgwick County, Kan.; George, now living in
Jefferson County, Iowa; Mary, the deceased wife of
James Nichols, of Mercer County, 111.; John, now
living in Jewell County, Kan., w.as one of the brave
boys in blue who fought so valiantly for the Union;
Edwin, of Henry County; Samuel departed this life
in Albia, Iowa; he was a merchant, and served as a
soldier during the late Rebellion. Eliza, deceased;
Calvin, a merchant in Clarinda, Page Co., Iowa, was
a soldier in the 4th Iowa Cavalry.

Our subject was reared on the farm where he
now lives, and was educated at the district schools
of his township. He has lived here continuously
since the year 1839, with the exception of two
years, which he spent in Lee County, where he was
engaged in farming. He was united in marriage,
Aug. 16, 1856. to Mary Winslow,a native of North
Carolina, and a daughter of John and Mary (Smith-
ers) Winslow, both natives of North Carolina. Mr.
and Mrs. Winslow came to this county in the year
18.'"j0, settling in Salem Township, where they lived
until 1874. They then removed to Cowley County,
Kan., at which place they both departed this life,
the mother going to her final rest in 1881, and the
father in 1882. They were both devoted Christians,
being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Hobson have been the parents of
four children : Flora Ellen, born Nov. 13, 1858, is
the wife of Emerson Martin, and is now living in
Winfield, Kan.; Elmira, born April 14, 1861, is the
wife of H. C. Cooper, of Salem Township; Nolan
C, born May 14, 1863, died in infancy; Edg.ar,
born May 11, 1874, is at home. Mr. and Mrs.
Hobson are members of the Missionary Baptist
Church, taking an active interest in all church work.
Mr. Hobson owns forty acres of laud under a fine

state of cultivation. He is one of the oldest set-
tlers of the county, is universally respected, and
has the confidence and good-will of all. Politically,
he belongs to the Union Labor party.

-»-HH-ijfKsf:[:*:|:ij(^-HM- »-

^,, MOS B. MONTGOMERY, deceased, was
;@OI one of the best known and most influential
citizens of Trenton Township, Henry Coun-
ty, in whose affairs he took a deep interest,
and exercised a wide influence. He was born in
Shelby County, Ind., May 25, 1828, and was a son
of James and Catherine (Grunadyke) Montgomery,
the former a native of Ireland, and the latter born
in Holland. The father was a successful farmer,
and accumulated a competence before his death.
The subject of this. sketch remained in his native
State until twenty years of age, and in 1848 came
to Iowa, purchasing a tract of land near the present
capital of the State, Des Moines. The year follow-
ing, like thousands of others, he sought fortune in
the new Eldorado, on the shores of the broad Pa-
cific, and was one of the original '49ers of Califor-
nia. There he eng.aged in mining, and did what-
ever other work came to his hand. He st.aid
there but two years, in which time he accumulated
some money, and returned to the States in 1851,
locating first iu Indiana, but in 1853 he again came
to Iowa, purchasing land near Trenton, in Trenton
Township, from Evan Jay, one of the earliest set-
tlers of Henry County. On this place Mr. Mont-
gomery lived until his death, which occurred Aug.
9, 1877.

On March 11, 1855, Mr. Montgomery was mar-
ried to Rachel, a daughter of Hopkins and Winnie
(Jones) Williams, natives of Wales, who were early
settlers of Henry County, coming here from Tus-
carawas County, Ohio, where Mr. Montgomery was
born. The family settled in Jefferson Township,
where Mr. Williams became well known, and where
he accumulated a fortune, leaving a large estate at
his death, which took place in 1862. He was a man
of integrity of character, possessing in a marked de-
gree those sterling characteristics which distinguish
the race from which he sprung. His wife survived
him, dying iu 1877, at the age of eighty-one years.
— — — — m^

i r

i

-•►

HENRY COUNTY.

This couple had eight children, two of whom, Mary
and John, are deceased. Those now living are:
Ann, wife of Evan Evans; William, and Elizabeth,
wife of Evan Davis, all living in .Jefferson Town-
ship, Henry County; Rachel, widow of our subject;
Jane, wife of Solomon Cavenee, in New Loudon
Township, this county; and Benjamin, a resident of
Page County, Iowa.

The tniion of Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery was
blessed with seven cliildren : Mary, the eldest daugh-
ter, is the wife of Jasper Button, of Marion Town-
ship, Henry County; Donna is the wife of Isaac
Johnson, of Scott Township; Kate, James H.,
Frank B., Lizzie and Guy, live with their mother
on the homestead on section 11, in Trenton Town-
ship, where they have one of the best farms in the
county, comprising 570 acres, on which they carry
on general farming and stock-raising. The death
of Mr. Montgomery was felt as a great loss not onl}'
by his family, but by tiie general communitj'. He
was an enterprising citizen, who was .alwa3's fore-
most ill all works for the advancement of society.
He took an active interest in the Henry County In-
stitute of Science, of wliieii he was one of the pro-
moters and oi'iginal members, a member of its
Board of Managers until the beginning of the year
1877, when ho was elected its President, filling that
position with honor until death, and always discharg-
ing with fidelity all duties imposed upon him. On
his decease the society published a eulogy on his
character, speaking of liim in no stinted terms of
praise. Mr. Montgomerj' was a man of fine busi-
ness capacity, a thorough manager, and of excellent
judgment, and the result is apparent in the splendid
property bequeathed to his family. He was of a
genial and liosiiitable disposition, and was never
better pleased than when surrounded by his friends,
to whom those qu.alities greatly endeared him. His
home was always open, and was ever the scene of
healthful pleasure, in which the true-hearted liost
himself bore a prominent part. He believed in get-
ting from tliis life all the rational enjo3'ment jios-
sible, and his death left a vacancy which will not
easily be filled. Young and old alike enjoyed his
society, and the name of Amos B. Montgomery will
be remembered for many years witli tender regret
by hosts of friends. In life he was loved by a de-

*^m-^

1

voted wife and loving children, who in his death
lost a kind husband and indulgent father, but his
example and teachings remain to them as a price-
less heritnge. In politics Mr. Montgomery w.as a
supporter of the Democratic party, and he took a
warm interest in public affairs, in which he was un-
usually well informed, and his voice will be missed
in the councils of his party. He was manly, hon-
est, upright and true, and it is but meet this tribute
to his worth should appear in this record of the
citizens of Henry County, of whom he was one of
the foremost. The warm sj-mpathies of the entire
community were extended to his family on their
bereavement, which was a mitigation of their afflic-
tion, bnt the void left in the family circle can never
be filled. But they have the consolation of knowing
that in life, he was ever faithful and upright, and
his death was but an introduction to the life to
come, in which husband and wife, father and chil-
dren, will be reunited, never again to p.irt.

On an adjoining page appear the portraits of Mr.
Montgomery and his wife, equally entitled to an
honorable place among the best citizens of the
county.

LFRED DOAN, deceased, was born in Or-
ange County, Ind., Aug. 16, 1831, and
was a son of Mahlon Doan, a sketch of
^J whom appears elsewhere in this work. On

the 19th of August, 1853, Alfred Doan was united
in marriage with Miss Rachel Melton, a native of
Warren Count3', Ind., and a daughter of John and
Ph(cbe (Heston) Melton, the former a native of
Virginia, .and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. and
Mrs. Doan's union was blessed with three children:
Sarah Luella, born Sept. 1, 1856, the deceased wife
of Zimri Brown, of Salem Township; she left three
children — Michael Devillo, Frank Ebert and Sarah
Jane, who is an adopted daughter of Mr. and Jlrs.
Oliver Faulkner, of Salem, Iowa; Mahlon H.irlan.
born Jan. 15, 1860, wedded jNIiss Mary Ellen Ste-
venson, a native of Henry County, and b}- their
union there is one child, M3'ron Alfred; and Perry
Albert, born April 29, 1872. Both sons live with
their mother. Mr. Doan was among the g.ollant

-^^

f

HENRY COUNTY.

523

boys in the 25th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, enlisting
in 1862, and serving three j'ears. He was engaged
in the following battles: Arkansas Post; the siege
ofVieksburg; the Chattanooga campaign; Ring-
gold, Resaca, Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain, the battles
around Atlanta, Lovejoy Station, Jonesboro, Ship's
Gap, Bentonville, and was with Sherman on his
march through Georgia and the Carolinas, to Rich-
mond and Washington. The capture of Columbia,
the capital of the chief disloyal State, was effected
by Iowa troops, among which was the 25th. On
the 10th of February, 1863, Mr. Doan was pro-
moted to the rank of Sergeant. The regiment was
mustered out at Washington, D. C, June 6, 1865.
Mr. Doan then returned home, engaging in farming
until his death, which occurred Oct. 19, 1880, when
fifty -one years of age. He never had his usual
health after he came out of the army, dying from
the effects of the exposures endured in the service,
in which he proved himself a brave and gallant
soldier. Socially, Mr. Doan was a member of the
I. O. O. F., at Salem. He was a stalwart Repub-
lican, and took gi'eat interest in all political affairs.
He was an influential and industrious citizen, mak-
ing all that he possessed by his own hard labor,
good management and fair dealing. He was a man
always in advance of the times, and his farm of
ninety acres was one of the best improved jin the
county. By his death Henry County lost a good
citizen, his acquaintances a noble friend, and his
family a loving husband and father. His widow
still resides on the old farm.

— >»-

■•"♦"••©vK^-o*"-

ANIEL MORLEY, residing on section 20,
Scott Township, Henry Co., Iowa, is one
of the pioneer settlers of the county.
Where now stand cities and villages, .and
where are fine farms upon which are elegant resi-
dences, then as far as eye could see stretched a vast
prairie. In 1839 there was an abundance of wild
game, and even deer were plentiful, but now the
progress of civilization has changed all this, and
Henry County ranks among the first of the State.
At the time when Daniel Morley took up his resi-
dence in this county he was but fourteen years old.
-«v — —

His birthplace was Washington County, Pa., the
date of his birth being May 12, 1825. His father,
John Morley, was of English descent though born
in Maryland, and his mother, Grace (Smith) Mor-
ley, was born in Pennsylvania of Dutch and English
ancestry. The whole life of John Morley was spent
as a tiller of the soil. He was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and received his
Master's summons to the heavenlj' home Sept. 20,
1885, when eighty -six j^ears of age. The mother
was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and died in October, 1877. They reared
a family of six children : Joseph, born in Decem-
ber, 182u, died in W.ayne County, low.a, in January,
1887; Sarah, wife of George W. Brummit, a shoe-
maker of Rooks County, Kan. ; next our subject;
then Rhoda B., widow of John E. Linn, of New
Loudon, Iowa; Eliza D., wife of L. R. Chandler,
of Center Township, and Mary F., who married
Samuel Clough, of Union, Iowa.

Daniel Morley, with his parents, went to Wayne
County, Ohio, where they lived until the fall of 1 839.
They started for Henry County in that year, stop-
ping through the winter near Ft. Wayne, Ind., and
the next spring completed the journey in a wagon.
They settled three miles southeast of Mt. Pleasant,
where John Morley bought a farm, upon which he
resided until he made his home with his son Daniel.
Until twenty-eight years of age Daniel Morley
made his home with his parents, working at various
occupations. He engaged in breaking prairie for
eleven years with an ox-team, using from five to
eight oxen. The first piece of land he owned was
160 acres in extent, situated on section 23 of Scott
Township. This he improved, residing there from
1852 until 1858, when he sold and purchased
eighty acres oo section 20. This was but raw land
upon which was a rude cabin, but he made many
improvements, and added to the original purchase
until he has a fine farm of 170 acres. On the Land
an elegant country residence h.as been erected at a
cost of $1,600, and also a tenant house worth $500.

In June, 1853, the marriage of Daniel Morley
and Sarah I. Myers, a n.ative of Virginia, was cele-
brated. She is a daughter of John and Sarah (Rog-
ers) Myers, the father born in Pennsylvania, of
Dutch descent, and the mother, a native of Green-

i

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524

HENRY COUNTY.

brier County, Va., born of Irish parentage. Mr.
and Mrs. Morley have been the parents of three
children: Eliza A., wife of William McGlade, and
by their union five children were born; Sarah, wife
of Alonzo Eddingfleld, a farmer of this township,
became the mother of two children; and John M..
who has charge of the home farm, married Alice
Snelson, and one child was born to them. An
adopted daughter, PhcBbe F. Morgan, their niece,
still resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. Morley are
members of the Presbyterian Church at Winfield,
as is their eldest daughter. He has held the office
of Constable of the township for two years, and in
politics holds liberal views. Mr. Morley is one of
those men who have made their own way in the
world since boyhood. His father was a poor man,
and no financial assistance was received from him.
What education he obtained he paid for himself.
By hard work, good management and habits of in-
dustry, he has reared and educated his family, cared
for his aged parents, and accumulated a competency
for himself. He is a man well known and univer-
sally respected by the people of Scott Township and
Henry County, and well deserves this mention in
his county's history.

t

\ENJAMIN LAZENBY is a native of Vir-
ginia, born Feb. 13, 1810, and a son of
Joshua and Ruth (Guthrie) Lazenby, who
were also natives of Virginia, though of
Welsh descent. Whwi he was but a lad of six his
parents emigrated to Amei-ica, where he was reared
on a farm near Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1838 Mr. La-
zenby decided to go West, and being pleased with
Henry County, he came here, locating on what is
known as the Joseph Short Farm, which place he en-
tered and there resided until 1 844. At that time
he bought a tract of land, 280 acres in extent, on
section 26, Tippecanoe Township, living on this
purchase until July 11, 1887, at that time remov-
ing to Los Angeles, Cal., where he still resides.
Mr. Lazenb}', in 1840, was united in marriage with
Editha Sanderson, a native of Ohio, and a daughter
of John and Isabel (Gilbert) Sanderson, the father
■4*

of Irish descent.- To this worthy couple were born
six children, two of whom are now living: Melissa,
who is living with her father, and Mar\' C, the
honored wife of Courtland Milner. Jlrs. Lazenby
was called to her final home July 22, 1886, at the
age of sixty -seven. Mr. Lazenby was among the pio-
neer settlers of Henry County. He held the otlice
of Township Clerk for a number of j'ears in Tippe-
canoe Township, and was univerally respected. He
still owns a fine farm of 101 acres in Tippecanoe
Township, besides his place in California.

)HOMAS JONES, a retired railroad man, and
a resident of Mt. Pleasant since 1862, was

^y born in County Wicklow, near Dublin, Ire-
land, Feb. 15, 1833, and is the son of James and
Mary (Keougli) Jones. He emigrated from Ire-
land to America in 18.51, and located in New Jer-
sej', where he served his time at the millwright
trade. In 1856 he came to Iowa, and engaged in
railroad work with the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincj^ Railway Company. He was employed in
bridge-building from Burlington to what is now
known as Gladstone, 111. He worked at first as an
employe, but soon began taking contracts, and con-
tinued in that way, sometimes working for wages,
and sometimes on contract, till 1886, when he re-
tired from active duty. His connection with the
company continued without interruption fcu' a pe-
riod of thirty-one years. During all these 3'ears
he never h.id an accident resulting from his work,
and proved himself a capable and faithful man in
whatever duty he undertook. He has probably
built more bridges than any other man in the com-
pany's emploj', and it is only fair to Mr. Jones to
say that this assertion is not based on any infor-
mation given by him.

Mr. Jones was married, in the autumn of 1862,
to Miss Kate Mackinson, daughter of John and
IMary RL'ickinson. Mrs. Jones was born in Countj'
Cavan, Ireland, and emigrated to America in 18.02.
They have five children, one son and four daugh-
ters— ftLarj' A., Theressa Y., Ettie E., James C. and
Kate L. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the
Catholic Church. Mr. Jones is a Democrat iu pol-

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HENRY COUNTY.

525

itics. He came to this country in very limited cir-
cumstances, and unaided and witliout influence,
be3'ond that of intelligence, persevering industry,
and a thorough knowledge of his business, he has
acquired a fine propertj', consisting of three cit}'
lots and a fine residence, situated on one of the
finest streets in the city, and twelve lots situated in
the northwestern part of the city.

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•^ AMES K. CLARK, editor and proprietor of
the JMt. Pleasant Herald^ was born in the
city of Waterford, Ireland, May 10, 1846,
and is a son of John and Anna (Jennings)
Clark. His father was likewise a native of Water-
ford, and his mother was born in Dublin, in which
city she died. His father is now a resident of New
York. James K. was reared and educated in Dub-
lin, and came to America in 1863, living in New
York City until 1866, when he removed to Chicago,
where he was married, in June, 1869, to Miss The-
resa Titus, daughter of Henry Titus. Mrs. Clark
was born in Chicago. Their union has been blessed
with two sons and three daughters: Ida was born
in Chicago, and is now aged seventeen; George W.
was born in Kansas, and is fifteen ; the rest were
born in Mt. Pleasant, and are: lola, aged ei^ht;
Carrie, aged four, and Titus J., one year old. Mr
Clark was a resident of Chicago at the time of the
great fire in 1871, and was one of the sufferers.
After that he went to lola, Kan., where he engaged
in the boot and shoe business, and the followino-
year removed to Topeka, where he was in the same
trade for about a year, when he returned to Chi-
cago, and became a wholesale manufacturer of boots
and shoes, under the firm name of Reed & Clark.
In 1874 the firm met with severe financial reverses,
and the business was closed out, Mr. Clark coming
to Mt. Pleasant, where he again engaged in the boot
and shoe trade, carrying it on until 1880, when he
took up the newspaper business. The paper of
which he is the editor and proprietor was estab-
lished as a -'Greenback" paper in 1880 by Brown
& Clark, Mr. R. C. Brown being the senior partner.
That connection continued until 1884, when a stock
company was formed to carry on the business. This

was in force until the fall of 1886, when Mr.
George H. Spahr bought the property, which he
put under the management of Mr. Clark. Other
changes had however intervened. In November,
1885, the paper was removed to Ft. Madison,
where it was published under the name of the Lee
County Republican Herald. In February, 1886,
Mr. Clark had started the Herald in New London,
this county, but had removed it to Mt. Pleasant in
March, 1887. It is now conducted solely by him,
as editor and proprietor, and is a Union Labor or-
gan, a seven-column quarto, published Fridays.

Mr. Clark has led an active, stirring life. He
has met with misfortunes bnt has risen superior to
them, and being yet a young man, full of energy
and ambition, will undoubtedly make for himself
an honorable name and position. Bright and tal-
ented, he has already been called to important
public trusts. During his short residence in Kansas
he was a member of its Legislature, and in 1885
received the honor of a nomination for Lieutenant
Governor of this State on the Greenback ticket,
on which was the name of Elias Doty for Gover-
nor. A man of probity of character, he commands
the respect of those who know him.

\lr-^ LIJAH JAMES, Esq., a farmer residing on
1^ section 32, Wayne Township, Henry Co.,

E

Va^i Iowa, was born in Roundhead Township,
Hardin Co., Ohio, Nov. 13, 1834, and is the son of
Josiah and Drusilla (Richardson) James. She was
a native of Eastern Maine, and a daugliter of Elijah
Richardson, who removed near Portsmouth, Ohio,
and engaged in farming during his life. But little
history can be given of either of these families.
The paternal grandmother reached the ripe ao^e
of ninety-three. The mother of our subject
was married in Ohio, and there her seven children
were born, onlj' three of whom are living: Elijah;
Margaret E., who wedded Edmund C. Upton, of
Trenton Township; and Josiah, of Brighton, Wash-
ington County, a wagon and carriage maker, and
the husband of Martha J. Nason. After the death
of Josiah James, in 1839, his widow wedded Will-
iam W. Rodgers, a mechanic of Roundhead Town-

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526

HENRY COUNTY.

ship. Two children were born there prior to coming
to Iowa in 1846, Thomas W. and Sarah M., both
now deceased. Thomas was a soldier of the 4th
Iowa Cavalry, and died at Memphis, Tenn., from
disease. Josiah James was also in the service, en-
listing in Company E, 1st Iowa Cavalry, from
which he was discharged at the close of the war,
having served in all the battles and engagements
participated in by his regiment. He never received
a wound, was not in the hospital and was never off
duty except on furlough, from the day of his en-
listment. Mr. Rodgers and his family located in
Trenton Township in 1846, and resided there until
his death. His wife survived until April 24, 1882,
reaching her seventy -fifth year, and was a lady
well known and largely missed by a great circle of
acquaintances. .She became the mother of two
children in this county: Rebecca A., deceased,
wedded to John Beery, and Mar^' M., the wife of
Jacob Beaver, of Trenton Township.

Our subject was a lad ten years of age when he
became a resident of this county, and, with the
exception of one year, has since never known any
other home. Here he grew to manhood, and was
married in 1854 to Miss Emily M. Nason, and the
young couple began domestic life in Trenton Town-
ship on a farm. The parents of Mrs. James, John
W. and Rebecca (Pepple) Nason, were married in
Virginia, and the former was a native of Maine,
the latter born near Wheeling, W. Va. They be-
came residents of this county in 1844, locating in
Trenton Township, and were among the first set-
tlers of this part of the county. Their five eldest
children were born in Ohio, the sixth in Trenton
Township, this county. Sarah died uiunarried ;
Mary A. wedded William Murphy; Emily M., wife
of our subject; Rebecca A., wife of Henry Schuster;
Martha, J., who wedded Josiah James, a brother of
our subject; John W., the only son and the young-
est child born in Ohio, died in that State before the
removal. Martha J. was bom in Trentun Town-
ship and the others in Ohio.

Mr. James has been for many years a farmer.
His first purchase of land was made before the war,
consisting of forty acres on section 16, Trenton
Township. On this he built a liewed-log houseand
fenced the land. From that he purchased in Octo-

ber, 1870, his present farm, and here in ease and
comfort the parents reside, ripe in years, and enjoy-
ing the respect of all. Since their married life
began six children have blessed their home: John
W., now the husband of Lucy Mullen, is a graduate
of Howe's Academy, and for jears has been a
teacher in this county, and is also a graduate of
the law department of the Iowa State University;
Josiah J. resides at home ; Charles H. wedded Mary E.
McKee, and resides in Thomas County, Kan.;
Henrj' E. wedded Emma A., daughter of Samuel
Cantwell, whose family are fully mentioned else-
where ; Henry and his young wife are the parents
of twin boys, Othel E. and Orville II., born Nov.
22, 1886. Oscar E. is the youngest son living, and
Ora D. died in infancy. Elijah James was elected
Justice of the Peace of Wayne Township in 1885,
to fill a vacancy, and in October, 1886, was elected
his own successor. He has served as a member of
the School Board for years, and in numerous other
official positions. The father of Mrs. James died in
the service of his country. He was a member of
the famous Gray beard Regiment, and his death
occurred at Rock Island in the autumn of 1864.
The subject of this sketch bears an honorable record
as a self-made man and good citizen. He never
received a dollar from his parents' estate, and be-
ginning poor he has accumulated a fine propertj',
and won for himself a place among the best citizens
of Henry County.

■«"-;:5-

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•it*"' 'V

(^^S)HOMAS KNOX, one of the enterprising and
progressive farmers of Henry County-, re-
siding on section 15, Center Townshij), was
born in Wasliington County, Pa., on the 4th of
December, 1816, and is the son of John and Mar-
garet (McKay) Knox, who were natives of Ireland.
They were married in 1811, and immediately set
sail for the United Stiites. Arriving aftera long and
tedious voyage, the}' concluded to make their home
in Washington County, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. John
Knox were the parents of nine children, four sons
and five daughters, six of whom are now living:
Jennie, wife of Dr. Edward Milllgan, now residing in
Parker County, Tex. ; Nancy, wife of Alex CJabb}';
both died in Clarksville, Butler Co., Iowa. Thomas,

1

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HENRY COUNTY.

■*►

527

a resident of Henry County, Iowa; Robert, a farmer
of Washington County, Pa. ; Jane S., wife of Jacob
Alter, died near Danville, Iowa; William, still re-
siding on the old homestead in Washington County,
Pa.; Elizabeth, wife of John Donnelly, died in
Washington Count}', Pa. ; John, also of Washing-
ton County; Margaret married George Smith, also
a resident of Washington County, Pa. Politically,
Mr. Knox espoused the cause of the Democrats.
Mr. and Mrs. Knox were both members of the Se-
ceder Church, of which they were earnest, faith-
ful workers for many years. The death of Mr.
Knox occurred in 1865, and that of his good wife
in 1833.

Thomas Knox, the subject of this sketch, grew to
manhood in Washington County, Pa., and obtained
his education in the subscription schools of early
days. He was married, Oct. 2, 1845, to Miss .Sarah
Ely, who was born in Washington County, Pa.,
June 3, 1826. In the spring of 184G they loaded
their household goods into wagons, and emigrated
to Harrison County, Ohio, where they remained
until 18(;G, when they decided to go further west,
this time locating in Henry County, Iowa, where
Mr. Knox purchased the farm on which he now
lives. This farm, consisting of 280 acres, is onlj'
a mile from !Mt. Pleasant. In addition to general
farming Mr. Knox is extensivelj' engaged in stock-
raising, and has one of the finest and best stock
farms in the county. Twice he has suffered loss by
fire, once in Ohio, before coming west, and again in
this county, where his residence was destroyed. Mr.
and Mrs. Knox are the happy parents of eight
living children: John M., of Noble County, Ohio;
Robert, a resident of Henry County; MiU'garet
married Ed S. Chenoweth, a resident of Rush
County, Kan. ; Martha J. married James Davis, who
died in 1883; she with her three children now re-
sides at home with her parents; James F., still at
home; Nettie, wife of J. D. Forbes, of Dawes
County, Neb.; Ellen married Allen Chandler, a
resident of Henry County ; Willi.am still resides at
home.

Mr. Knox and his estimable wife were reared in
the Presbyterian Church, and have always lived
in accordance with that faith. In all educational
matters Mr. Knox has taken a great interest, be-

lieving that to be successful in life one must not
only have a knowledge of books, but of all local
and National affairs. It may be truly said that Mr.
Knox is a self-made man, making the most of every
opportunity that has presented itself to him. He is
an exemplary and energetic farmer, a shrewd busi-
ness man, and few men in the county enjoy more of
the confidence and esteem of the people than does
Mr. Knox.

HARLES PRINCE, a machinist of Mt. Pleas-
. ant, Iowa, was born in Warwickshire, En-

gland, Aug. 30, 1822, and there received a
common-school education. When but thirteen
j'ears of age he was apprenticed to learn the trade
of a machinist, working for eight years. For all of
his hard labor he received no compensation but his
board and clothing. He then worked at journey-
work until coming to this country in 1853.

In 1845, previous to his coming to America, he
was united in marri.age to Miss Emma Tajior, who
was also a native of Warwickshire, England. After
arriving in America he settled in Van Buren
County, Iowa, where he worked at his trade as a
journeyman for three years, and then removed to
Henry C>unty. For a year he worked in Way-
land, and then came to Mt. Ple.asant, working for
the Mt. Pleasant Foundry, and buying an interest
in the business in 1865. In 1866 Mr. Prince pur-
chased some land, on which he built a shop, and
commenced business for himself. He was the first
machinist who ever worked in this city. He still
carries on the business in the shop which he built
in 1866.

Mr. and ]\Irs. Prince are the parents of seven liv-
ing children: Elizabeth, residing at home; Charles
A., who is a machinist working for the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy Railroad, .and living at
Beardstown, 111. ; Joseph H., a machinist, living in
Chicago; Frederick, Superintendent of Water Serv-
ice for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad,
on the St. Louis & Rock Island Division, and a
resident of Beardstown, 111.; Herman, now residing
in Rockbridge, 111., and also in the employ of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad; Julia, wife
of Thomas Johnson, a fireman on same road, is re-

f

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528

HENRY COUNTY.

sifling in Bearrlstown, 111. ; Frank, who is a resident
of Galesburg, 111., is also a fireman running on the
C. B. & N. Division. One daughter, Susan, was
the wife of Mr. Brakebill, of Mt. Pleasant; she is
deceased.

Mr. Prince holds liberal religious and political
views, and always votes for the one he believes the
best man, of whatever party he maj' be. Mr. and
Mrs. Prince came to this country poor, but they
have not only managed to keep the wolf from the
door, but by their industrj' and thrift have been
able to accumulate money. They are a credit to
the community in which they have so long lived,
and are highly respected by all who know them.

J^St^H.

(T-

i '^^^' y

Tza^spi

^

■vwlOHN W. PALM, editor and one of the pro-
I prietors of the Mt. Pleasant Journal, was
born in Trumbull County, Ohio, Oct. 23,
18.50. Adam Palm, father of John W., was
born in Trumbull County, Ohio, March 26, 1816.
He learned the brickmason's trade, which he fol-
lowed for several years, but after his marriage set-
tled on a farm in Southingtou Township, seven
miles west of Warren, Ohio. In 1856 he removed
with his family to Iowa, settling on a farm in Marion
Township, Henry County, on which he lived until
1869, when he sold his farm and removed to Mt.
Pleasant, where he is now living. He has been a
life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and an earnest friend and zealous worker
in the church.

In 1838 he was married to Jane West, a native
of County Armagh, Iicland, born in 1819. She
died in Henry County in the spring of 1857. She
like her husband, was a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. She was the mother of two
sons and five daughters: Mary Ellen, now the wife
of J. W. Vernon, an attorney of Memphis, Tenn. ;
Martha Jane was the wife of Col. R. K. Miller, of
Des Moines, and died July 19, 1883; Julia Eliza-
beth is now the wife of Col. Miller, to whom she
was married in 1887; Permelia Ann is the wife of
William Faulkner, a merchant at Salem, Henrv
County; John West was next; then came William,

who died in Ohio at the age of four years; Alice
Catherine was the wife of Wilber Davis, now of
Malvern, Iowa, and died at Winthrop, Iowa, Aug.
18, 1882.

The subject of this sketch gi-aduated from the
High School in Mt. Pleasant in 1869. He taught
school and attended Howe's Academy of the same
city until 1872, when he began the study of law
in the office of Woolson & Babb in Mt. Pleasant,
and was admitted to the bar in the summer of
1874. He then entered the Iowa Wesle^-an Uni-
versity, from which he graduated in 1876. Upon
the death of Prof. Samuel Howe, County Superin-
tendent of Ilenr}- Count}', in the sprmg of 1877,
Mr. Palm was appointed to fill the vacancy occa-
sioned by his death. He filled the office for the
unexpired term, and in the fall of 1877 was elected
for a full term of two years. Jan. 1, 1879, he re-
signed to assume editorial charge of the Mt. Pleas-
ant Journal, which he edited for nine years.

February 10, 1879, he was married to Florence
Eliza Andrews, eldest daughter of M. L. Andrews,
of New London Township, Henry Count}-. She
was born in Mills Count}', Iowa, Feb. 11, 1859.
Mr. Palm is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
Xenium Lodge No. 207, A. F. & A. M. In poli-
tics he has always been a stanch Republican and an
energetic party worker. In the fall of 1887 he was
nominated to the office of County Treasurer by his
pai'ty and was elected by a large majority, which
office he is now filling.

,EV. DAVID STANTON TAPPAN, D. D.,

Piistor of the First Presbyterian Church, Mt.

Pleasant, Iowa, was born in Steubcnville,
ijOhio, April 2, 1845. His parents were Ben-
jamin and Oella (Stanton) Tappan. Ills father was
born in Steuhenville, Ohio, April 1, 1812. The
family was originally from Northampton, l\Lass.,
and of English descent. The paternal grandfather
of our subject was Benjamin Ta|)pan, a brother of
Arthur and Lewis Tappan, the great anti-slavery
agitators of New England. The founder of the
family in New England was Abraham Topham, who
cajne to America from Yarmouth, England, in Oc-

n

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a

HENRY COUNTY.

531

tober, 1837, and settled at Old Newbuiy, Mass.
His wife's name was Susanna Taylor. The family
name was spelled Tophani up to 1790, when upon
an agreement upon the part of his descendants, it
was changed to Tappan. Benjamin Tappan, the
grandfather of our subject, was one of the early
pioneers of Ohio, and became one of the leading
men of the State, who wielded a great influence in
its affairs. He settled in the Territory in 1799 and
died in Steubenville April 12, 1857, having seen
the frontier Territory grow to a populous and
wealthy State. For seven years he was Presiding
Judge of the Fifth Ohio Circuit, was appointed
United States District Judge by President Jackson
in 1833, and represented the State in the United
States Senate from 1839 to 1845. Oella Stanton,
the mother of our subject, was a daughter of Dr.
David Stanton, an eminent physician of Steuben-
ville, Ohio, and sister to Edwin M. Stanton, the
famous Secretary of War under President Lincoln
during the late war. Mrs. Tappan was born in
Steubenville, Ohio, and the family were of Scotch-
Irish descent.

David S. Tappan received his classical education
at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and graduated
in the class of 1864. He then took a regular course
at the Theological Seminary of Allegheny, Pa., and
was graduated in the class of 1867, receiving the
degree of B. D. He received the degree of A. M.
at Wooster University, Ohio, in 1878, .nnd also at
Miami University in 1885, and the degree of D. D.
from Lenox College, Iowa, in 1887. His first
charge was at Chariton, Iowa, to which he was called
in 1867. He continued in that field until February,
1871. when he came to Mt. Pleasant to accept the
pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church of this
place, in which he is now serving his eighteenth
year. Mr. Tappan was married at Ilillsboro, Ohio,
Aug. 12, 1869, to Miss Anna L. Grand Girard, a
daughter of Rev. E. Grand Girard, a Presbyterian
minister of Eckmansviile, Ohio, who was descended
from the French Huguenots. Her mother is a
Kentuckian b}' birtli. Eight children were born to
bless their union, seven of whom are living: Ben-
jamin, born Aug. 27, 1871, died April 17, 1872;
Oella Stanton, born May 24, 1873; Julia May, Aug.
7, 1875; Paul, July 25, 1877; David, Oct. 18,

1880; Frank Girjird, Sept. 20, 1882; Lucy Fred-
rica, Oct. 1, 1884, and George, Nov. 25, 1886.

Mr. Tappan is a Trustee of Parsons College, Fair-
field, Iowa. He has been identified with the edu-
cational interests of Mt. Pleasant, and has been a
member and President of the School Board four
3'ears, and is now filling that position. He is the
Stated Clerk of the Synod of Iowa. His labors for
the church at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, have greatly
endeared him to its members, and his public spirit
as a citizen who is always to be found advocating
all good measures tending to the moral or m.aterial
advancement of the city, has gained him the respect
and esteem of his fellow-citizens. The portrait of
this eminent and well-known divine appears on a
preceding page.

#"#

f

SAAC P. CONE, a resident of Henry County
since 1840, and a successful farmer of New
London Township, has 120 acres of land and
resides on. section 15. Mr. Cone is a native of
Vermont aiid was- born in Rutland County, Oct. 31,
1815, -, His parents,, Ruf us and Ursula (Rice) Cone,
were, also: natives' 'ipif Rutland County, Vt. The fa-
ther wiis Of Holland, descent, and was born in 1778,
and died in 1844. The mother was of an old New
England fam^y, and was 1)orn in 1798. The family
emigrated from Vermont to Hamilton Countj% Ohio,
in 1833, where three of them died of cholera within
a week after their arrival. The mother died in that
count}', and the father and remaining children sub-
sequently removed to Butler County, in the same
State, where the father died.

Isaac P. was reared on a farm, and was married
in Butler County, Ohio, Feb. 2, 1836, to Miss Car-
oline Clarke, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Clarke.
Mrs. Cone was born in Venice, in that county, Feb.
19, 1817. Her parents were from Buffalo, N. Y.
Mr. and Mrs. Cone are the parents of eight chil-
dren, four sons and four daughters : Samuel R. was
born March 7, 1838, and married Catharine R. Chi-
chester, and they have three children, a son and two
daughters, and are residing in Harrison County,
Mo.; Augustus was born July 4, 1841, married
Sarah L. Hampton, and they are the parents of one

=t

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532

4

HENRY COUNTY.

son and two daughters, and reside in Des Moines
County, Iowa; Elizabeth, born Aug. 15, 1844, is
the wife of Leroy Gauibell, and they have four chil-
dren, three sons and a daughter, and reside in War-
ren County, Iowa; Jethro T. was born Sept. 22,
1847, and died Feb. 20, 1853; M. Esther was born
Feb. 28, 1850, and is the wife of Henry Bannister,
and has one child, a son sixteen years of age, and
resides in Mills County, Iowa; Alice May was born
May 1, 1853, and died May 15, 1853; Benjamin
E., boru April 4, 1855, married Olive Van Trump,
and lives in New London Township; Laura Nellie
was born Feb. 2, 18C3, and died June 13, 1871.
Mrs. Cone was an honorable and faithful member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and departed
this life April 1, 1887.

Mr. Cone emigrated from Ohio to Henry County
in the spring of 1840, and settled in New London
Township, on the farm where he now resides. Two
of his sons served in the late war. Samuel R. en-
listed in October, 18G1, in Bissell's Engineer Regi-
ment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry; he was promoted
to First Corporal and served three 3-ears and three
months, or until after the fall of Atlanta. Augustus
enlisted in the same regiment and at the same time
as his brother, was captured at Holly Springs, Miss.,
afterward released, and served until the fall of At-
lanta. Mr. Cone is a Republican in politics, has
served several 3'ears as Constable, and fourteen
years as Township Assessor. He has now been a
resident of Henry County for forty-seven years,
and is widely and favorably known as an ui)right,
honest gentleman, courteous and accommodating in
his intercourse with his fellowmen, and is held in
high esteem by all who know him.

•^3=

A A

T~7-

ES-

^EV. SAMUEL HUTTON, deceased, was one
of the pioneers of Hciuy County, Iowa. He
was born near Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1785, and
5^ while yet a young man, went with his par-
ents to Tennessee, near Nashville, where he grew to
manhood. On the 25th of December, 1814, he was
united in marriage with Polly Levy. After their
marriage they remained in Tennessee seven j'ears.

Mr. Hutton in the meantime being engaged in farm-
ing. In 1821 they left Tennessee and went to
Sangamon, 111., and were numbered among the pio-
neers of that county. They remained there until
1835 and then removed to Henry County, Iowa,
thus being pioneers of two States. Mr. Hutton
first came to this county with his three sons and
made a claim on section 8, Center Township, where
he built a log cabin, into which he moved iiis familj'
in the following fall. At this time there were but
a few families in Henry County, and those who
were here had great difficulty in making their liv-
ing. During the first two j-ears their corn was
ground by a horse-mill, though at times the family
were compelled to use a grater for the purpose of
grinding their corn. Soon after their arrival Pres-
ley Saunders built a store at Mt. Pleasant, where
tlie3' obtained their principal suiiply of groceries.
The Indians were constantly passing to and from
Burlington, where they received their annuity from
the General Government. "Wild game of all kinds
aliounded and wolves were plenty.

Mr. Hutton was a member of the Old-School
Baptist Church, and while in Illinois was licensed
to preach and for many j-ears was actively engaged
in the Christian ministry-. He was the first Baptist
minister in Henr^- County, and w:us instrumental in
the organization of the Baptist Church. The first
meetings of this denomination were held at his
house. For many years he was pastor of the Old-
School Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant, and con-
tributed his labor as long as he was able. When
Jefferson County was organized Air. Iluttdu was
elected one of the Commissioners to locate the
county seat. The choice of the Commissioners
was accepted by the count}', and the site selected is
that of the present city of Fairfield. Mr. Hutton
was a man of more than ordinary ability, and had
received a liberal education for that day. In the
neighborhood where he residtd lie was the chief
adviser of the peojile. who came to him in troubles
lioth si)iritual and temporal. Of his family of nine
children, all lived to be adults: Benjamin F., who
died in Sangamon County, III., married Lucie
Mason, b}- whom ho had seven children, namely :
Thomas, Noah, Beiijauiiu F., Jr., ami Lucinda,
twins, George, Marian and John. Charles, who is

^^►^1-

HENRY COUNTY.

533

now living in Gentry County, Mo., married Jane
Smith, by wliom lie li.id five children — Martha,
Samuel, John, George nnd Mary. James wedded
Susan Hutton, by whom he had one child, Mary E. ;
his wife dying he subsequently married Mary Bor-
ough, by whom he had six children — Samuel, Ellen
E., George W., Stella C, EvaE. and Dora A. ; they
now reside in Oregon. Thomas, now deceased,
married Elizabeth Cole, and their children are —
James, Jane, Samuel, Estella and Charles. Ann
married Wesley Douty, bj' whom she had five chil-
dren— James, Benjamin F., Samuel, Hayden and
Mar^' E. ; Mr. Douty dying she subsequently mar-
ried Mr. Howard and has four children — Martha,
Asbur}', Laura and Lewis; Mrs. Howard is now a
resident of Fairfield, Iowa. Samuel married Re-
becca J. Cole, and has five living children — Alzina,
Cora, Bell, Harry and Clara; he is now living in
St. Joe, Mo. Mary J. is thewidow of Robert Cole,
and now resides in Mt. Pleasant; they have seven
living children — Anna, Sarah, Laura, William, Jay,
May and Minnie. Martha, now deceased, married
John Stansberry, by whom she had two children —
William P. and Franklin. William M. wedded
Mary E. Watson, by whom he had seven living
children — Charles, James, Benton, Ettie, Emma,
Lillie and Alice; the second son, James, is married
to Miss Minnie Pennington, of Des Moines County,
Iowa, has one child, Mary Rusha, and lives in De-
Kalb County, Mo. William M. Hutton, the j^oung-
est of the familj', now resides on the homestead in
Center Township. He lived there from boyhood
until 1866, when for six years he engaged in build-
ing and other business, renting the farm, to which
he returned in 1862. His marriage with Miss Mary
E. Watson was celebrated Sept. 26, 1861. She was
born in Yiin Buren County, Iowa, April 4, 1841,
and had lived with her parents until her marriage.

Rev. Hutton died in Mt. Pleasant Sept. 12, 1857,
and Mrs. Hutton March 1, 1883. Both were highly
respected citizens, sincere Christians, and did all
they could for their Master's cause.

James B. Watson, father of Mrs. William M.
Hutton, was one of the pioneers of Van Buren
County, Iowa, was a native of Kentucky and from
that State moved to Sangamon County, 111., and in
1836 to Van Buren County, Iowa. Miss PoUie

Long became his wife and five children were born
unto them, two of whom are living: William, now
of Henry County, Iowa, and James, of Van Buren
County, Iowa. Mrs. Watson dying, he subse-
quently married Anna Carter, who was also a native
of Kentucky, and by whom he had five living chil-
dren: Francis M., now residing in Oregon; Pernina,
wife of William H. Shelman, of Van Buren County,
Iowa; Nicholas J., of Knox County, Mo. ; Mary E.,
wife of Mr. Hutton, and Isaac N., of Knox County,
Mo. To the early settlers of Van Buren and ad-
joining counties Mr. AVatson was well known. He
was a member of the Baptist Church for many
years. In early life he was a Whig, with which
party he continued to act until it ceased to exist,
when he became a Democrat and continued to act
with that party until his death, which occurred in
1864. His wife Anna died about a month prior to
his decease.

t-

THOMAS LASH, a dealer in dry-goods, no-
tions, ready-made clothing, boots and shoes,
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, has been in business in
that city since 1860. He was born in Frankford,
Hampshire Co., Va., in what is now known as
Mineral County, W. Va., March 15, 1829, and is a
son of Thomas and Eliz.abeth (Barnes) Lash. In
his j'outh he learned the saddlery and harness trade
with his father, and at this trade he worked for
some years. In the fall of 1 847 he left his native
State and came to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and here
opened a harness-shop, which he operated for two
years. Selling his stock he entered the employ of
Lash, Smith & Co., as a clerk, continuing with them
about seven years, the senior member of the firm
being his brother, John B. Lash. In 1856 he be-
came a partner in the business with his brother,
which relation continued but one year. He then
clerked for A. R. H. Allen till 1860, when he bought
in with his brother, John B., and the firm of Lash
Brothers continued until 1873, when he purchiised
his brother's interest, and h.os since continued alone
in business. In December, 1854, Mr. Lash was
united in marriage with Miss Martha Ross, a native
of Pennsylvania, born in 1823, and daughter of
Samuel Ross, a prominent farmer of Henry County,

-► ■ ^»

i

534

-^

,t

HENRY COUNTY.

now in his eighty-nintii year. She came to Hemy
County in c-liildhood with her parents. They have
one child, a son, William T., born in 1800, and now
engaged in business with his father. Mr. and Mrs.
Lash are members of the First Methodist Episco-
pal Cluneh in Mt. Pleasant, with which he has
been connected since 1850. In politics he is a
Democrat. A resident of Henry County a period
of forty years has made Mr. Lash well known to
all its citizens. I le is a man who enjoys the respect
and confidence of the community in which he has
so long resided and in which he has been a promi-
nent factor. He h.as never held any public office,
having several times refused to let his name be
used, when pushed by his friends for official posi-
tion.

ON. HUGH ROBERT LYONS, residing on
section 29, Scott Township, Hemy Co.,
Iowa, was born in Belmont County, Ohio,
Ujg)) J"b' 10' 1825, and is a son of Robert and
Mary (Hopper) Lyons. The father was born in
County Down, Ireland, in 1787, but when two
weeks old the grandfather, Hugh Lyons, brought
him to America, settling in Pennsjivania. He emi-
grated to Belmont County, Ohio, in an early day,
and there Robert grew to manhood. He wedded
Mary Hopper, a native of I'ennsylvania, and a
daughter of Robert Hopper, a n.ative of County
Antrim, of the Emerald Isle. Robert Lyons died
Dec. 23, 182C, at the .ige of thirty-seven, when his
only child, our subject, was but a year old.

Until eighteen years of age H. R. Lj'ons resided
with his mother, but at that time went to West
Carlisle, Ohio, where he was engaged as clerk in a
general merchandise store. He remained there
three years, and then formed a partnership with
Samuel Siiockey, and continued in business for
three years, carrying a full line of general mer-
chandise. On the 2d of June, 1855, Mr. Lyons
removed to Henry County, Iowa, locating on sec-
tion 20, half of which he had previously entered.
Jmniediatcly commencing to improve the land, he
has it now under a fine state of cultivation, and it
is considered one of the best farms in the township.

Mr. Lyons was united in marriage, Sept. 1, 1847,
to Elizabeth McKee, a native of Coshocton Countj',
Ohio, born Aug. 18, 1828, and a daughter of Gil-
bert and Henrietta (Fairall) McKee. The father
was a n.ative of County Donegal, Ireland, and the
mother of IMaryland, though of English descent.
Mr. and Mrs. Lyons have been the parents of eight
children: Robert McKee, a railroad employe;
Sarah Mariah, wife of Z. P. Hedges, of Manning,
Iowa; Gilbert How.ard, one of the night watches at
the Insane Asylum at Independence, Iowa; Mary
A., who died in infancy; Henrietta, wife of Edgar
Neil, of Scott Township; Lizzie Augusta, wife of
J. I. Van Scyoc, of Cun.aan Township; Minnetta
Alice, wife of L. J. Carden, of Marion Township ; and
Adeline Lincoln, wife of F. W. Hemmings, of Dan-
ville, Des Moines Co., Iowa. Mr. Lyons and his
wife are both members of the Presbyterian Church.
He is a member of the A. F. it A. M., and is a
Republican in politics, but was a Whig before the
organization of that party. He has held the office
of County Commissioner for three years, and in the
fall of 1863 was elected to the Tenth General As-
sembly of the State Legislature, and was again
elected to the Fifteenth in 1873. He is now Town-
ship Trustee, which office he has held for a number
of years. His success in life is all due to his own
efforts. He received but few educational advan-
tages, and without finnncial assistance he h.as risen
to a place of prominence. B3' his honest labor he
has become the possessor of 325 acres of land,
and the citizens of the district showed in what
respect he was held when they elected him to a
seat in their legislative haUs, and the Hon. II. Rs
Lyons we gladly welcome to a place in the history
of Henry County. He is a representative of the
best class of its citizens, and his many friends will
be pleased to read this brief sketch of his career.

ILLIAM L. LITZENBERG, residing on

W

II section 35, Marion Township, is one of
the enterprising young farmers of Henry
County, Iowa. He was born in Wasiiington Count}',
Pa., Aug. 27, 18(U, and is the son of William and
.Mar}' A. (Long) Litzenberg. (The father's sketch

u

-•►

HENRY COUNTY.

535

appears elsewhere in this work.) Young Litzen-
berg came to Ileury County with liis parents in the
year 1865, and his life has been spent on a farm.
He is a man of excellent judgment in all things
pertaining to his business, and has been remarkably
successful, being possessed of more of this world's
goods than many men of double his age. He owns
an excellent farm of 210 acres, all under a high
state of cultivation, and adorned with good, sub-
stantial farm Ijuildings. Under his management
his farm has steadily increased in value until it is
now second to none of its size in the county. lie
also h.as control of 240 additional acres. Mr. Lit-
zenberg carries on general stock-raising in connec-
tion with his farming, and in this has been equally
successful.

On the 10th of Februarj', 1885, he was united in
marriage with Miss Jennie Neel, who was born Oct. 6,
1864, in Henry County, Iowa, and is the daughter
of John and Martha A. (Swan) Neel. Her father
is a native of Indiana and her mother of Pennsyl-
vania. Mr. Neel is a farmer of Marion Township,
residing on section 14.

Mr. and Mrs. Litzenberg have one child, a bright
little boy, John W., bom Dec. 9, 1886. Mr. Lit-
zenberg is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and his wife of the Presbyterian. He is a
man full of energy and public spirit, entering
heartily into all enterprises for the general good of
the community. His farm is one of the best nat-
ural stock farms in the countj^ being supplied with
never-failing water in great abundance, and he has
built one of the finest barns in this part of the State.
It is 48x60 and 18 feet high, with a 10-foot base-
ment. He has a fine line of stock, horses, cattle
and, hogs, and everything about his place betokens
thrift and careful oversight. In politics he is a
Democrat.

-^ ^-^ ^

eALEB RUSSELL, Jr., is a farmer residing
on section 24, AVayne Township, Henry
Co., Iowa. Since 1855 the family bearing
the name of Russell have been well known in Henry
County. Originally they came from Scotland, and
are of both Scotch and Irish lineage, but were
■^»

natives of Old Virginia. Caleb Russell, Sr., was
a native of Maryland. He was first married to
Miss Harriet Fairfax, a daughter of Capt. Fairfax,
of Revolutionary fame. Her grandfather. Lord
Fairfax, received a large grant of land from the
British Crown, and that comprised the county of
Fairfax, Va., and in his honor the county was
named. Harriet Russell became the mother of four
children: Llewellyn is a prominent merchant of
New Albany, Ind. ; Edgar M., the husband of Marj'
A. Camby, a well-known contractor and builder of
Wayne Township; then our subject; and lastly
Thomas, who wedded Ph<L'be Hatton, a second
cousin of Frank Hatton, and resides in Wayne Town-
ship. The mother of these children died when
Thomas was but six weeks old. The family resided
at that time within thirteen miles of Harper's Ferry.
Mr. Russell was a woolen manufactui-er, and oper-
ated a factory at Rockbridge, and until the family
came to Iowa in 1855 they had never farmed.

The second wife of Caleb Russell, Sr., was Eliza-
beth Matthews, daughter of Thomas Matthews, a
farmer of Harford County, Md. The marriage was
celebrated in 1843, and their children are: Sarah
A., now the wife of AVilliam H. Camby, a farmer of
Wayne Township; Theodore, also a farmer of the
same township, and the husband of Hannah M.
Brown ; and Harriet, who died at five years of age ;
who were all born in Virginia. In 1851 Mr. Rus-
sell and Mr. Hurst went to California, and ran a
sawmill near Nevada City. After that new city was
destroyed by fire, their mill manufactured the
lumber which rebuilt it. In 1854 Mr. Russell re-
turned to Virginia, and the next year made a pros-
pecting trip to this county, and was so well pleased
that he decided to bring his family and make a
home in the new Northwest. After the family ar-
rived a quarter section was selected on section 24,
a part of which is now in possession of our subject.
Every improvement has been placed upon this land
by the Russells. The first house occupied the site
on which Theodore Russell's mansion now stands,
but was destroyed by fire Dec. 19,1875. From
that date a marked decline was noticed in the
physique of Caleb Russell, Sr., who worked heroic-
ally, but saved only a part of his personal property.
He rebuilt in 1876, and until his death in January,

•►^■i •<•

-4•-

-•►

536

HENRY COUNTY.

I

1880, was happily domiciled in the new home in
which his son Theodore now resides. Caleb reached
the mature age of seventy-six years, and his widow,
born in 1804, is yet living with her son Theodore,
but is now very feeble.

Mr. Russell was one of the early officials of
Wayne Townsliip, and for many years was the
Assessor, and when the new law was passed creating
a Board of County Commissioners, he was the first
member elected from Waj'ne Township, and as long
as it was in force, was regularlj' elected his own suc-
cessor. A Friend by birth and profession, he was
an ardent promoter of every enterprise, in not only a
social, but a political sense. Mr. Russell was one
of the first to establish the Society of Friends at
Prairie Grove, and was the first clerk, and served
for many years. The death of that good man was
deeply regretted, and he is oft quoted as being a
man who did great honor to his county. Two of
his sons were soldiers, Llewellj'n and Theodore.
The first was a member of an Indiana regiment, a
clerk in the commissary department, and the latter
of an Iowa regiment.

Our subject, Caleb Russell, Jr., was born in
Prince William County, Va., Feb. 13, 1837. Being
a lad thirteen years of age when his parents came to
Iowa, he took an active part from that time in the
development of the same. Most of his education
was obtained here, and he has made himself a cen-
tral figure in its business circles for miuiy years.
He was married, in 18G4, to Miss Phtube Fcnton of
this county, whose father, John Fenton, came from
Frederick County, Va., to Iowa, in 1855, and set-
tled near the Russell home. At the time of his
marriage Caleb Russell, Jr., purchased a part of his
father's farm, and m.ade fine improvements. Here
the young bride began housekeeping, and for
almost a quarter of a century a happy domestic
life has been hers. Here their children were born:
Oscar, deceased; Upton, deceased; Mary B., Liz-
zie E., Jesse and Emmet P. The two eldest sons
died in childhood. The eldest daughter is a stu-
dent of Howe's Academy, and intends teaching as
her profession. In 18G4 Caleb Russell began the
business of public auctioneer, and for almost a
quarter of a century he h:is been the leading auc-
tioneer in the northwestern part of the county. No
.4«

man in the neighborhood enjoys a wider repution
than he. At a low estimate, Mr. Russell has dis-
posed of over $300,000 worth of property at public
sales. He has also served several terms as Trustee
of his township, and for almost twenty years has
been a member of the Agricultural Board of Henry
County. He was one of the organizers of the
Eastern Iowa District Agricultural Society, and a
member now of the Board of Directors. Mr. Russell
is a member of "O.ood Faith" Lodge No. 23.'), A.
F. & A. M., Winfield, lown, of which he is at present
S. W. Both himself and wife are members of the
Society of Friends, as are also the heads of the
other Russell families.

Vf/AMES DORSEY ROBERTS, one of the
I most substantial and respected farmers of
I New London Township, Henrj' Co., Iowa,
^&ll resides on section 2, where he has a valuable
and well-improved farm of 165 acres. Mr. Roberts
was born in Ohio County, Va., now Marshall County,
W. Va., July 25, 1823, and is the son of Reuben
and Elizabeth (Barton) Roberts, who were born in
Maryland, and were of Welsh descent. They emi-
grated to Iowa in 1 838 and settled in Danville
Township, Des Moines Countj*. The father was
engaged in farming, and made his home in that
township during the remainder of his life.

James D. was reared on the farm in Danville
Township, and was married in that township, March
4, 1845, to Miss Susan McDonald, daughter of
Alexander and Mary (King) McDonald. Mrs. Rob-
erts was born in what is now Marshall County, W.
Va., June 14, 1826. Her parents were natives of
Butler County, Pa., her father of Scotch-Irish de-
scent, and her mother of German origin. Her par-
ents settled in Danville Township Nov. 11, 1837.
IMr. Roberts was engaged in farming in Danville
Township until October, 1855, when he removed to
New London Townshij), Henry County, and pur-
chased his present farm. He and his wife have
four children, three sons and a daughter: William
Barton, born Dec. 22, 1 840, married Luclla Rogers,
and resides at Plattsmouth, Neb., where he is rail-
way yard master, and has two sons and two daugh-

HENRY COUNTY.

-•»»

537

¥

ters; Alexanrler Holt, born Aug. 26, 1848, wedded
S. Elizabeth Pritchard, and lives in Audubon, Iowa,
engaged in the drug business, and to them were
born two sons; Theodore Lane, born Sept. 26,
1 850, married Olive Bridges, and lives in New
London Township, where he is engaged in farming;
Mellie was born Nov. 6, 1855, and is the wife of
William L. Weller, a farmer of New London Town-
ship, and has one son and a daughter; William B.,
the eldest son, was a soldier of the late war and
enlisted in the 1st Iowa Battery, in January, 1864,
serving until the close of the war.

Mr. and Mrs. Roberts and the three younger
children are members of the .Methodist Episcopal
Church. Politically, Mr. Roberts is a Democrat,
and is a wortliy, honorable man, whose woi'd is as
good as his bond.

NEWELL PERCIVAL, harness-maker and
dealer in grain, Hillsboro, Iowa. New
P^ngland has furnished quite a number of
the men who do the business of Henry
Count}', among whom is the above-named gentle-
man, who was born in Campton, Grafton Co., N.
H., Dec. 16, 1832. He is a son of William and
Priscilla (Holmes) Percival, both natives of the
same State. In the war of the Revolution the Per-
civals took an important part, having emigrated
from England prior to that time. One was a Cap-
tain, and others were also engaged in the war,
among whom was Roland Percival, the grandfather
of our subject. Roland married Silence Gates, to
whom Gen. Gates of historic fame was related.
Roland Percival was in his day a noted surgeon,
and practiced his profession in Now Hampshire dur-
ing his lifetime. He was a native of Connecticut,
but settled in New Hampshire when a young mar-
ried man. William, father of the subject of this
sketch, was his third son. He was born in New
Hampshire, May 28, 1800, and died in Van Buren
County, Iowa, April 25, 1886, lacking but a month
of having completed his eighty-sixth year. In
November, 1859, he removed from his native State
to Harrisburg Township, Van Buren Co., Iowa,
where he lived until his death. His wife, Priscilla,

was born in June, 1802. and died on the Iowa farm
in May, 1882, aged nearly eighty years. They were
the parents of eight children: Emma J., who wed-
ded Charles Colby, one of the city officials of Man-
chester, N. II. ; M. N., our subject; William S., who
enlisted during the late war and lost his life from
disease contr.acted in the service; Catherine was
accidentally killed in childhood; Warren O. is a
resident of Hoxie, Sheridan Co., Kan., by trade a
carpenter, and the husband of Sarah Eaton; Josiah
B., a farmer of Van Buren County, Iowa, and the
husband of Lottie Tade; Mattie A., deceased, wed-
ded Dixie Smith, a resident of Plum Creek, Neb.;
Ellen L., deceased, married Henry McCoy, a farmer
of Sheridan Count}', Kan.; Laura wedded Willis J.
Barnes, a well-known citizen formerly of this town-
ship, but now a resident of Sheridan County, Kan.

M. Newell, the subject of this sketch, was married
in New Hampshire to Sarah Davis, whose death
occurred three months after she and her husband
came to the new country, he having in May, 1860,
followed his parents to low.i. From that date for
two years Mr. Percival was employed at the Asylum
for the Insane at Mt. Pleasant, assuming charge of
Ward No. 6, after which he returned to New Hamp-
shire, engaging in the manufacture of harness at
the town where he was born. While a young man
he had gone to Canada in the employ of a railroad
company, and learned that business in detail. He
was employed by the Government in 1864, after
having been for some time engaged in business at
Campton, and was sent South on the Georgia &
Chattanooga Railroad, remaining five months. The
malarial climate caused an illness which forced him
to return North, and he came to Iowa with the in-
tention of again going South after recuperating his
health. In 1865 he began farming in this county,
having in 1864 been married to Miss Hannah Pick-
ering, at Mt. Pleasant. She was a native of Zanes-
ville, Ohio, and with her mother came to Iowa and
settled in Mt. Pleasant. Later, the remainder of
the family moved further West.

On New Year's Day, 1866, Mr. and Mrs. Percival
removed to Hillsboro, where Mr. Percival estab-
lished himself in the harness business, and has con-
tinued manufacturing harness to this date. After
five years of wedded life, his wife's death occurred,

t

"^»^ll 49

538

HENRY COUNTY.

I

and she was laid to rest in tlie village cemetery.
In 1870 Miss Ophelia Eaton became his wife.
Miss Eaton was born in Washington Township, Lee
County, and is a daughter of Ebenezer A. and Eliza-
beth (Rice) Eaton, who were early settlers of that
county, emigrating from Boston, Mass., in 1838.
Mr. and Mrs. Eaton were married four years prior
to coming to Iowa. Mr. Eaton entered lands in
Lee County, and in 1852 went to California, was
taken violently ill, and died in February, 1853.
He was the father of eight children — Jonas A.,
Ophelia, George, Edward, Sarah A., Julia, William
and Eugene. The eldest son was a member of
Company I, 30th Iowa, of which regiment he was
color-bearer. He was wounded in the grand charge
at Vicksburg, his arm being shattered by a rebel
bullet. After his discharge he studied law, was ad-
mitted to the Lee County bar, and practiced law
for several years in Boone County. The wound
received was the indirect cause of his death in De-
cember, 187G. Ophelia graduated in classics at the
Denmark Academy, and for several years was a
teacher in the public schools of Lee County, con-
tinuing in the profession until her marriage to Mr.
Percival; George is a farmer of Hamilton County,
Neb., and is the husband of Margaret Wood, for-
merly of Mansfield, Ohio; her father was a lawyer of
that city. Sarah wedded A\\arren Percival, a car-
penter of Hoxie, Sheridan Co., Kan., and a brother
of our subject; Julia taught school for several years,
but died unmarried in 18G9; Edward died in
childhood; William was a graduate of Denmark
Academy, and is an attorney at Sidney, Fremont
County, this State, a partner of Congressman An-
derson; he wedded Miss Aima Grundy, of Chris-
tian County, 111., a native, however, of England.
Eugene married Etta C. Fligg, of Van Buren
County, and is a resident farmer of Hamilton
County, Neb. The widowed mother finds a cor-
dial welcome at the iujmes of her children. She is
now in iicr seventieth year.

Since the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Percival, four
children liave gladdened their liome. The lirst,
Clyde, died when two years of age. Later came
Leo C, Ruby J. and Agnes E., all bright, beautiful
children, fitted to grace the home of parents wlio
lavish upon tliem a wealtli of love and care. En-

terprising in every sense, we are pleased to accord
to Mr. Percival a place among the business men of
his village, and his family their proper station among
the best families in the land. Early in his business
experience in Hilisboro, Mr. Percival became a
dealer and manufacturer in boots and shoes, engag-
ing three men in that line. Later, and after the
railroad was completed, he began the purchase and
shipment of grain, and is alsoa dealer in flour, feed,
etc., carrying on that and his harness business at
the same time. Mr. Percival is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.

OLIN R. GRANT, an early settler of Henry
County, Iowa, and a prominent farmer of
New London Township, residing on section
1 7, and post-office at Mt. Pleasant, is a
native of Kentucky, and was born in Fleming
County. Sept. 18, 1827. His parents, James and
Sarah (Saunders) Grant, were natives of the same
county, and were descended from old Virginia
families, of Scotch descent. Mrs. Grant was a
double cousin of P. and A. Saunders.

Our subject, Rolin Grant, was reared on a farm,
and when a young man was employed as a mer-
chant's clerk. He emigrated to iowa in 1848,
where he spent two years .as salesman with Presley
and Alvin Saunders. In 1850 he purchased a small
farm near Mt. Pleasant, and began life as a farmer.
He was m.arried, Nov. 4, 1852, to Miss Eliza A.
Tolle, a daughter of William and Sarah Tolle, resi-
dents of Center Township. Mrs. Grant was born
in Fleming County, Ky., and has borne to her
husband six children, only three of whom are now
living: Lena D. ; Emma; Walter D., who died at
the age of three and a half years; Willie, who
died when but fifteen months old; Florence, wife of
Charles Leedhiim, residing in Mt. Pleasant, who has
une daughter, Olive May; Rector, the youngest
child of Mr. (iraiit, died when but a b.abe uf six
months.

Mr. and Mrs. Grant and daughters are devoted
members of the Christian Church. About the year
1854 Mr. Grant bought a sawmill, which he oper-
ated for two years, during which lime he sawed the

,nOJ "

a-^M.

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HENRY COUNTY.

541

first timber used in building the State Hospital for
the Insane at Mt. Pleasant. In 1856 he traded the
farm on which he resided in part payment for 162
acres of raw land, situated within three miles of
Mt. Pleasant. Though there was nothing upon the
land when Mr. Grant bought it, he has by energy
and industry transformed it into one of the finest
farms in the countj', with good farm buildings and
well stocked. In early life Mr. Grant was a Whig,
but later a Republican, and is now a Greenbacker.
He is a member of Hurricane Grange No. 385, and
is one of the most highly respected and influential
farmers of Henry Count3\

E

DWARD C. NOBLE came to Washington
County, Iowa, in the fall of 1853, and settled
on section 36, Marion Township, where he
bought eighty acres of unimproved land, and where
he still resides, although the 80-acrefarm has grown
to be a magnificent farm of 392 acres, all of which
is under excellent cultivation. He was born in
Litchfield, Hartford Co., Conn., in 1826, and is the
son of Oren and Catharine (Prescott) Noble, both
of whom were natives of Connecticut. The family
emigrated to Franklin County, Ohio, when Edward
was but three years of age. He was there reared
on a farm, and remained at home until twenty 3'ears
old, receiving his education in the log school-house.
When twenty-two years of age he began to learn
the carpenter's trade, in Blendon Township, Frank-
lin Co., Ohio, and worked at that trade for nine
years. After his three years' apprenticeship he took
his boss's place and commenced contracting and
building.

While still engaged as a carpenter Mr. Noble
came to this county in the year stated and bought
eighty acres in Marion Township, and at once
commenced its improvement, breaking twenty acres
at that time. He then went back to Ohio and
worked at his trade for about three years, and then
returned with his family to this place in 1856, and
has since made this his home, going back to Ohio
during dull times and working at his trade. Usually,
when working at his trade he ran a gang of about

ten men. He was considered one of the best con-
tractors and builders in Franklin County, Ohio.

On the 8th of May, 1 856, Mr. Noble was married
to Sarah J. Schroch, a native of Ohio, and daughter
of George W. and Rachel Schroch, natives of Hamp-
shire County, Va. Mr. and Mrs. Noble are the par-
ents of three children, all living: Clara Belle, the
wife of William Riley, an attorney-at-law, residing
at Sidney, Neb. ; William F. now resides at Noble,
and is engaged in the agricultural implement trade;
Ida Luella is at home. Mr. and Mrs Noble are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He
is a Simon-pure Republican. In 1883 the Railroad
Company laid out the village of Noble upon a por-
tion of his farm. All the vacant lots in the village
are now held by Mr. Noble.

The father of Edward Noble was one of the first
settlers of Franklin County, Ohio, and there had a
farm cleared out of the heavy timber. As soon as
physically able, Edward and his next younger
brother were required to do most of the farm work,
from time to time clearing away some of the heavy
timber, and thus adding to the farm much tillable
land. His father was a shoemaker by trade, and
by disease had been crippled, thus making it abso-
lutely necessary that others should do the haid
work on the farm. There were in the family nine
children, four of whom are now living: Edward,
the subject of this sketch ; John, living in Werter-
ville, Ohio, near the old home, is a saddler by trade;
Luther resides in the same place ; Ora is the widow
of William Wiley. The father died in 1844, aged
forty-four. After his death Edward had to look
after the family, and was the principal support for
some years. His mother died in 1874, aged sev-
enty-five. They were members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.

Edward Noble is a self-made man, all the prop-
erty that he now owns being the result of his own
labors, having no means to begin life. He has
been industrious and economical in his expendi-
tures, and by close attention to business has accu-
mulated a fine property. His farm is regarded as
one of the finest and best improved in Washington
County. On the place is a handsome two-story
dwelling-house erected at a cost of $2,000 in addi-
tion to his own work, besides which there are three

i

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542

HENRY COUNTY.

good barns, one of which was erected at a cost of
$2,800, and is in size 40x66 feet. Another barn is
33x42, and another 22x50. The tool and carriage
house is 24x32 feet. He also has a granary .5.')x36
feet. In addition to his general farming, for twen-
ty-two years Mr. Noble was engaged in buying
and shipping stock. He now turns his attention to
the raising of fine stock, in which business he is
quite successful. There are few farmers who are
more practical than Mr. Noble. He is a man well
read in the current literature of the day, and in
general news always keeps well posted. A view of
Mr. Noble's handsome residence is shown in this
connection.

\f^^ OBERT S. COLE, deceased, a prominent
\^/ citizen of Henry County, was born in
Dearborn County, Ind., Nov. 23, 1822.
\|^jHis parents were Solomon and Sarah (Remy)
Cole. His father was a native of Marj'land, born
of English parents, his mother was of French
descent. Solomon Cole was a practical farmer and
teacher, and was a man of superior ability and
culture. His family consisted of a wife and nine
children, of whom <iur subject was the third. They
came to Iowa by teams, in 1851. The father was
a confirmed invalid at the time, and the elder sons
took all the responsibility and care of the family.
On coming to this county the family purchased 250
acres of land, situated about twelve miles north of
Mt. Pleasant. The title of one-half of this prop-
erty was vested in the parents' name, and one-half
in the names of James W. and Robert S., the elder
sons. There the sons prepared a home for their
parents, and cared for them during the remainder
of their lives. They conducted the business of the
farm and raised stock until 1849, when they re-
moved to the city of Mt. Pleasant, and engaged
in the lightning rod and pump business. Their
first order was for $50 worth of lightning rods.
The remittance of $50 was lost, but they received
the rods. This business was established by J. W.
and R. S. Cole. They soon added the manufact-
ure of pumps to their trade, the work being done at
Greencastle, Ind. Their venture was successful
A*

from the start, and they rapidly extended their line
of operations. Two younger brothers, William
and John, were admitted to the partnership, and
in 1865 they formed and incorporated a company
for the continuance of the business, with a paid-up
capital of $30,000. They formed a limited part-
nership with their employes, establishing branch
sale stations extending through Iowa, Kansas,
Nebraska, .and other States, having in all at one
time fourteen branch stations, and employing from
150 to 200 men. At the expiration of the limit
of tiie first corporation, in 1875, thej' formed a
new corporation with a paid-up capital of $200,000.
The Cole Brothers built up an immense business,
and enjoyed a reputation for fair dealing and
good work that marked a new era in the jtump and
lightning rod business. The elder brothers, J. W.
and R. S., were associated in business twenty-five
years before they had a settlement. During all
that time their business relations were so harmoni-
ous .and satisfactory that they had no unpleasant-
ness whatever. They had everything in common,
and although each of them had families, they
had no separate accounts.

Robert S. Cole, the subject of this sketch, was
married near Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Dec. 24, 1846, to
Miss Mary Jane Hutton, daughter of Rev. Samuel
Hutton, an early and highly respected pioneer of
Henry County. Her mother's maiden name was
Mar}' Levi. She was born in North Carolina, and
w.as of German descent. Mrs. Cole's father was
born in Pennsj'lvania, and he w.as also of German
descent. He w.as a minister of the Baptist Church,
and did much preaching in the West. Mrs. Cole
was born in Sangamon County, 111., Sept. 27, 1827.
Eight children were born to iNIr. and Mrs. Cole, five
daughters and three sons: Amia K. is the widow
of Edward O. Boone, and is a teacher in the In-
dian Territory; she has one cliild. a son, ^'ictor C.
Sarah J. is the wife of William Ridpath, an attorney
of Brazil, Ind. ; they have three children. Laura M.
resides with her mother ; Haydcn R. died Oct. 6,
1876, aged twenty-one years; William T. married
Annie Maxwell, and resides at Council Bluffs. Iowa;
Jay S. is engaged in the lightning rod business at
Greencastle, Ind.; Mary and Minnie reside with
their mother.

4

HENRY COUNTY.

543

Mr. Cole continued to reside at Mt. Pleasant
until 1880, when he removed to Council Bluffs,
where he purchased the interest of one of their
branch partners, and carried on the business at that
point until the time of his death, Feb. 28, 1884.
After his death his heirs parted with their interest
in the business to Mr. Cole's brothers, Jan. 1, 1887.

Mr. Cole united with the Baptist Church when
he was a youth, and was a zealous Christian during
his life, prompt and liberal in support of the
church and of missions, and charitable and kind to
the poor and distressed. He was a philanthropist
in the broadest sense of the word. He contrib-
uted liberally to the erection of the Baptist Church
at Mt. Pleasant, and after having removed to Coun-
cil Bluffs he made a liberal donation to repair the
church after it was wrecked by a cyclone. He also
took an active part in behalf of the church at
Council Bluffs, and was foremost in all good works.
A man whose word was regarded as inviolate, he
enjoyed an enviable reputation in the community.
After his death his widow and three daughters
resided in Council Bluffs until July, 1887, when they
returned to Mt. Pleasant, to the home which Mr.
Cole had made in that city, which they had never
parted with, and which is a commodious and com-
fortable residence.

' BNER LANE is a farmer, living on section
(f'Syull 4, Trenton Township, Henry Co., lowai
where he owns a fine farm of eighty acres, all
improved. He was born in Muskingum
County, Ohio, May 29, 1824. His parents,
Abraham and Elizabeth (Emler) Lane, were both
natives of Pennsylvania, and came to this county
in 1841, settling on section 10, Trenton Township,
where the father bought 160 acres of land, upon
which he resided until his death, which occurred in
October, 1876, at the age of seventy-six years.
His widow, still residing in Trenton Township, is
eighty-five years of age. Politically Abraham
Lane was a Democrat. He spent his whole life
upon the farm, and was a kind, considerate man.

Our subject was reared upon a farm in Henry
County, and in 1848 was united in marriage with

^»

Miss Barbara Waitman, a native of Ohio, and a
daughter of J. L. Waitman. Mr. and Mr. Lane
have been the parents of nine children: Oscar, the
eldest, died at the age of nineteen years; Franklin
died in infancy; Cordelia, wife of W. L. Turner,
resides in Madison County, Iowa; Ophelia, wife of
William Maleroy, is a resident of Audubon County,
Iowa; Lucy, wife of William Hollems, of Warren
County, Iowa; Isidora, wife of William Maguire,
of Jefferson County, Iowa; Asbury, Elma and
Carrie still reside at home. Socially Mr. Lane is
a member of the I. O. O. F., and is a P. G. He has
held the offices of Trustee and Assessor of Tren-
ton Township, and is held in high esteem by all
who know him.

J-'-'^A.^^

ASPER LUSK, a farmer and stock-raiser, re-
siding on section 36, Trenton Township,
Henry Co.. Iowa, is a native of Greene
County, 111. He was born March 17, 1832,
and is the son of W. B. and Sarah (Dickson) Lusk,
a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Jasper, after his mother's death, which occurred
when he was two years old, lived with an uncle and
aunt in Illinois for six years, but in 1839 his father
took him to live with himself, bringing him to Henry
County. He was reared upon the home farm in
Tippecanoe Township, and at the age of twenty
made an overland trip to California, where he re-
mained for two years engaged in farming and min-
ing. With his father, he returned home by water,
by w.ay of Panama and New York. After his re-
turn he obtained 240 acres of land on section 36,
Trenton Township, which at that time was raw land,
and upon this farm he still resides.

In 1857 Jasper Lusk was united in marriage with
Annie Costlow, a native of Pickawaj' County, Ohio.
She was born Aug. 3, 1837, and is a daughter of
James and Delia (Hildrith) Costlow. On the pa-
ternal side she is of Irish descent, her father being
a native of that country, and her mother a native
of New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Lusk have been
born three children: James W., still residing at
home; Florence, wife of Luther Gayer, of Kokomo,
Ind. ; Myrtle Elnora, at home. In 1863 Mr. Lusk

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544

HENRY COUNTY.

again crossed the plains with an ox -team, and reach-
ing Montana, he engaged in mining for two years,
returning home by the way of the Missouri River.
After his return he again resumed his occupation of
farming, which he lias continued ever since. Mr.
Lusk is an excellent farmer, understanding the busi-
ness thoroughly. He has 500 acres of land, mostly
under cultivation, and his stock is of the best grades
in the market, and he ships from one to three car-
loads of cattle per year. He believes that stock to
yield a good income must be well kept. Upon the
farm is a fine country residence worth $1,500. Mr.
Lusk takes great interest in all educational matters.
Politically, he is a Democrat, but is liberal in his
views.

^ACOB M. LANE, residing on section 21,
Trenton Township, Henry Co., Iowa, is
one of the pioneers of this county since 1841.
He has witnessed the many changes which
have transformed the county from its state of nat-
ural wilderness to one of great cultivation. Jacob
was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1822,
and is a son of Richard and Amelia (Jackson) Lane.
The father was of Irish descent, though born in
Pennsylvania, and the mother of French origin,
born in Virginia. They were early settlers of Mus-
kingum County, Ohio, .and in 1841 emigrated to
Henry County, renting a farm on section 1, Tren-
ton Township, where they lived many years. Mr.
Lane then purchased eighty acres of school land on
section 16, Trenton Township, which was in a wild
state, and upon which he made many improve-
ments. He built a dwelling, and resided upon this
farm for ten j'ears, and then removed to Treuton
Village, where he lived a retired life. His death
occurred in 1877, when seventy years of .age. He
was a Republican in politics, and was a conservative
man. His widow still resides in Trenton Village.
They reared a fiunily of ten children, six of whom
are now living: Jacob, our subject, is the eldest;
George, a resident of Trenton; John Q., who was
Colonel of the 97tli Ohio Volunteer Infantry dur-
ing the late war, now resides in l'hiladei|ihia. Pa.,
where he is a practicing lawyer; Lucinda, wife of

George "Wilson, a resident of this county; Eliza
Ann, residing with her mother; Richard was a
soldier in the 25th Iowa Volunteers, served until
the close of the war, but his place of residence is
now unknown. Those deceased are Samuel, Charles,
Elizabeth and Jane.

Our subject was re.ared on a farm in this count}'.
He was married, in 1849, to Lydia Pratt, a native
of New York, and a daughter of Louis and Ellen
(Robins) Pratt, both of whom were n.atives of New
York. Mr. and Mrs. Lane are the parents of seven
children: M.artha died at the age of fourteen years ;
George died in infancy; Orvil L. and Oliver, twins,
the former living in Audubon County, Iowa, and
the Latter in Trenton Township; John Charles,
Frank and Josephine are still inmates of the patern.al
home. Mr. Lane has held all the offices of the
township that its citizens can give, and is at present
one of the Board of County Supervisors. He takes
great interest in all political affairs, and is a stal-
wart Republican, believing that the party has not
yet finished its work. Mr. Lane h.as a good prac-
tical education, and is ever ready to aid in the ad-
vancement of educational interests.

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W B. PIERCE established the Winfield Tile
I (P Works in 1881. In 1884 C. B. Pierce pur-
J*'— ^^, chased a h.alf interest in the same, and the
firm is known as Pierce Bros. The}- have a fine
building, consisting of the main building and two
wings. The main building is 32x;56 feet, and three
stories in height; one wing is 48x30, and two sto-
ries high ; the other is .also two stories in height,
and 40x20 feet, while under tlie whole building is
a good basement. This factor}' turns out about
400,000 feet of tile per year, valued .at $6,000.
The works are run by a 20-horse-power engine.
The first tile factory in the State was started in
Kossuth, Des Moines County, by Isaiah Messenger,
now i)roprietor of the Fairfield Tile Works. Mr.
Pierce soon after became a proinietor in that fac-
tory, and has been engaged in tile-making for
thirteen years.

L. B. Pierce was born iu Windsor County, \'a.,
Jan. 14, 1835, and is the son of Edmund and Louisa

t

HENRY COUNTY.

545

(Stone) Pierce, who emigrated to Des Moines
County, Iowa, in the spring of 1856. In 1872
they removed to Manhattan, Kan., where they both
died. Mr. Pierce was an old-line Whig. He was
well informed on all political affairs, and several
times was candidate for the Legislature. They were
the parents of six children, four of whom are liv-
ing: Catherine F., wife of Judge Harper, of Riley
County, Kan. ; C. B.,a retired merchant of Leaven-
worth, Kan.; Nellie L., wife of George Coleman, a
grain dealer of Shenandoah, Iowa, and our subject.
Those deceased are Henry and Edward.

L. B. Pierce during early life attended the com-
mon schools, and afterward took a six-years course
in Yellow Springs College. In 1861 he enlisted
with the other brave boys of the 2d Iowa Cavalry,
being a member of Company K, and participated
in forty-three engagements. He entered the serv-
ice as a priv.ite, but was promoted to tiie rank of
color sergeant. The battles participated in by him
were : Farmington, New Madrid, Booneville, Rienzi,
luka, Corinth, Holly Springs, Ockaloma, Palo Alto,
Collierville, Saulsbury, West Point, Prairie Station,
Pontotoc Roads, Ripley, Tupelo, Old Town Creek,
Hurricane Creek, Shoal Creek, Crawfordsville, Mt.
Carmel, Franklin, Nashville, where he was made
color bearer; Little Harpeth, Rugersford Creek,
Andersonville, and others. He received a compli-
mentary furlough, signed by Col. Horton, Gens.
Coon, Hatch and Thomas, for gallant conduct in
the battle of Nashville, in carrying the colors after
the color bearer was killed. He has now in his
possession the original application to Gen. Thomas
signed by the three first-named officers. He was
mustered out at Selma, Ala., Sept. 19, 1865, and
was discharged at Davenport, Iowa, in October.
He re-enlisted at Memphis, March 1, 1864, serv-
ing in all four years and two months. During his
whole army life he was never on the sick list, but
always ready for duty.

In June, 1865, in Des Moines (Jouuty, Iowa, L.
B. Pierce was united in marriage with Leah A.
Bandy', a daughter of John Bandy, who came to
Des Moines County in 183'J from Indiana. Seven
children have blessed their union — Claude H..
Gracie May, John E., Mary L. and Katie W., liv-
ing, and Georgie and Nellie, deceased. Mr. Pierce

is a member of the G. A. R., and in politics is a
Republican. He and his wife are both members of
the Presbyterian Church. They came to Winfield
in 1881, and throughout the community where
they reside they are universally respected.

*->«^

-^4!l^=

«^fe^.

\jf OSEPH P. KERR, residing on section 31,
of Center Township, was born in Butler
County, Pa., May 18, 1829, and is the son of
Andrew and Sarah (Porter) Kerr, natives of
Pennsylvania. Mr. Kerr is of Irish descent; his
great-great-grandfather, Thomas Kerr, was born in
Ireland in 1721, as was also his great-grandfather,
Thomas Kerr, Jr., who was born in Ireland in 1743,
and who married Margaret Clerk, a native of Ire-
land, and by this union there were ten children:
Mary, who married William Steward; John, who
married Jane Porter, was drowned ; Thomas, whose
first wife was Ann Williams, and whose second wife
was Elizabeth Douglas; Ann, who was united in
marriage with Thomas Parks; David, who married
Rebecca Kennedy; Rebecca and Ella died when
children; Margaret, who married Thomas Walker;
Jonathan, who formed a matrimonial alliance with
Mary Bradin, and Joseph, who married Nancy Bra-
din. Our subject's grandfather, John Kerr, was a
native of Pennsylvania, being born near Emlenton,
in 1767, and united in marriage with Jane Porter
in 1791. By this union there were also ten chil-
dren: Sarah, who was born in 1792, and who mar-
ried Andrew Sloan, died of consumption March
24, 1821; Thomas, who was born in 1793, was
united in marriage with Isabel Stewart, and died
Sept. 14, 1857; Margaret, who was born in 1794,
and who married Mathew McDowell, died in 1848;
Rebecca, born in 1796, married Daniel Spicer in
1812, and died of typhus fever in 1815; John, who
was born in 1798, and who married Mary Berr}',
died in 1830 ; Jonathan, who was born in 1799, and
was the husband of Nancy Keifer, died in 1876,
from a third stroke of paralysis ; Jane, who was
born in 1801, was united in marriage with Robert
Crawford, and died from a cancer in 1858; David,
who was born in 1803, was united in marriage with !

^

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546

HENRY COUNTY.

Mary Zigler; Andrew, the father of our subject;
Ann P., who was born in 1807, was married to Jack
Zigler, in 1827.

Andrew Kerr, the father of Joseph P., was born
Jan. 11, 1805. He was a pioneer of Venango
County, Pa., where his parents moved when he was
but a lad, and where his early da3's were spent. He
was married, on the 2d of September, 1828, to Miss
Sarah Porter, born May 13, 1804, who was the
daughter of Joseph Porter. They were the par-
ents of three children: Joseph P., our subject;
David, who was born June 6, 1832, was united in
marriage with Nancy Black in the year 1852, and
resides in Missouri; John, who was born June 9,
1835, was married, Dec. 25, 18G0, to Philena Alden;
three children were born to tbem. He was
drowned in the Des Moines River on the 13th of
April, 1867. Andrew Kerr died March 5, 1839.

The early life of our subject was spent upon the
farm in Butler County, Pa., receiving his education
in the district schools of his native State. He emi-
grated with his mother to Henry County in 1856,
settling on section 31, of Center Township, where
his step-father. Matliew McDowell, had purchased
130 acres of land, partially improved. Here the
family still reside, and here on the 11th of Sep-
tember, 1859, Mr. McDowell departed this life.
Mr. Kerr purchased 130 acres of land on section 31
of Center Township, and now lias a finely improved
farm. On the 22d of October, 1863, Mr. Kerr led
to the marriage altar Miss Eliza Ann Nicholson, a
native of North Carolina. Her grandfather was a
soldier in the Revolutionary War; her p.i rents, John
and Sarah (Brooks) Nicholson, were natives of
North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr are the par-
ents of cigiit children, all of wiiom are living:
Andrew Joiin, now in Missouri; Sarah, the wife of
Albert Smith, of Center Township; Joseph Byron,
Charles M.. Ira N., l.eanderB. and Mahlon A. are
still at home.

Mr. Kerr's business is tiiat of general farming;
he is a well-educated man, having been a teacher in
Pennsylvania for many years, and has taught ten
terms in this county. He has held various town-
ship offices, and his success in life has all been due
to his own efforts. Though never enjoying good
health, Mr. Kerr has worked on and now has the

reward due to those who help themselves. He is a
member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and thej' are
always ready to help those in need. They have the
confidence and respect of the whole community.
Mr. Kerr always casts his vote with the Republican
party.

^^ EORGE W. LAIRD, one of the prominent and
III ,— , influential citizens of Henry County, Iowa,
^^j) is a native of Ohio, born in Guernsey
County, Aug. 26, 1842. He resides on section 22,
of Tippecanoe Township, where he has one of the
finest cultivated farms in the county, 310 acres in
extent, and the improvements alone which he has
put on it have cost over $3,000. His parents were
John and Susan (Hooks) Laird, the former a native
of Washington County, Pa., of Scotch and Irish
ancestry, and the latter a native of Guernsey County,
Ohio, of German and AVelsli parent.age. John
Laird was born in 1813, and died Jan. 28, 1875.
His whole life was spent ujion a farm, and at the
time of his death he owned a handsome place of
160 acres in Athens Count}-, Ohio, where he died.
He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and his life was in accordance with the
religion he espoused and consistent with the rules
of the church with which he was connected. Politic-
ally he was a Repulilican, and took great interest in
all that pertainetl to his i>arty. Since the death of
her husband, Susan Laird h.as made her home a
great part of the time with om- subject. She was
born Eeb. 13, 1816, and for her age is a wonder-
fully preserved lady, and she likewise is a member
of tlie MotlKjdist Episcopal Chiircii.

Tiie boyhood days of George W. Laird were
spent upon a farm in Ohio, and in attending the
district schools of his native State. At tiie .age of
twentj', on the Tith of September, 1862, he bade
his friends good-bye, not knowing when, if ever,
they should meet again, and responded to Iiis
country's call for troops. With tlie many brave
boys in blue, he enlisted in Company I, 7th Iowa
Cavalry, serving till July 4, 1865. He participated
m the following battles: Duttonllill, Ky. ; Mt. Ster-
ling, Ky. ; Jonesboro, Tenn. ; Bristol, W. Yti. ;

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HENRY COUNTY.

547

New Market, Bull's Gap, Knoxville, Bean Station,
Marysville, Morristown, Rogersville, all in Tennes-
see; Cynthiana, Ky., wliere they fought against
Morgan ; the seige of Atlanta, Duck River, Frank-
lin and Nashville, all in Tennessee ; Mill's Bend, and
in a battle with the rebel General, Forrest. The regi-
ment then went on the Wilson raid, and were
under fire at ^^alley Forge, Plantersville, Selma,
Ala., Columbus, Ga., and in many other skirmishes.
He served as orderly for Gen. Beard for two weeks
at Danville, Ky. After his discharge he returned
to his home at Athens, Ohio, where his parents had
moved when ho was but five years old, and com-
menced working on the farm of his father, continu-
ing there for four years. His first purchase of land,
in 1868, was a farm of twentj' acres in Hocking
Valley, Athens Co., Ohio. His marriage with Lydia
Bowers was celebrated in Ohio, Nov. 27, 1869. She
was the daughter of Abram and Fannie (Hamilton)
Bowers, who were natives of Virginia, but she was
born in the Buckeye State. Mr. Laird and his young
bride commenced their domestic life on the farm
which he had purchased, residing there until the
fall of 1874. They emigrated to Henry County at
that time, where Mr. Laird purchased the place
where he now lives, which then consisted of 120
acres, to which he has since added, making his
present farm of 310 acres. In connection with gen-
eral farming and stock-raising, he shijjs hogs and
cattle to Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Laird reared a
family of four children — Flora Alpha, John, Alice,
and Louida, deceased. The mother was called to
her final home in 1878, and Mr. Laird was again
married, his second wife being Margaret E. Under-
bill, widow of Elisha Underhill. Her parents were
John and Sanira (Clark) Johnson, the former a
native of Ohio, and the latter of Tennessee. Mrs.
Laird was born in Lee County, Iowa. Two chil-
dren have graced this second union — George Howel
and Sherman Howard. Mr. Laird has been honored
with the office of Justice of the Peace. For two
years he was Township Clerk and is now Assessor,
having held that office for four years. Reared in
the political faith of the Republican party, he has
never swerved from or lost sight of the fundamental
principles of government as taught by it, and does
not think that the " grand old party " has yet out-

lived its usefulness. Mr. Laird commenced life as
a poor boy, but by hard labor, economy and hon-
esty, has gained a competence, and among the peo-
ple of Henry County none are more worthy of a
place in this volume than George "W. Laird and his
family.

JOHN B. LASH, a retired merchant and pio-
neer of Mt. Pleasant, of 1837, was born in
Frankford, Hampshire Co., Va., June 8,
1808. His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth
(Barns) Lash, were also natives of the same State.
The familj' had resided in Virginia since the Colo-
nial days. His father was a saddler and harness-
maker by trade. Oursubject learned the trade with
his father and worked at it until he reached manhood,
when he engaged as a merchant's clerk, continuing
in that capacity until 1836, when he went to Indi-
ana, and the following year came to Mt. Pleasant.
He was married in his native town to Mrs. Sarah
Keller, a lady of brilliant accomplishments and
great artistic talent. Her paintings, still in the pos-
session of her family, are held by competent critics
to be worthy of high praise. Mrs. Lash had two
children b^' her former marriage: Serena, wife of
Mr. Mohler, of Pennsylvania, and Martha, who was
the wife of John Robertson. Both are now de-
ceased. One child, a daughter, was born of the
second marriage and died in infancy. Mrs. Lash
died June 20, 1878.

In 1836 Mr. Lash left his native State and spent
a short time in Indiana, where he arranged to bring
a stock of goods to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and to act
as agent in their disposal for A. B. Hughes. He
arrived at Mt. Pleasant in April, 1837, and opened
the second store in that place, then consisting of a
collection of log shanties with stick and mud chim-
neys. Mr. Lash erected the first frame house upon
the town site, put up the first brick chimney, im-
ported the first brick, and built the first brick house
in town. He continued to act .as agent for Mr.
Hughes for a few years, then bought the stock and
began business for himself. After continuing the
business for a short time alone, he, in 1849, formed
a partnership with Samuel Smith and William
Thompson, which relation continued until 1856;

f

548

4

HENRY COUNTY.

he was then out of business until 1860, when
he took his brother Thomas as partner, which con-
nection continued until 1873, when he sold out to
his brother, and has since lived a retired life. Mr.
Lash, next to Presley Saunders, is the oldest pioneer
merchant in Mt. Pleasant. For a period of fifty
years he has been a prominent character in this
city, and few men are better known or more univer-
sally respected, he having .always borne the character
of an upright man and good citizen.

Mr. Lash was a prominent man in the affairs of
Mt. Pleasant and in Henry County, and his influ-
ence was always given in favor of measures which
were for the benefit of the county. In 1840 he was
elected Representative in the Second Territorial
Legislative Assembly, and re-elected in 1841. Inthe
affairs of the town and city of Mt. Pleasant he
took a leading part. In 1852 he was elected to
the Council, re-elected in 1856, '57, '58and '59, and
again in '68, '69, '70 and '71 — the latter being bis
last public service. In politics he has always been
a Democrat, and independent in forming his own
opinions. An instance is given of this trait: When
he reached his majority, it was natunUly supposed,
he having said nothing to the contrary, that he
would vote the Whig ticket, as did his father, who
was a warm supporter of tliat party. He surprised
his friends, however, by voting the Democratic
ticket, believing, he said, that w.as the better party.
Since that time his allegiance lias never wavered.

^^

<rT|^)DWIN A. LYMAN, editor and proprietor
1^ of the New London Eclipse, was born at
/l^-^ Mt. (Jilead, Ohio, April 30. 1864, and is a
son of William and Mary (Hotchkiss) Lyman. He
came with his parents to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in
1872, and w.as educated in the common schools of
that place. He learned telegraphy, and worked for
the Chicago, Buriingtnn ife (^uiiicy Raib\)ad, and
was engaged in o|)eratiiig about eight years. He
came to New London in 1884, and in company with
W. S, Dover, started the New London Sun, April
30, 1887, but sold his interest in August following,
and on Aug. 13, 1887, issued the first number of the
Eclipse, which is a scven-cohimn folio, neutral in

<■

politics, published on Thursday of each week. Mr.
Lj'man w.as married, Sept. 4, 1883, to Miss Minnie
Pliilpott, d.aughter of Dr. Philpott. Mrs. Lym.an
w.as born in New London.

eHARLES E. MAGERS, one of the most
popular young business men of New London,
a dealer in staple and fancy groceries, flour
and feed, gloves, mittens and gents' furnishing
goods, has been in active business in his present
situation at New London since May 12, 1883. He
was born in New London, Henry Co., Iowa, Jan.
8, 1863, and is the nephew and adopted son of
Tliomas H. Magers, a blacksmith of New London,
who has worked at his trade since 1851 and has
run a shop since 1854, .and has the oldest shop in
town.

Thomas H. M.agers came to Burlington, Iowa, In
1849, and was born in Knox Count}-, Ohio, Nov.
27, 1815, and is the son of William and Drusilla
(Sapp) Magers. He learned his trade in Mt. Ver-
non, Oliio, and there was married, Jan. 18, 1844, to
Miss Elvina Shopbell, daughter of Jacob and Cath-
erine Shopbell. She w.as born in Westmoreland
County, P.a., and b}^ this union they have one
child, Lewis M., who married Ella Fowler at New
London, April 12, 1874, and has one child, Thomas
Fred, born Jan. 13, 1877. Mr. M.agers came to
Iowa in October, 1849, worked at his trade two
years, and in the spring of 1851 became a journey-
man, working until 1854, when he opened his shop.
His father was born in France, and came to Amer-
ica just after the Revolution, living in the South,
but finally settling in Oiiio. His mother was born
in Knox County, Ohio, and was of German and
English ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Magers arc mem-
bers of the Protestant Methodist CInircii. lie is a
member of Charity Lodge No. 56, I. O. O. F., of
New London, .and is res]iected alike by old and
young, rich and poor. In politics he is a Demo-
crat.

Charles E. Magers, liie subject of this sketch,
and adopted son of Thomas 11. Magers, was edu-
cated in the public schools of his native town, and
served a regular apprenticeship to the blacksmitli

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HENRY COUNTY.

551

trade with his adopted father. After three j'ears
spent in the shop he concluded to malje a change,
and engaged in his present business. Mr. Magers
is a young man of sterling qualities and business
capacity. During his short career as a merchant
he has built up a flourishing and rapidly increasing-
trade and established a gilt edge credit. Socially
he is a courteous, genial gentleman, and is justly
popular among the best citizens of his life-long
home. lie has been reared with the care and ten-
derness of an own son by his foster-parents, who
took him to their hearts and home while an infant
in arms, and cared for him as their own. While
they regard him with all the affection of real par-
ents, they have the gratifying satisfaction of know-
ing that the object of their regard is worthy of
their love and care, and that he reciprocates their
kindly sentiments in the fullest degree. In polities,
he is an uncompromising Democrat.

•Jl SAAC T. GIBSON, farmer, was born in Greene
I County, near Oldtown, Ohio, in 1831, and is a
(11 son of Montelian and Sarah (Embree) Gibson,
the former a native of Loudoun County, Va., and
as both his parents died in that State, he came, in
1805, an orphan lad, to the Buckej'e State. He
learned the trade of milling at EUicott's Mills, Va.,
and after he came to Ohio, hired to Thomas Embree,
whose mills were situated on the Little Miami River,
near Oldtown. For many years he managed the
mill, and later married Sarah, the daughter of his
employer.

Thomas Embree moved to East Tennessee from
South Carolina at an early day. He erected an
iron furnace, and with his sons, Elihu and Pilijah,
carried on that business till he removed to Ohio.
He was a man who had great natural ability and
was a survej'or, doing the most of the surveying in
that part of the countrj'. He also had compiled
and printed a "Phonetic Spelling Book" which has
since been improved. His two sons inherited their
father's energy and ability, and Elijah engaged in
politics, canvassing Tennessee with Andy Johnson
when he was a candidate for Governor in that
State, at which time Elijah was a candidate

for Congress. Elihu was an earnest opponent
of slaver^', and joined with other Friends and pur-
chased type, etc., and he became the editor of
The Emancipator, which was the first paper solely
devoted to advocating the freedom of the
slave. Mr. Gibson's mother possessed a full share
of the family characteristics. She was a remarkable
woman, of strong natural ability, much force of
character, and of marked benevolence. These
traits she impressed on her son, and from her Isaac
T. Gibson inherited his desire to do good to the
poor and suffering.

Montelian Gibson and his wife settled on a part
of the Embree entry, and there all their children
were born, as follows: Esther, who married Ben-
jamin Owen, and after his death Eleazer Bales, who
was a prominent minister of the Friends' Church,
and died a few months since; his widow resides
in Plainfield, Hendricks Co., Ind. Jlaria wedded
Benjamin Wildman, a farmer, who died in
Clarke County, Ohio; his wife is also deceased.
Elijah A. is a bachelor residing in Ellensburg, Ore.;
Tamar and Rachel, twins, were both married.
Tamar wedded George Hobson, now deceased, and
Rachel wedded Peter Ilobson. They were married
in Indiana within a few months of each other and
are now residents of Salem, being among the first
families to settle in the new town. After the death
of George Hobson, Tamar married James Comer, a
retired farmer of Salem. Deborah wedded Jesse
Hadley, in Morgan County, Ind., and died one year
after her marriage ; Hannah married Caleb Easter-
ling, became the mother of two children, and died
in Indiana; Isaac T., our subject, wedded Miss
Anna M. Hiatt, of Salem. Allen Hiatt, her father,
purchased in 18.52 the farm upon which she and
our subject reside. They were residents of Wayne
County, Ind., before coming to Iowa, and after im-
proving his Salem farm Mr. Hiatt engaged in the
nursery business for several j-ears. Rhoda Hunt
became his wife in North Carolina. He was a noted
man, not only in his native State, but also in Ohio
and Indiana. He was a man of culture and refine-
ment and a self-made man. In Ohio he served as
Justice of the Peace, and after his removal to
Wayne County, Ind., was elected State Senator,
and his official term was served with honor to him-
^

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552

4

HENRY COUNTY.

self and his party. He was an ardent Whig and
later a member of the Republican party. His death
occurred Nov. 2, 1885, in Salem, Iowa, at the age
of ninety-one years. He was the father of six
children, three living: Susannah, deceased; Gnl-
ielma, deceased, who wedded Albert White; John
M., who resides in Keokuk, wedded Mary Tisdall,
and after her death her sister Emma; was highly
educated, and was Provost Marshal of the Southern
District of Iowa during the war, having been
elected a member of the State Legislature from
Lee County prior to the war. lie afterward served
as Mayor of Keokuk. Anna M., now Mrs. Gib-
son, and Minerva E., deceased, complete the family.
Mrs. Gibson received her education at Earlham
College, near Richmond, Ind. After her marriage
to Isaac Gibson they commenced their domestic
life in Salem. He was a merchant at that time, and
was for ten years in business in 'the village, and on
his marriage engaged with Mr. Hiatt in the nursery
business and in farming. Both before and after
marriage Mr. Gibson was a member of the School
Board, of which he was Secretary, and at the same
time was a member of the Village Council, of which
he acted as Clerk, and during his term of office the
new charter was obtained. For many years he w.as
also a Notary Public. He was also Secretary of
the first County Agricultural Society, which held its
fair at Salem, and w.as the forerunner of the present
society. During his life, Mr. Gibson has been one
of the most active members of his church. He was
a member of the Northwestern Freedmen's Aid
Commission, organized at Chicago in 1864, and
was one of its Board of Managers, which comprised
eminent men from all the C'iiristian bodies of the
Northwest. He continued in the board until it
was merged into the American Missionary Associa-
tion. This commission was the channel through
which the benevolent people of the Northwest sent
their contributions in aid of the suffering f reed-
men during the latter part of the w.ar, and after its
close.

After the war Mr. Gibson was sent by the
Friends to establish schools among the colored peo-
ple of the Southwest. He was also appointed agent
of the American Missionary Association, and of
the Freedmen's Bureau, the latter appointment be-

ing made by Gen. O. O. Howard. For two years
he was engaged in organizing schools in different
towns in Missouri, and w.is the person who pro-
cured the introduction of free scliools for the col-
ored people. During this work he was often
threatened with personal violence, but kept at his
work undismayed. After he had established schools
in the principal places in Missouri and secured
teachers, his attention was turned to St. Louis,
where colored people paid taxes on over $1,000,000
worth of property, and were then supporting six
large schools at their own expense. These schools
had been authorized by law, but their proportion
of the school moneys had been withheld. He,
after a conference with the President of the School
Board and the Superintendent, secured buildings,
and the colored children, through his influence,
obtained all the privileges enjoyed by the white
children, and to-day St. Louis has numerous com-
modious buildings for their education. He w.is at
this time appointed by the State Legislature a mem-
ber of the Reform School Board, of which he was
made Treasurer, and sui)erintended the completion
of White's Institute, the first reform school build-
ing erected in this State. He later resigned that
position to accept the United States Indian
Agency for the Osage and other tribes in the Indian
Territory. During the troublous times of 1869,
when the whites were trying to steal in and make
a claim, he maintained the respect of not only the
Indians, but of the whites as well. We take pleas-
ure in quoting from the history of Montgomery
County, Kan., the following: "During all the
difficulties that occurred in the succeeding two
years, when the whites without warrant of law or
semblance of justice, were trespassing on the rights
and property of his wards, he managed to retain the
entire confidence of the Indians and enjoy the re-
spect of the whites." For five years longer Mr.
Gibson remained, and his work was rewarded by
the greatest success. One of the good deeds he
performed for the Indians was in preventing the
consuniUKition of a treat}' which the Os.agcs had by
fraud been induced to make, selling 300,000 acres
wliicli they owned in the best portion of Southern
Kansas for eighteen cents per acre, lie gathered
information in regard to it wliicli he forwarded to

i

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4

HENRY COUNTY.

653

the Government, and the treaty was withdrawn by
President Grant. At the next session of Congress
Mr. Gibson was iu Washington as the representa-
tive of the Indians, and heli)ed to liaveabill passed
selling those lands at 11.25 per acre, and placing
the proceeds at interest for the Osages, making
them a wealth}' tribe.

After resigning his mission among the Indians,
he became for two years a resident of Washington,
D. C, where he engaged in business as a claim
agent. During his residence there he was Presi-
dent of the National Christian Association of the
District of Columbia. While there he was Secre-
tary of the National Arbitration League, whose ob-
ject is to substitute arbitration for war between na-
tions, whose President was Gov. Stanton, of Kansas,
and was Secretary' of the National Convention held
in Washington, of which Hon. Edward S. Tobey, of
Boston, was President. The league had much in-
fluence in Congress, and President Arthur was
induced by it to call the attention of Congress to
their beneficent object in his Annual Message. Mr.
Gibson still labors in this field, and is a member of
the Iowa Friends' Peace Society.

After his return to Salem Mr. Gibson attended
solely to his farm duties. Both himself and wife
are prominent in the Ortliodox Society of Friends,
and he lias never missed an annual meeting, except
when absent on official business. He is in harmony
with the mission work of the church, and has been
Treasurer of the Missionary Board of Iowa Yearly
Meeting, and President of the Church Evangelical
Committee. He and his wife are tlie parents of
seven children, four dying in infancy. The sur-
vivors are: Allen II., a book-keeper in the employ
of a Government trader at the Osage Agency, who
speaks the Osage Indian language well ; Mary E.
is a teacher in this county, and was also engaged
as teacher at the Osage Agency, and also taught
for a year in the public schools in Washington, D.
C. ; Thomas Embree, the other son, is an attendant
at the Iowa Wesleyan University, at Mt. Pleasant.
The four deceased were: Sarah E., John N., Anna
N., and Nopawalla, who was born in the Indian
country and named after a chief noted for his
efforts iu bringing about the civilization of his
people. Iu 1867, while the Friends were trying to

sustain a Friends' school, the "Whittier College As-
sociation" was formed by him and other Friends,
and carried to successful completion. He was sec-
retary and financial manager of the board from its
organization, but has declined all other positions
for years past.

The admirable portrait of Mr. Gibson, on an ad-
joining page, shows that gentleman as he was in
the prime of a vigorous physical manhood, and its
strong lines are an indication of the characteristics
which have always distinguished him.

DAM MILTENBERGER, residing on sec-
tion 2, New London Township, has a fine
farm of 160 acres under a high state of
cultivation, and has resided in Henry
County since 1852. Mr. Miltenberger was born in
Rockingham County, Va., now West Virginia,
Sept. 18, 1816. His parents were John and Eliza-
beth (Blass) Miltenberger, who were also natives
of Virginia, and were of German descent. His
father was born in Augusta County in 1782, and
was a farmer by occupation. His paternal grand-
father came to America from German}', in his
j'outh. Adam's mother was born in Rockingham
County, Va., also of German parents.

Our subject was reared on a farm, and when six-
teen years of age removed to Warren County, Ohio,
where he was married, Oct. 25, 1843, to Miss Cath-
erine Rees, daughter of David and Mary (Richards)
Rees. Her father was born in Center County, Pa.,
of German descent. Her mother was also born in
Pennsylvania and was of English origin. Mrs.
Miltenberger was born in Warren County, Pa.,
Feb. 22, 1826. Nine children were born of their
union, six sons and three daughters, three of whom
died in infancy: Marietta, born Nov. 22, 1845,
is the wife of Robert Baxter, a hotel-keeper of
Albia, Iowa, and has three children living, a son
and two daughters; Charles R., born April 29,
1847, married ISIartha Jackson for his first wife, by
whom he had three children ; with his present wife,
who was Miss Olive Hine, he resides in New Lon-
don, Iowa, and is a traveling salesman. Sarah Belle,
born Oct. 14, 1848, wife of John W. Jackson, re-
i»

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554

i

HENRY COUNTY.

sides in Osborne County, Kan., and has one child,
a daughter; Theodore, born June 20, 1850, mar-
ried Emma Randall, and resides in Lincoln, Neb.,
engaged in mercantile business, and has one child,
a son; John Franklin, born April 25, 1852, and
residing in Phillips County, Kan., is engaged in
milling; he is married to Martha Thompson, and
has one daughter. Margaret Luella, born C)ct. 26,
1862, is the wife of John W. Lee, who is engaged
in the butchering business at New London, and has
two children, girls. William, born Nov. 17, 1855,
died in infancy, and two unnamed infants are also
deceased.

Our subject emigrated from Warren County,
Ohio, to Des Moines County, Iowa, in April, 1852,
and located in Flint River Township. He was en-
gaged in farming there for three years and then
came to New London Township, .and located on his
present farm. He is a Republican in politics, and
a Master Mason, a member of New London Lodge
No. 28, A. F. & A. M. Mr. and Mrs. Miltenber-
ger are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and are highly respected by all who know them.

IPHRAIM P. GARRISON, of Mt. Pleasant,
in Somerset Countj% N. J., in
is the son of Daniel 8. and Cath-
erine (.Simmons) Garrison. Both parents were
natives of Virginia, though of Scotch origin. The
grandfather on the m;iternal side, Cutlibert Sim-
mons, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution.
Daniel Garrison, the father of our subject, was a
soldier in the War of 1812, and died in Somerset
County, N. J., when Ephraim was a lad of Ave
j'ears. Two years later, when liut seven years old,
he was bound out to a man named John Maiicn, a
farmer of Sussex County, N. J., where he lived for
five years. At the expiration of that time, Ephraim
went to live with a man named Sutton resid-
ing in the same county, where he reni.iiried for three
years. He then left there, and was l)((und out as
an apprentice to a w.agon and carriage maker in
Middlebrook, N. J., commencing work there at the
age of fifteen and continuing in this employment
for three years. He then went to Teetown, work-

ing at his trade, and subsequently going to Plain-
field, N. J., where he remained for five j'ears, and
then to Coldwater, Mich., residing there two j'ears
working at his trade as a journeyman. Mr. Garri-
son then removed to Marshall, Mich., and engaged
as a millwright, and then to Buffalo, N. Y., work-
ing on steamboats; from there to Newark, N. J.,
remaining two j'ears engaged in cabinet-making,
and subsequentlj' to New York City, where he was
employed in the same business. Going to Pennsyl-
vania, he was engaged in various departments of
cabinet-making, working for a few months, when
he returned to New York. In that city he became
acquainted with and married Catherine Devoe, a
native of New York City, and daughter of Thom.as
and Fannie (Burr) Devoe, who were of Holland
descent. After his m.arriage, he removed to Deck-
ertown, N. J., where he resided for one j'ear, em-
ployed as a cabinet-maker. Again returning to
New York Citj', he worked in a chair factory for
six months and then moved to Monticello, N. Y.,
where he remained for four j-ears. In that citj' he
first set up in business for himself, estal)lishing a
factory and general furnishing shop. The desire
to again change his place of residence took posses-
sion of him. and again he removed to the citj' of
New York, this time remaining for thirteen years.
There he was engiiged in making inside vaults for
safes, cmploj'ed bj' the Gajior Safe Company. In
185.') Mr. Garrison emigrated to Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa, where, with hisbrother Augustus, he eng.aged
in making brick and building houses, continuiTig in
this work for three j'ears. At the end of that time
he began working for Charles Housel in a cabinet-
shop, working for one year, and then established a
shop of his own, also working here for a jear. i\Ir.
Garrison then formed a partnership with Charles
( Juick ; at the end of a year the partnership was dis-
solved, but our subject h.as continued in the busi-
ness ever since. ]\Ir. Garrison is a fine mechanic,
and is an expert in making anything in wood or
iron, lie has a general repair shop, and is able to
till any special order that may be given him.

Mr. and Mrs. Garrison have been tlie parents of
six cliildren, throe of whom are now living: Fran-
ces, wife of Jacob Wright, of Tippecanoe Town-
shij); Joseph died when five j'ears of age; William,

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u

■*^ll <t

I

HENRY COUNTY.

555

a soldier in the 14th Missouri Volunteer Infantry,
died in the hospital at Memphis, Tenn.; Penning-
ton is married to Jane C. Handell, of Mt. Pleasant,
and is engaged in business with his father, and
resides in Mt. Pleasant; George M., abrakeman, of
New Brunswick, Mo., was killed by the cars Feb.
14, 1884; Elenora, wife of Bert Triggs, residing in
Ottumwa, Iowa. Politically Mr. Garrison is liberal.
He owns seven and one-half acres of land within
the city limits of Mt. Pleasant. He is an intelli-
gent and trustworthy' man, and is highly respected
throughout the community.

— ^>> .o♦o.•@y^.<A^..o4o. -V-—

■^Y) OHN EDGER, a farmer and breeder of fine
horses, residing on section 8, New London
Township, Henry Co., Iowa, and a resident
of Henry County for forty years, is a na-
tive of England, and was born in Cumberland,
April 22, 1811. His parents were William and
Mary (Wilson) Edger, also natives of Cumberland,
England. Our subject was reared on a farm, and
was apprenticed to the shoemaking trade, at which
he worked for ten years. He was married in his
native parish, March 1, 1835, to Miss Ann Arnison,
daughter of George Arnison, a prominent collier
of that country. Mrs. Edger was born in Cumber-
land. Five children were the result of their union,
the three eldest born in England, and the two
youngest in America. Mr. Edger emigrated from
England to America with his family in 1841, and
located in Hancock County, 111., where he engaged
in farming until the fall of 1847, when he removed
to Henry County, Iowa, and entered eighty acres
of land in New London Township, and pre-empted
another eighty acres. He subsequently bought at
private sale, until he now has 290 acres of valuable
prairie land. He has carried on farming and stock-
raising extensively, and has done much to improve
the breed of horses in this region by the introduction
of some full-blood Cleveland Bay stock, and some
half-bl(j<)d Clydesdale horses. For the past twenty-
five years he lias been keeping blooded horses. He
has now a very fine specimen of the former stock in
his barns, and two handsome four-year-old colts of
the latter. He was the first to introduce thorough-

bred Durham cattle into the township. Mr. Edger
is an enthusiastic horseman, and is of the firm
opinion that the C'leveland Bay is the best every-
day horse for the farmer's use.

Mr. and Mrs. Edger's children were named re-
spectively : George, William, John, Joseph and
Thomas. George was born in Cumberland, England,
March 1, 18.36, married Mary Spearman, and died
Sept. 16, 1862; William, born in Cumberland, June
15, 1838, married Ann AA''alker, and resides in New
London Township; John, also born in Cumberland,
Oct. 22, 1840, was a soldier of Company K, 25th
Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and died in Jacksonville,
Ind., July 14, 18C4, of disease contracted in the
army ; Joseph, born in Hancock County, 111., July
30, 1843, was also a soldier of the Lite war, serving
in Company K, 25th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, was
wounded at ^Mcksburg May 22, 1863, and died
four days later of his wounds; Thomas, born Oct.
17, 1846, married Sarah Housen, and was acci-
dentally killed by a falling ax, June 23, 1886,
leaving a wife and eight children, five boys and
three girls ; his widow resides on a farm in New
London Township. Mrs. Edger died Jan. 6, 1880,
at the homestead in New London Township. Mr.
Edger was again married, in March, 1881, to Mrs.
Vashti Brewer, a native of Wabash County, Ind., and
a daughter of Samuel Walker. She had one child by
her former marriage, a daughter, Mary, now the
wife of Frank Hand, a resident of Baltimore Town-
ship. Mr. and Mrs. Edger are members of the
Christian Church. Mr. Edger is a Greenbacker in
politics, and has held various local offices. Three
times he has been a member of the Board of
Trustees of New London Township. His post-
office address is Mt. Pleasant.

*i9s^»«^j»t>

«^*^-rt^ftf-«

JOHN LEE, deceased, a worthy pioneer of
Henry Count}-, Iowa, of 1836, was born in
Franklin County, Ohio, Dec. 26, 1797, was
a farmer by occupation, and removed to
Bond County, 111., in an early day, where he was
united in marriage to Miss Charity Smith, daughter
of Zedek Smith, Esq., who was born in Tennessee, in
November, 1800. Mr. Lee emigrated with his

^

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556

HENRY COUNTY.

family to Henry County, Iowa, in November, 1836,
and located in what is now New London Township,
on unsurveyed land. The exact date of his arrival
at the site of his future home was Nov. 14, 1836.
He made his claim on what is now section 11 of
New London Township, where he made his liome
till late in life, when he removed to New London
Village. His death occurred April 22, 1879, in his
eighty-second year. His wife, an estimable Chris-
tian lady, who had reared a family of twelve chil-
dren, four sons and eight daughters, died Oct. 11,
1 865. The children all lived to be men and women,
and are all Jiving at this date (1887) except three,
They were born in the following order: Eliza,
Jan. 21, 1821 ; J.ane, Oct. 12, 1823; Sar.ah, Oct. 20,
1824; Almir.a, April 10, 1826; Samuel, Nov. 4,
1827; John, March 25,1829; Julia Ann, Jan. 2,
1831 ; Willmm, Dec. 23, 1832 ; Thomas B., June 29,
1835; Polly Ann, Oct. 7, 1837; Charity, July 26,
1839, and Louisa, Sept. 26, 1841. The nine elder
children were born in Bond County, 111., and the
three younger in Henry County, Iowa.

In early life Mr. Lee was a Whig, and a Repub-
lican after the organization of that party. Both
he .and his wife were consistent members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church from early life. He
W!is an upright, honorable, industrious citizen, and
deserves creditable mention in the ann.als of the
pioneer days of Henry County. That this sketch
is not more complete is not the fault of the writer,
but owing to the indifference of certain members
of the family, who could, but would not, take the
trouble to supply the necessary information.

JOSEPH C. COURTNEY, residing on section
36, Marion Township, was born in Mononga-
hela County, Va., July 13, 1811, and is a
son of Thomas and Mary (Cravens) Court-
ney. His grandfather Cravens was a native of
Scotland, emigrating to America in a very early
day, and served all through the Revolutionary
War, taking part in the principal battles. His
mother was born near tiie Ailegiiany Mountains in
Virginia, while his father was a native of Ireland,
coming to this country when a child. Mr. and Mrs.

i

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Thomas Courtney were the parents of thirteen
children: our subject w;is first in order of birth;
John is farming in Marion County, Iowa; Robert
is also a farmer in Marion County, Iowa; Levi is a
farmer in Highland Count}'. Ohio ; Margery, de-
ceased wife of Kinsman Wolf ; Lemuel, deceased ;
Elizabeth married Mr. Murphy; Lyda. deceased;
Sarah, wife of Mr. Puckett, a farmer in Marion
County, Iowa; Mary died at the age of ten;
Rebecca, the widow of John Puckett; William, a
farmer in Marion Township; Thomas, a farmer in
Marion County, Iowa. Mr. Courtney removed
from Virginia to Highland County, Ohio, in 1813,
locating near Hillsboro, where he lived until the
time of his death, which occurred in 1844. He
was a man who took great interest in school and
church ni.atters, and was a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Mrs. Courtney dejiarted this
life in 1879, at the age of ninety-two. She was
.also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
a kind and considerate mother, and a greatl}'
esteemed friend.

Our subject received such tin education .as he
could get by attending the district school in winter.
At the .age of fourteen he began learning black-
smithing, which trade he has since followed. In
the ye.ar 1852 he removed from Ohio to Mt.
Pleasant, where he resided for two ye.ars, then buy-
ing forty-live .acres of land on section 36, he built
a shop in 1854. He is a good workman, doing
his work in a thorough business-like manner. In
connection with his shop he has also an apiary,
keeping from sixty to ninety hives.

In the spring of 1833 Mr. Courtney was united
in marriage with Miss Mary Long, a daughter of
Joiin and Eliz.abeth (Herston) Long, who were
natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Courtney
have been tiie parents of ten children : Joseph was
a member of the 13th Infantry Volunteers, and is
now clerking in Beaver, Pa. ; Allen, who is now a
farmer in Marion Towniship, belonged to the 4th
Iowa Cavalry, and was in all the principal battles
with that regiment. Jo.seph w.as captured at Chat-
tanooga, and placed in that loathsome, horrible
prison at Andersonville; Elizabeth is the wife of
Frank Jcwett, a farmer in Marion Township; Jane,
the widow of Thom.as Lehew, resides in Mt.

t

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HENRY COUNTY.

657

Pleasant; Emeline married William Fiillerton, a
resident of Lincoln, Neb.; Mary, deceased; Win-
field has charge of the home farm ; Hannah, at
home; Thomas, in Mendon, Neb., and Maria, at
home.

!\Ir. and Mrs. C'ourtnej' have traveled life's
journey together for fifty-two years. They have
been earnest, active workers in the vineyard of
the Master for sixty-three years. Mr. Courtney is
a man who takes great interest in all political
affairs, is an ardent Republican, and though believ-
ing that Prohibition is right, he yet feels that the
Republican party has not completed its mission.
Mr. and Mrs. Courtney are pioneers of Henry
County ; they have always been ready to forward
any enterprise for the good of the community, and
are highly respected by all.

ON. M. L. CREW, farmer. The father and
mother of our subject were both native-
born Virginians. Walter Crew, his father,
wa.s a Friend by birth, and his wife, Sarah
Rice, was the daughter of a slave-owner. Micajah
Crew was the father of Walter, and the ancestors
were of English origin. He settled in Hanover
County, Va., where his family were reared, and upon
the original farm both himself and wife died. There
was a large family born to Dr. William Rice, the
maternal grandfather of our subject, but he was
three times married, the first wife being the grand-
mother of Mr. Crew. She was the mother of four
children: Blair, a Baptist minister; Izard, a phy-
sician and large land-owner; Sarah, mother of our
subject; and Marj^, who became the wife of Dr.
Samuel Hargrave. Roger A. Pryor, of historic
fame, married Sarah, a daughter of Blair Rice. In
1849 Walter Crew sold his Virginia homestead, and
with his family, consisting of fourteen children,
made his way overland to the State of Iowa, making
Salem their objective point. The lands now-
owned by M. L. Crew were the original homestead,
and in 1850 the family removed to their new home,
and the old house, which for the first few years was
used as a dwelling, is still standing. Their children
were named respectively : Talitha wedded Walter

Terrell, of Johnson County, who after her death
married her eldest sister, Jane; he is one of the
best known men of Johnson County, having been
a farmer, a miller, and also a surveyor, which
profession he formerly followed in Louisiana. Mary
married John Collett, well known in this county as
a teacher, his family residing in Salem; William R.,
a neighbor of our subject (see sketch); Sarah wed-
ded Joseph Thacker, now deceased, who for several
years was florist in charge of the greenhouse at the
As3'lum for the Insane at Mt. Pleasant; Susannah
married Charles J. Poulter, an Englishman, now a
resident of this township; Walter is a resident
physician of Mankato, Jewell Co., Kan., and was
the husband of Nancy Smith, whose death occurred
in 1885; Tacy D. wedded John Savage, a resident
farmer of this township (see sketch) ; M. L., our
subject, was next in order of birth; Samuel died
unmarried ; Annie married James Starbuck, a resi-
dent of Jay County, Ind.; Martha is unmarried,
and a resident of this county; Lucy B. is the wife
of Peter Smith, a farmer residing near Mt. Pleas-
ant; Edmund, who died the same spring the
family came to Henry County, completes the
family. All were born in Hanover County, Va.
The death of Walter Crew, Sr., occurred when in
his seventy-third year, and his wife survived him
five years, reaching her seventy-first year. They
lived in full accord with the tenets of the Society
of Friends, and their loss was felt not only by that
society, but by the entire circle in which they
moved.

Walter Crew was a great lover of books, a man
of much general information, and unusually well-
read, and inculcated on his children a systematic
course of daily reading, prescribing books and sub-
jects for them to study, and the result is apparent
in his children. He inherited many books from his
father, to which he had added largely by purchase,
and on his removal to the West had, for a non-
professional man, an unusually complete librarj-.
These books he shipped to St. Louis, intending to
send them from there to the nearest point in Iowa.
Unfortunately they reached St. Louis just prior to
the great fire in that city, in 1849, and were all
consumed. The loss was a severe one to Mr.
C rew, as he was never able fully to replace them.

f

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558

HENRY COUNTY.

!=

M. L. Crew was born at Crewsville Farm, Han-
over County, Va., June 13, 1835, and was fourteen
years old when the family removed to Iowa. He was
educated at the common schools, with the exception
of one year spent at the seminary at Salem.
Aug. 23, 1859, he was married to Mariam, daugh-
ter of Dr. Samuel and Mary (Overman) Stephenson,
his first wife. Dr. Stephenson was born in 1802, in
Londonderry, Ireland, was educated for a profes-
sion, .and came to America in 1829. He read
medicine, and attended lectures at the Ohio Medical
College, at Cincinnati, in 1832. He settled in
Highland County, and on Dec. 24, 1834, married
Mary Overman, whose parents were Friends. They
had four children: the first two were twin boys who
died within a year; Mariam was born Jan. 2,
1837; Eliza in 1839. Their mother died in 1840.
Dr. Stevenson came to Iowa, settled in Salem, and
began the practice of medicine there in 1847,
remaining in that village a number of years. He
and his wife are now living at Elwood, Iowa. Eliza
married James Pope, resided in Canby, Cal., and
died May 20, 1887.

For a number of yeai-s after his marriage Mr.
Crew taught school in winter and farmed in sum-
mer. For several winters he was Principal of the
public school in Salem. In 1870 he purchased, the
old homestead near Salem, and gave up teaching,
devoting himself to farming. Unlike most who are
reared in the Friends' Church, he took an active in-
terest in politics, and zealously advocated the prin-
ciples of the Republican party. In 1881 he was
elected to represent the county in the Nineteenth
General Assembly. While a member of the House he
labored to promote the interests of agriculture, and
gave earnest and active support to a bill abolishing
the use of free passes by the officials of the State,
and also one to prohibit a greater charge by tlie
railroad companies for a short haul than for a long
one, for the same class of freight. He vote^l for
the submission of the Constitutional Amendment
to the jieople, to prohiliit the sale of intoxicating
liquors, and opposed what lie believed to be a di-
version of the Agricultur.al College from the
purposes for which it was endowed, and favored daily
manual labor as one of its distinguishing features.
He sought by bill the adoption of a uniform system

of text-books for the public schools, and to make
provision by which pupils could obtain them at
wholesale prices. The following 3-ear he took part
in the canvass for the adoption of the Constitutional
Amendment, and in 1883 was unanimouslj' renom-
inated for Representative on a platform declaring
in favor of embodying in statutory laws the princi-
ples of the Constitutional Amendment, they having
been set aside by the courts. The other two
parties united, and nominated W. I. Babb, a dis-
tinguished lawyer. The issue being the embodying
the amendment in law, Mr. Babb was .able to hold
his party in line, and also obtain many Republican
votes from those who were opposed to any further
legislation on the subject of temperance, and Mr.
Crew was defeated by a small majority, but he did
not lose hope of the final triumph of the principles
which he advocated.

Mr. Crew began life in very moderate circum-
stances, but his wife seconded his every laudable
ambition, and cheerfully aided in everj- honest,
manly effort to .icquire a home .and competency.
She shared with him a love of books, and the long
winter evenings, which are so often tiresome on the
farm, were occupied in reading aloud, each member
of the family taking p.art. Their union was blessed
with three children : ]\Iamie, the eldest, w.as edu-
cated at "Whittier College; Ada died when four
yeai's.old; and Mattie, the youngest, whose educa-
tion is not 3'et completed. The two girls still
remain with their father. The good mother died
Feb. 16, 1886. She was a consistent member of the
Congregation.al Church, and amid the sunshine and
shadows of life was ever the same cheerful, kind
and intelligent companion and friend, the same lov-
ing mother .and devoted wife, and her death cast a
gloom over the happy home.

f(f^ AMUEL SUMMERS, deceased, was a pio-
^^^ neer of Henry County, Iowa, of 1844. He
Iv^l^ "'^'^ born in Chest<'r County. Pa., in 1805,
his iiarents being George and Elizabeth
Summers, both from Bucks County, Pa. Mr.
Summers was engaged in farming and mercantile
pursuits, and was married in liis native count3'.

_._,.^f^-^?'»fnaa^.'

JU

HENRY COUNTY.

561

March 3, 182!), to Miss Margaret Smith, a daughter
of Robert and Mary Smith. Mrs. Summers was
bom in Chester Count3', Pa., Oct. 16, 1803, and died
in Sidney, Shelby Co., Ohio, in 1841. Six children
were born of their union, five sons and one daugh-
ter. Robert, the eldest, emigr.ated to California in
1850, was married there, and died Dec. 30, 1880,
leaving a widow and children; Philip is a resident
of Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa (see sketch) ;
George and Mary A. are twins; the former married
Eunice Rork, and resides in Missouri; Mary A. is
the wife of Christian Maier, whom she m.arried
shortlj' after reaching \A'ashington Territory with
her father while on the way to California. Her
husband is a millionaire resident of Walla W.alla,
W. T. The next child was Samuel, who mar-
ried Theodosia Rork, and is a farmer in New Lon-
don Township, Henr}- Co., Ifiwa. The youngest
of the famil}' is John, who also went to California
in 1864, married there, and resides at Michigan
Bluffs, in that State.

Samuel Summers, the subject of this sketch, came
to Iowa as stated, in 1844. For twenty years he
was engaged in farming in Henry Count}', but in
1864 decided to go to California, and made the
journey overland with ux-teams, going by way of
Idaho and Washington Territory. He remained in
California until 1868, when he returned to Henry
County and resumed farming until his death, which
occurred at his home in New London Township
Dec. 8, 1880. In politics he was a Democrat, was
a member of the Presbyterian Church, a good
Christian, and an upright, hoTiorable man, respected
wherever he was known.

t^^IMOTHY WHITING, deceased, late Presi-
//,<=^ dent of the National State Bank of Mt.

I lati

Pleasant, Iowa, and one of the most prom-
inent and honored citizens of that place, was born
at Brewer, Penobscot Co., Me., Feb. 7, 1809. His
father, Gol. John Whiting, removed to Steuben

County, N. Y., when our subject was but six years
of age, and there engaged in farming. The suc-
ceeding nine years were passed upon his father's
farm. His primary education was obtained at the
district school. When fifteen he entered Prattsburg
Academy, where he completed his studies. Upon
leaving the academy he engaged as a merchant's
clerk on the munificent salary of $50 a year and
board. By diligent and faithful attention to duty
he soon secured an advanced salary, and by frugal
and economical habits acquired sufficient capital to
engage in business. When twenty years of age he
formed a partnership with another young ni.an, and
eng.iged in the mercantile business at Painted Post.
The venture proved unfortunate on account of the
mismanagement of his partner, and a failure was the
result, leaving quite an excess of liabilities over
the assets of the firm. Mr. Whiting, by perse-
verance and industry, succeeded in paying every
cent of their joint obligations. Thus he established
a reput.ition for those sterling qualities of integrity
and honesty that were his ruling characteristics
through life. He continued in business in Steuben
County until 1857, when he removed to Mt. Pleas-
ant, Iowa, being attracted to that city by its superior
school and academic facilities, where his children
might receive their education while remaining at
home. On coming to Mt. Pleasant he engaged in
banking, which business largely occupied his time
until his death, which occurred P'eb. 6, 1887, on the
last day of his seventy-seventh year. He was one
of the founders of the Mt. Pleasant branch of the
Iowa State Bank, in 1858, and was its Cashier and
controlling spirit, and its representative in the State
Board of Directors. This board was composed of
the leading financiers of the State, whose duty it
was to supervise the different branches of the State
Bank in the various cities where located. Mr.
Whiting's keen business tact and financial ability
and thorough knowledge of the true principles of
banking were soon recognized by his associates.
He became an influential member of the board,
and maintained that position during his connection
with it. In February, 1865, the Mt. Pleasant
branch of the State Bank was re-organized, and
chartered as the National State B.ank of Mt. Pleas-
ant, with Mr. Whiting as President and his son

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562

HENRY COUNTY.

1 ■

t

John as Cashier. Mr. Whiting contiiuierl to serve
as President .and was the chief manager of the
bank up to witiiin a short time prior to his death,
covering a period of twenty-two ye.irs. Under his
wise supervision the bank pursued a prosperous and
successful course, and became one of the solid
financial institiitions of the State. Mr. Whiting
■was noted for his strict performance of dutj',
punctuality and persevering industry-. He usually
walked from his residence in the suburbs of the
city to the bank earl}- in the morning. When the
bank opened at 8 o'clock he always had any busi-
ness that was in arrears the day before well in hand,
and was ready to give prompt attention to tiie
business of the day. His unfailing punctuality
was one of the secrets of his great success in busi-
ness. It is said of him that during the thirty years
of his activQ business life at Mt. Pleasant he was
never known to be tardy in keeping an appoint-
ment unless prevented by unavoidable accident.
He never sought or would accept public office or
political preferment. He did yield so far to the
urgent solicitation of friends as to serve as Trustee
of the State Hospital for the Insane atMt. Pleas.ant,
filling the position of President of the board for
eleven years, during which time he discharged the
duties devolving upon him witli his usual fidelity
and earnestness.

He united with the Methodist Episcopal Church
in 1831, and remained a consistent member of that
society through life. He was ever active and
liberal in support of all departments of church
work. During the greater part of his residence at
Jklt. Pleasant he served as Superintendent of tiu;
Sunday-school, and for a number of years he filled
the position of President of the County Sund.iy-
School Association. Applying himself with his
usual energy and methodical industry to the busi-
ness in hand, he made the Sund.ay-school an im-
portant adjunct to tiie cliurch. For twentj' years
he served as President of the Henry County Bible
Society, and by his liberality and zeal made this
one of the most reliable counties in the State in
this field of religious work. It was not his custom
to take i^art in ])ublic exhibitions of generosity.
He had no i)atieuce with such disi)lays; but his
warm sympathies and liberal aid were easily enlisted

to help any laudable cause. Ail pretensions and
shams he hated intensely. His deeds of charity
were privately performed, and it pleased him best
to have the good deed done without being identi-
fied with the act. Yet, when circumstances re-
quired a public effort to arouse a general giving he
never hesitated to take the lead. Among the latest
of his acts of public generosity was a donation of
$5,000 to the Iowa Wesleyan University of Mt.
Pleasant, on the condition that a like sum should
be raised elsewhere for its assistance. Mr. Whiting
was a great student through life, and his mind was
richly stored with practical knowledge. His opinions
were based on close investigation and careful
analysis, and his conclusions when reached were
convictions. His temperate and orderly life preserved
his physical and mental faculties with unusual vigor
in his old age, so that while approaching fourscore
years he continued to visit the office regularlj' and
give personal attention to his extensive business.

Mr. Whiting was united in marriage at Painted
Post, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1833, to Miss Sarah A. Mc-
Call, daughter of Ansel and Ann (Shannon) Mc-
Call, and a native of that town. For nearly fifty-four
3ears the married life of this aged couple had been
an honor to each other and the communities where
they resided. Faithful in their united devotion —
each an unselfish helpmeet to the other — their lives
were blended in the most harmonious relations.
Four years prior to IMr. Whiting's death the)^ cele-
brated their golden wedding, suiroundcd by their
children, grandchildren and friends. Tiiey were
I the parents of eleven'children, seven sons and four
daughters, of whom seven are now living, viz:
John 11., residing at Alt. Pleasant (see sketch);
Henry, now a resident of Florida: Charles H., a
book-keeper in Ciiicago, III.; Samuel S., a mercan-
tile salesman in Minneapolis, Mimi.; Frank H.,
pr(>i>rietor of a foundry and machine-shop at Cedar
Uapids, Iowa: Ann E., wife of Prof. .1. II. Hop-
kins, Prin('i|)al of the High School at Ypsilanti,
Mich.; Sophia E., wife of Robert S. (iillis, Cashier
of the Nation.'il Bank of Mt. Pleasant (see sketch).
Four of the children arc deceased. Mrs. Whiting
is living in the old home, corner of Adams and
Ileur}' streets, Mt. Pleasant, and is now in her
seventy-fifth year.

t

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,t

HENRY COUNTY.

563

Mr. Whiting was a pioniinent and represent-
ative citizen of Mt. Pleasant, and wortliy of the
honor of the portrait which appears on a preceding
page.

i^ OBERT L. JAY, M. D. The ranks of the
l^(( medical profession in this county contain
\\\ many noted both as skillful phj-sicians, and
^S) men of culture. Among them may be men-
tioned the subject of this sketch, who was born in
Van Buren County, Iowa, in 1849, the son of Rev.
John and Mary (Alexander) Jay, who rank among
the first families of Southeastern Iowa. Rev. Jay
was one of the first Methodist Episcopal ministers
who preached the glad tidings in this part of the State,
and when the Indians were more plentiful than white
men, he rode a circuit and preached at the homes of
the early settlers, whose rude log cabins were cheer-
full}' offered for the services, which were well at-
tended by those within reasonable distance. The
Alexander family located near Talleyrand in Keo-
kuk County, and the mother of Mary Alexander
died while crossing the ocean en route from Ireland
to America. The Rev. and Mrs. Jay were parents
of seven children, as follows: Elizabeth became the
wife of David Bales, of Sterling, Neb.; Marietta
wedded John Robinson, a farmer of Blue Springs,
Neb.; William married Georgia Griffey, and re-
sides in South Sioux City, and is the editor of the
Sioux City Sun; John, the youngest, dieil unmar-
ried; Marcellus and Melvin were twins, and both
are practicing attorneys at Dakota City, Neb., and
were students of law with Judge Griffey, of that
State ; Marcellus is married, and Melvin became the
husband of Laura Tracy. Partners in business and
residents of the same city, both are deservedly
popular and prosperous. These, with the subject
of this sketch, complete the family.

When the latter was fifteen years of age, he vol-
unteered and became a drummer boj' of Company
D, 15th Iowa Infantry. He saw active service and
was present at the siege and capture of Atlanta, Ga.,
was at the front in Sherman's great march to the
sea, the campaign through the Carolinas, and par-
ticipated in the grand review held in Washington
City, the greatest military pageant ever witnessed

on the American continent. After his return from
the army, Rcibert L. liegan studying medicine with
Dr. Pa3'ne, of Richland, and later took a medical
course at Keokuk. In 18C9 Miss Sibbie Davis be-
came his wife, and in 1871 the Doctor began to
practice in Baden, Iowa. Miss Davis is a daughter
of John and Sarah (Free) Davis, of Richland, a
family widely known in Southeastern Iowa, her
father being a merchant of Richland, and one of
the earliest settlers in that part of the country.
Eight children were in the Davis household : Ze-
relda, wife of Sherd Tracy, proprietor of the Swazy
House, of Richland ; James, who married Sarah
Stockman, resides in Pawnee County, Kan. ; Hen-
derson, the husband of Lou Cox; Mary, wife of
Bert Funk, a manufacturer of Sigourney, Iowa;
Sibbie, wife of Dr. Jay; Lydia, wife of Hayes
White, of Fairfield; Harry, a partner with his
father in the mercantile trade, wedded to Cora
Campbell; and Lena, wife of Ralph Smith, of Sig-
ourney, Iowa.

Dr. Jay located in Wayland in 1884. and has the
leading practice in that neighborhood. His skill
has made him deservedly popular, and his reputa-
tion as a physician and a gentleman is high. Four
children grace the union of Dr. and Mrs. Jay — Le-
nora, John, Alma and Mollie, the latter born in
Wayland. We are pleased to publish in this vol-
u!ne this sketch of the soldier, the citizen, and the
accomplished physician and his family.

Vw? OHN R. PONTIUS, a farmer residing on sec-
I tion 6, New London Township, post-office,
Mt. Pleasant, settled in Henry County in
the fall of 1858, and has a valuable and
highly improved farm of 250 acres. Mr. Pontius is
a native of Ohio, and was born in Ross County,
near Chillieothe, Oct. 14, 1828. His parents were
Andrew and Slary A. (Bitzer) Pontius, both of
Pennsylvania, but of German descent. His father
was born in Pennsylvania and his mother in Ross
County, Ohio, and the latter died at the age of
seventy -two, the father at the age of seventy-six.
Our subject grew to manhood on a farm, and was
married in Ross County, Ohio, Sept. 15, 1855, to

n

564

"•►^B 4

HENRY COUNTY.

Miss Mary Compton, (laughter of John Compton.
Her birthplace was Ross County, Ohio. Four chil-
dren were born of their union, three sons and a
daughter: Horace M., now living in Nebraslva; An-
drew J. is now railroading on the Chicago, Burling-
ton & Quincy Road ; .Jessie A. and Charles E., liv-
ing at home. Mrs. Pontius died Aug. 4, 1871, and
Mr. Pontius was again married, Aug. 29, 1882, in
New London Township, to Mrs. Mary "Watkius,
widow of Richard Watkius, and a daughter of Han-
son Jackson. Mrs. Pontius w.is born in Center
Township, and her family were old settlers of Henry
County. She has two children by her former mar-
riage, one of whom is now living, Richie Watkius.
She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Pontius is a member of Henry Lodge No. 10,
I. O. O. F., of Mt. Pleasant. His father was born
in Pennsylvania, but removed to Ross County,
Ohio, while yet a child. He continued to reside on
the old homestead, where he died, having passed
seventy-three years of his life on the same farm.
Mr. Pontius is one of the leading farmers of New
London Township, and is held in high esteem by a
large circle of acquaintances.

Ht^^ICHOLAS MILLER, a prominent pioneer of
I jjj Henry County, Iowa, of 1841, and President
li\J^ of the New London Old Settlers' Associa-
tion, was born in Somerset, Perry Co., Ohio, June
7, 1822, and is the son of Jacob and Catherine
(Rigal) Miller, His father was a native of Pennsyl-
vania, and was born near Chambersburg, and was
an industrious Christian man, and a member of the
Lutheran Churcii. His wife, the mother of Nich-
olas, was also born near Ch.ambersburg, and was of
German i)arenlngc. Her father was born near
FraTikfort-on-the-Main, Germany, and emigrated
with his parents to America when but nine years of
age. He enlisted in the Continental army, and
served during the Revolutionary War.

The parents of our subject, Jacob and Catherine
jMillcr, emigrated from near Chambersburg, Pa., to
Somerset, C)hio, about 1800, going by teams over
the mountains. Tiieir oldest daughter was born in
the wagon on the summit of the Alleghauies, and

.4. :

the family was four months on the road. Nicholas
was reared in Somerset, Ohio, where he served an
apprenticesiiip at the wagon-maker's trade. He
came to New London, Henry Co., Iowa, June 18,
1841, and purchased a couple of lots in that thriv-
ing hamlet, and shortly after returned to his Ohio
home, where he spent the winter, returning to New
London in the spring of 1842. His trip back to
Ohio, a distance of 1,600 miles, was made at a total
cost of less than $10. On his return to Iowa he
built a small house and a wagon-shop on his New
London lots, both of which are yet standing. He
made the first wagon that started from that place
for California, if not the first in the county. He
worked at his trade here until the spring of 1847,
when he again visited Ohio. After spending a
short time in his native town, he went to St. Louis,
where he worked at carpenter work until fall, when
he returned to New London. He was united in
marriage ^t that place, Nov. 24, 1847, to Miss Mary
Morris, daughter of Isaac and Margaret Morris,
who were among the very earliest, if not the earliest
settlers of Henry County, and of whom a sketch ap-
pears elsewhere. Mrs. Miller was born on the Big
Sandy River in Eastern Kentuckj', Aug. 4, 1828,
and emigrated with her parents to what is now
Henry County, Iowa, then a part of the Territory
of Wisconsin, in the spring of 1834.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of ten chil-
dren, six sons and four daughters: Washington A.,
born Sept. 24, 1848, died Nov. 17, 1873; Armin-
th.i, born April 21, 1850, died April 24, 1850;
Samuel, born April 23, 1851, is single and resides in
Northern Idaho; Matilda, born Dec. 25, 1853, is
the wife of John A. Edblum, has three children,
and resides in New London Township; Nichola.sII.,
born Nov. 26, 1855, died March 25, 1858; Jacob
W., born Oct, 12, 1857, is single and resides with
his father; Mary E., born Feb. 9, i860, resides in
Warren County, Iowa, and is the wife of John W.
Edgar, and they are the parents of three children;
Siuah Jane, born Dec. 16, 1862; Thomas S., born
Sept. 13, 1864; William C., born Nov. 1, 1868.
The three younger children i-lill reside at home with
their father.

.Mrs. Miller, an estimable Christian lady, and de-
voted wife :uid mother, died May 9, 1887. She

*-m^

i

HENRY COUNTY.

565

was a consistent member of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church nearl3' all her life. Her husband and
all her children, except the youngest, are members
of the same denomination. Mr. Miller was a Whig
in early life, and in 185.5 helped to organize the
Republican party in Henry County, of which he
has since been an active supporter. Mr. Miller
moved to his farm one-half mile southwest of New
London in the spring of 1 S48. With the exception
of three years spent in New London, he made that
his home until the spring of 1865, when he moved
to his present farm, which is located on section 13,
New London Township, where he has 162 acres of
well-improved and valuable land. His post-office
address is New London. Mr. Miller is a man of
broad views and ripe experience, and is liberal and
public-spirited, and most highly respected. He has
always taken a warm interest in everything relating
to the early history of Henry County and its people,
and was the unanimous choice for President at the
last meeting of the Old Settlers' Association of his
township.

<^1 I^ILLTAM B. LUSK, a pioneer among pio-
\/\J// "6^''Si ^"*^ <^"^ of the few who yet remain
W^ to tfell the story of the hardships endured
bj' the early settlers, lives on section 1, Tippecanoe
Township. He is a native of Tennessee, born in
Carter County, April 4, 180.3, and is a son of John
and Jane (Boyd) Lusk, both of whom are also na-
tives of Tennessee. His paternal grandfather,
Robert Lusk, w.as a native of Ireland, who came to
this country when a mere boy and who served
through the Revolutionar3- War. His maternal
grandfather, William Boyd, was a native American
and also served tlirough the Revolutionary War.
Both were early settlers in Tennessee. In his father's
family there were fourteen children, all of whom
lived to be adults. Of th.at number William was
second in order of birth, and is the only surviving
one. He remained at home on his father's farm
until seventeen j'ears of age, when he engaged as a
drover, buying stock, principally horses, and driv-
ing them to Georgia and other States in the South,
where he disposed of them. In this business he
-«• ' —

continued about ten 3'e.ars and was very successful,
accumulating in that time about $15,000. He then
started a packing-house in Augusta, Ga., and dur-
ing one season was engaged in pork packing. By
reason of an unfavorable season his pork spoiled
and he lost heavily. Hi.s misfortunes did not sour
him, but thinking he might better himself in so do-
ing, in 1834 he emig-rated to Greene County, 111.,
and squatted on a piece of land and there engaged
in farming. In the winter of 1835 he came to
Henry County, Iowa, and settled in Center Town-
ship, where he remained one year and then moved
to section 1, Tippecanoe Township, where he en-
tei'ed 160 acres of raw land, built a cabin in fron-
tier style, and there he has since continued to
reside. From time to time he has added to his
possessions, until he now owns 1,700 acres of land,
mostly under cultivation. In addition to general
farming he has engaged extensively in feeding and
shipping cattle and other stock, and has been one
of the leading farmers of Henry County.

Mr. Lusk has been twice married. His first wife
was Nancy Dixon, a native of Tennessee and
daughter of Samuel Dixon. By that union was one
child, Jasper, who now lives in Trenton Township,
a sketch of whom .appears elsewhere in this volume.
Nancy Lusk died in 1834. The second wife of
Mr. Lusk was Sarah Jones, a native of Kentucky
and daughter of Claybourn Jones, also a native of
Kentuck}'. They were married in 1835. As hus-
band and wife they lived happily together a period
of fifty-two years, Mrs. Lusk dying July 15, 1887.

Few men have led a more active life than Will-
iam B. Lusk. In every sense of the word he is a
self-made man. Commencing life a poor bo^' he
has twice made an independent fortune, while at
the same time he has ever been liberal with relatives
and friends. All that he has he has made by his
own hard Labor and habits of industry'. In 1849
he crossed the plains to California and there en-
gaged in mining for one year, being reason.ably
successful. Returning home he remained until
1852, when he once more made the overland trip to
that new Eldorado, where he remained four j'ears
eng.aged in the stock business, adding greatly to
his possessions. In 1860 he made the trip to Idaho,
where he remained eiyht months engaged in the stock

i

f

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566

HENRY COUNTY.

business. He has crossed the plains four times to
the Pacific Coast and once made the trip l)y water.
Politically he is a Jackson Democrat, and his first
Presidential vote was cast for Andrew Jackson. As
a citizen few men are better known and none more
universally respected than William B. Lusk, the
subject of this sketch, and a pioneer in Henry
County for more than a half century.

<T/ EWIS C. SCOTT, farmer, was born in Co-
I (^ lumbiana County, Ohio, in 1824, and is the
jIL^ son of. William and Abigail (Cowgill) Scott,
both of whom were born in Virginia, he in Lou-
doun, and she in Hanover Count}^ The parents
of both moved from ^'irginia to Ohio as early as
1800, where both took claims in Columbiana
Count\', improved farms, and there lived and died.
William Scott, whose ancestors came from England
with William Peun, and were among the first set-
tlers of Pennsylvania, was a Friend, and his chil-
dren, seven in number, were reared in that faith,
He died in Columbiana County, Ohio, June 10,
1847. His children were Hiram, who wedded
Elizabeth Gilbert, and came to Iowa in 1848, and
afterward went to Ohio and died ; Margaret mar-
ried first Gilbert Bailey, and after his death George
Carlock, with whom she resides in Harrison County,
Mo. ; Lemuel N. wedded Priscilla Fouty, who after
his death married Benjamin Cowg.ill; James C. be-
came the husband of Margaret A. Cobb, and
resides in New Waterford, Columbiana Co., Ohio;
Rachel, deceased, was married to Isaac N. Hanson,
who resides in California; Jehum, the youngest,
married Maria Hanson, and also lives in California.
Our subject, who completes the list, with his
motlier and five of the younger children, came to
this State in 1849, and first settled in Lee County,
near Pilot Grove, and in 18;J0 tlie family removed
to Salem, Henry County. They remained in Salem
only one year and then removed to Maliaska
County, where the mother died in 18(!7. Two of
the children returned to Ohio, and two went to
California, but our subject liked the fine climate,
soil and societ3' of Iowa well enougli to continue a
resident of this State. He returned to Salem and

purchased a farm of Joshua Cowgill in 1868, and
since that time Mr. Scott has been actively em-
ployed not only in agriculture, but also carrj'ing
on a harness and shoe shop, having learned that
business in Salem before the removal of the family
to Mnhaska County. June 20, 1867, Mr. Scott
became the husband of Mrs. Ann (Montgomery)
Dewitt, the daughter of John and Ann (Heward)
M<intgomery, who settled in Henry County in
1809, coming originally from New Jersey. Gen.
Montgomery of Revolutionary fame was an uncle
of John Montgomery, and four of the Hewards
were commissioned officers during the war of the
Revolution. The gi-and-uncle of Mrs. Scott was a
Captain in the War of 1812, and her first husband,
Marion Dewitt, was a member of Company D, 14th
Iowa Infantry, in the Civil War, and contracted
disease in the service which ended his life. Lewis
C. Scott is a man in whom his fellow-citizens place
the utmost reliance, and his word has ever been as
good as his bond. Born and reared a Friend, he
has always affiliated with the society at Salem. His
wife is a consistent member of the Baptist Church.
One son was born to Mrs. Scott by her first mar-
riage, Lorenzo B. Dewitt, yet unmarried. The
last marriage has been blessed by the births of
William, Rosetta, Annette and Abigail, all bright,
intelligent children. It is pleasant to meet with
intelligent people, and the public morals and social
habits of a community are formed b}' just such
people .as these of whom we write. This sketch of
Lewis C. Scott and family will be warmlj^ welcomed
by the pioneers and best people of Henry Count}',
and it is with pleasure that we present it.

eHARLES C. SWAN, a farmer and breeder
of Pol.and-China hogs, residing on section
4, New London Township, Henry Co., Iowa,
post-office address New London, is a native of
Henry County, Iowa, and was born in Tippecanoe
Township, July 13, 1849, and is the son of Hugh
and Martha (Burson) Swan. His father. Hugh
Swan, was an honored pioneer of Henry County,
Iowa, of 1841, .and was born in Greene County,
Pa., Aug. 22, 1809, a son of Henry and Elizabeth

•►Hir<«-

-t

> w»"

4

HENRY COUNTY.

567

(Bowan) Swan. His grandfather, Henry Swan, was
born in Virginia, March 12, 1774:, tbe family being
of Welsh and English origin, established in Amer-
ica in Colonial times. Hugh Swan was a hatter by
trade, and rarried on that business at Clarksville,
Pa., where he was also engaged in hotel-keeping.
He was married in his native coiintj^ to Miss Mar-
tha Burson, a daughter of Judge Thomas Burson,
of Waynesburg, Greene Co., Pa. Seven chiklren
were born of the union of this worthy couple,
six sons and one daughter: Thomas, born Aug. 20,
1832, who died March 11, 1835; Henry, born Sept.
1, 1834, died April 19, 1881 ; Elizabeth, born Sept.
15, 183Ci, died June 10, 1851 ; Tliomas Rittenhouse,
born Aug. 24, 1838, married Esther Winslow, by
whom he had one child, a daugliter, Lj-dia A., now
Mrs. Leedham, of Colorado; Tliomas R. was acci-
dentally killed June 22, 1803; George Price was
born Jan, 31, 1841, died Oct. 13, 1842; John Sam-
ple, l)orn Nov. 17, 1847, died Sept. 16, 1863, and
Charles C, our subject. The live older children
were born in Greene County, Pa., and the two
younger In Henry County, Iowa. Mr. Swan emi-
grated to Henry County, Iowa, in 1841, and settled
in Tippecanoe Township, where he engaged in
farming until his death, which occurred June 8,
1851, of cholera, and his daughter Elizabeth died
two days later of the same disease. His wife sur-
vived him several years, dying Oct. 5, 1865. Mr.
Swan was a Whig in politics, and was one of the
earliest Justices of the Peace of Tippecanoe Town-
ship. He and his wife were earnest and devoted
Christians, and members of the Presbyterian
Church, and were held in high esteem in the com-
munity in which they lived.

The early life of Charles C. Swan was spent on
the farm until September, 18()7, when he engaged
as clerk with Mr. Reuben Eshelman, of Mt. Pleas-
ant, and continued with that gentleman until Feb-
ruary, 1873. He was married in Marion Township,
Henry County, Feb. 13, 1873, to Miss Sarah Litzen-
berg, a daughter of \Yilii.am and Amelia (Teagar-
den) Litzenbcrg. Mrs. Swan was born in Wash-
ington County, Pa., Sept. 18, 1855, and came to
Iowa with her parents in the fall of 1865, and re-
sided in Marion Township, Henry County. Her
father was born in Pennsylvania, Nov. 25, 1811, and

is a farmer of Marion Township, and her mother was
born in the same State and died in December, 1858;
both were of German descent.

Mr. and Mrs. Swan have three children living,
all sons, and lost an only daughter. Charles W.
was born Dec. 13, 1873; Clark L., born May 16,
1877; Cora Grace was born May 11, 1879, and
died July 8, 1881 ; Simeon Howard, the youngest,
was born May 14, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Swan took
up their residence on their present farm immedi-
ately after their marriage, and have 209 acres in
two farms, owned severally. Mr. Swan is exten-
siveljf engaged in breeding and selling pure blood
Poland-China hogs, in which he has been employed
for tlie past fourteen years. He is a Republican in
politics, and a member of Ilenr^' Lodge No. 10, I.
O. O. F., of Mt. Pleasant.

-^ ^-^ ^

ENRY SULLIVAN, deceased, was a pioneer
settler of Illinois, going to Knox County,
in that State, from Ohio in the fall of 1 836.
In 1874 he removed to Henry County, Iowa,
of which he was thereafter a resident, until his
death, which occurred July 20, 1885. He was born
in Highland County, Ohio, Feb. 27, 1815, whence
lie emigrated to Illinois in 1836, locating first on
the Rock River, in Henry County, but removing the
following year to Knox Count}', settling near Gales-
burg, where he engaged in farming until he came
to Henry County, Iowa. He was married, Nov. 3,
1840, in Mercer County, 111., to Miss Susannah
Bruner, daughter of Rev. David Bruner, an earnest
and devout pioneer Methodist preacher of Illinois.
Mrs. Sullivan was born in Lawrence County, Ind.,
Feb. 12, 1819. Their union was blessed with four
children, of wliom but one is now living. Christie
A. died at the age of eighteen; David A. was a
Union soldier, enlisting in Company F, 55th Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, in Octobei', 1861, at the very
beginning of the war, tiiough but sixteen years old.
Notwithstanding his youth, he proved himself a
brave soldier, and was killed in the last assault
made on Vicksburg under Gen. Grant, on May 22,
1863, giving his life for his country at the early age
of eighteen. For a year previous to his death he

^

>► ll"^-

568

HENRY COUNTY.

had been orderly to Col. Momburg. The next
child, James H., died at the age of three years.
The only survivor of the family is the youngest,
William R., who was born in Knox County, 111.,
Aug. 12, 18.54, and who is now .Secretarj' of the
Mt. Pleasant Manufacturing Company. He mar-
ried June .5, 1877, at Ml. Pleasant, Anna M., daugh-
ter of Hon. John B. Drayer, a former prominent
resident of Mt. I'le.asant, who w.as for many years
County and Probate Judge of Henry County. Mrs.
Sullivan was born in Butler County, Ohio, and was
but three years of age when her parents came to
low.'i. They have two childien: William J. H.,
born July 27, 1879, and Sue Zetta May, horn June
11, 1881. Mr. Sullivan is, in jwlitics, a Repub-
lican, and personally and as a business man is justly
held in high esteem in llio eomniunity.

The elder Sidlivan was a plain, straightforward
man, thoroughly- upright in chiiraoler. In his youth
he had been a Wiiig, Imt on its formation joined
the ranks of the Rci)nblican party, with which he
thereafter acted, lie was an advocate of the cause
of Proliil)itioM, .-ind w;is a, member of the Methodist
K|)iscopal Church for more than forty-five 3'ears,
of which his widow has also been a member since
childhood.

eORRlDON PECK, one of the prominent
stock-dealers of Scott Township, was born
in Belmont County, Ohio, Oct. 23, 1840.
His parents were David and Elinor (Stockey) Peck,
botii of whom were natives of Belmont Count3',
Ohio. They wci'c the parents of nine children,
eight of whom are living: John T., a resident of
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, is engaged in stock-shipping;
Corridon, of this sketch ; Susan, wife of John W.
Willis, of Louisa County, Iowa; Jennie married
Moses Hutchinson, of Belmont County, Iowa;
Mary A., widow of John Cameron, who was a sol-
dier in the late war, taken prisoner and confined
in the Libby, where he underwent all of the hard-
ships of prison life, ami died soon after being sent
home; Elinor married Mr. Berr3', of Belmont
County, Ohio; Angeline, wlio is still single; George
W., of Henry County, Iowa, and Wiliiain C., who
is a schoolteacher. Mr. and Mrs. Peck were noted
-<•■

for their honesty and fair dealing and were highly
esteemed by all who knew them. They were con-
sistent members of the Presbyterian Church. In
politics Mr. Peck was a Jefferson Democrat.

The subject of this sketch was reared upon a
farm and received a liberal education in Duff's
Academy, at Pitsburg, receiving a diplonni from
that institution. On the 28th of August, 1862, he
enlisted in the 98th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Com-
pany G, and was mustered into the United States
service at Steubenville, Ohio. He was sent to Rich-
mond, Ky., to reinforce Nelson, and while on the
road to Louisville, was fired upon at Cynthiana. He
participated in the battle of Perryville against Gen.
Bragg, and was there detailed in the hospital. He
was mustered out of the service on account of disa-
bilities.

He first entered Iowa on the 8th of February,
18()(i, crossing the river on the ice at Burlington.
When he left Ohio he intended going to California,
and going to Omaha, he offered his services as a
teamster, only asking his expenses to be paid. Not
obtaining any chance to make the desired trip, he
procured a situation as clerk in the Herndon House,
at $50 per month. Soon after securing this situation
it was reported that there was smallpox in the city,
so IMr. Peck left, going to Louisa County, where he
had a brother living. Jlr. Peck was engaged as a
teacher in the Washington school for eight ye.ars
during the winter, and during that time he spent his
sniiMMcrs in farming. He subsequently |)urcliased
land, and has been engaged in farming and stock-
raising ever since. He is one of the most exten-
sive st(»ck-buyers in this part of the county, and
his farm, a line one of 250 acres, is well stocked
witJi the best grades of horses and c;ittle. In poli-
tics, Mr. Peck cast« his vote with the Democratic
party.

MOS McMILLAN was born in York Coun-
ty, Pa., in the year 1805, and is a son of
IJi George ami Rel)ecca (Cutler) McMillan.
George McMillan was born .nid married
in Pennsylvania, and during his lifetime was a
farmer in York County. The McMillans wore
Friends, and their ancestors came from England.

%

<:y4,n,^ C/^'^^^^^

tb^

^^^

'0s

pViBUC

UBRf^^''

»► 11^^

HENRY COUNTY,

571

Their children were George, Eli, Susan, Amos,
Jesse and Elisha. All the children came to this
State and county, and all except the youngest and
Jesse were married in Pennsylvania. George and
Eli came first to Iowa about 1837, settling near
Franklin, Lee County. They each entered lands,
and were followed by the brothers Elisha, Jesse and
Amos. All the sons entered lands, and they were
purchased at the first land sale held at Burlington,
by Eli, for the entire party. George was the first
one married, Elizabeth Brunton becoming his wife.
They brought with them to Iowa several children,
and Eli, who was a bachelor, returned to Pennsyl-
vania after they had located, and was married to
Miss Caroline Vail. When they returned to Iowa
Elisha, then a single man, accompanied them. He
subsequently became the husband of Caroline
Brown, of Franlilin, Lee County. Her father was
an early settler of that county, and a well-known
and prominent man. Susan became the wife of
Edward Wickersham, in Pennsylvania. He was for
many years a farmer in Lee County, where he
reared a large family of children. At the time of
his death he was worth $100,000. Jesse also mar-
ried a Brunton, Lydia, a cousin to his brother's
wife. Amos was first wedded to Hannah Armitage,
who bore ten children — Charles, George, Eliza,
Jesse, Henry, Susan, Mary, and three who died in
infancy. Four of these .are living, and are all mar-
ried except Charles. Jesse became the husband of
Elizabeth Hill, and resides at Primrose, Iowa.
Henry wedded Mary Hoover; they are both
deceased, having left one son and two daughters.
Susan is the wife of John Lewis, a farmer. Mr.
Lewis was educated for the priesthood, but later
determined to be a farmer. The death of Mrs.
McMillan, mother of the children mentioned, oc-
curred in Lee County. At that time they resided
on a fine farm, and the future was bright before
them, but sorrow and bereavement come to all,
but Mr. McMillan found comfort in the love and
care of his children. Sevilla Andrews became his
second wife, and was the mother of ten children :
Elizabeth I., wife of Sylvanus Bonnal, a soldier
during the Civil War, now a farmer of Lee County;
Sarah K., wife of Alexander Kreger, who died from
the effects of wounds received at Pittsburg Land-

-■- '-■ ^-

ing. She was the mother of one son by him, and
afterward became the wife of Watson S. Kester,
of this county. Arthur wedded Annie Carpenter;
Lydia A. is the wife of Levi Gregory, a minister of
the Friends in Salem; Hannah died at the age of
seventeen; Eunice is the wife of William Ilagan,
of Keokuk County, and Florence wedded Albert
Banta. Five children died in infancy. The death
of his second wife occurred in Lee County, and he
selected for his third wife Mrs. Sylvia Garretson,
wlio was the daughter of Abijah and Elizabeth
(^Bailey) Johnson, of Oskaloosa. Her father was a
merchant of that city, and was formerly in busi-
ness at Waynesville, Warren Co., Ohio. His father,
Micajah, was a very wealthy and noted man in
Warren County, Ohio, of which he was one of the
first settlers, and David Bailey, her maternal grand-
father, was equally well known, and was one of the
earliest settlers of Clinton County, Ohio. On both
sides the families were Friends, and were in their
respective neighborhoods the first of their religion.
David Bailey for more than forty -eight j'ears never
missed a quarterly meeting, and both men were
exhorters and active members of the Society of
Friends. Abijah Johnson had five sons and three
daughters. All received their education in Lafay-
ette, Ind., Mr. Johnson for several years being a
resident of that vicinity. All these children have
become noted. J. Kelly Johnson is District Judge,
and resides in Oskaloosa; Eliza, daughter of Dr.
J. P. Gruwell, became his wife. M. D. Johnson
is a wholesale meVchant of Los Angeles, Cal.,
and is married to Miss Sue Avery, a native of
Boston, Mass. ; Overton A. Johnson, a drj'-goods
merchant at Oskaloosa, Iowa, wedded Lida Kemper,
of Oskaloosa, Iowa; Warren C, unmarried, also
resides in Osk.aloosa, where he owns and operates a
machine-shop. Henry is a merchant of Los An-
geles, Cal., and is married; Rebecca is the wife of
William Ransom, of Salem, one of the wealth3- men
of this county; for many years she was a teacher in
the city schools of Oskaloosa, Annie is unmarried
and resides with her brother in California, and has
been for some time engaged in teaching music.

Mrs. Sylvia McMillan is a cultured lady, and
received her education at Earlham College, Ind.
In becoming the wife of Amos McMillan she as-

9^

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572

4

HENRY COUNTY.

sumed the duties of a wife and mother, and nobly
has she fulfilled for sixteen years her trust. The
children of the first and second wives have been
cared for as tenderly as if they were her own, and
in return she is the recipient of their love and affec-
tion in the highest degree, and is proud of the
grandchildren and great-grandchildren of her hus-
band. Our subject is the onh- one of his name
now a resident of this county, lie has been a lib-
eral father to his children, and in the pleasant
mansion where we now write are assembled four
generations of his family. He lives at ease, sur-
rounded by all that comes to those who have
diligently labored to earn a competence for old
age. Each of his children were presented by him
with $2,000 cash, and some of them have become
very wealthy, and Charles is a large land-owner.
The children are all well educated, Charles and
Jesse at West Point, Iowa, and the children of the
first wife at Earlham College, near Richmond, Ind.
The children of the second wife were educated at
Whittier's College, in Salem. The family with one
exception are members of the Society of Friends,
and all who are in reach of it attend the Salem
Monthly and Quarterly Meeting.

The portrait of Mr. McTMillan, on a preceding
page, shows him at his advanced age to be a man
of more than ordinarj' capacity, both physically and
raentall}', and a true representative of the best class
of Henry County's citizens.

-^4^^^-^

TMIfiC;

fflEODORE SCHREINER, Grand Tyler of
all the Masonic bodies in Iowa, and for
twelve years door-keeper of the Iowa State
Senate, was born in Grosenbach, Bavaria, known as
Rhenish Prussia, near tiie ancient liistoric city of
Worms, June 18, Ibll. His father, the Rev. Carl
Julius Schreiner, was a popul.ir minister of the
Lutheran Evangelical Churcli of his native town at
the date of his son's birth, and continued so until
death closed his earthly career, in 1818. By this
sad event j'oung Theodore, at the age of seven
years, was consigned to the care of an uncle, who
treated him with kindness, and provided for his

education at the village academy, where he received
a fair German education with rudiments of Latin
and French, and enough English so as to be able to
read it readily, though he could not speak the lan-
guage. When of suitable age he was apprenticed
to a cabinet-maker, where he served the usual term,
and by zeal and punctual attention to business ac-
quired a thorough knowledge of his trade. In
accordance with an old established custom, he tlien
set out to travel and see the world, and fit himself
for actual business. Young Schreiner in his travels
wandered over Germany, Austria, Italyi Switzer-
land and France. In 1830 (an eventful year in the
history of Europe) he found himself in Paris, then
the focus of the political world. It was during this,
his first visit to the French capital (July, 1830),
that the Revolution occurred that drove Charles X.
from the tlnone. Our subject, then nineteen 3ears
of age, found himself with several jouug German
students enrolled in the National Guard, and lis-
tened to Lafayette while he harangued his troops
from the saddle, in favor of liberty.

The spirit of republican liberty rapidly spread
over Europe, and Schreiner next appears as a sol-
dier of freedom in the Polish wars; defeated in this,
he returned to his native country where the revo-
lutionary^ spirit was at its height. The people were
in rebellion, and the young soldier cast his lot on
the side of liberty and enlisted against the Govern-
ment. Having taken an active part at public meet-
ings, encouraging resistance to the oppression of
bad government, and in opposition to the King and
his ministers, he was arrested for high treason, and
while many of his companions were sentenced to
imprisonment, but were afterward released on
appeal to the Court of Assizes, he through the
powerful inlluence of an army officer, a college-
mate of his father's, was never molested. The
overthrow of rei)ublican i)rinciples in the fullier-
land was succeeded by an exodus of German
patriots to America. He joined a party of some
200 emigrants from his native town, and in June,
1833, they sailed from Havre for Baltimore in
an American brig. During the voyage of fifty-
six dajs Mr. Schreiner api)lied himself to the prac-
tical study of the English language, and succeeded
so well that he was chosen leader by his com-

1 '

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HENRY COUNTY.

573

panions. On arriving at Baltimore, the party di-
vided, seventy-five with Mr. Schreiner at the head,
starting for Missouri with a view of locating in that
State. On reaching Wheeling the part}' purchased
a flatboat on which to continue their journey, but
owing to the low stage of water the}' abandoned
the voyage at the mouth of the Muscatine River,
and a party of which Mr. Schreiner was leader was
sent into the interior to purchase land for the com-
pany. A favorable location having been found in
Washington Count}', Ohio, and several farms pur-
chased, the emigrants took possession, and estab-
lished a German colony. The following year
witnessed large accessions from the fatherland. The
colonists, being well pleased with their new home,
determined to become citizens of the Republic, and
Mr. Schreiner was the first to take out naturalization
papers in Washington County. The colonists were
a peojjle of deep religious convictions, and a pl.ace
of public worship was soon erected, but they found
they had no ordained minister among them,
so, having organized a society of the Lutheran
Evangelical Church, they determined to elect a lay
preaclier from among their number. Mr. Schreiner
was selected .as best fitted by education and early
training to discharge the sacred functions of that
office. It w.as not until several years later that an
opportunity occurred for his ordination and instal-
lation. The young minister was successful and be-
came very popular. Under his direction other
churches were organized and dedicated. He served
his people as pastor for twenty years, often minis-
tering to three congregations at a time, and wield-
ing a powerful influence for good among his
countrymen. In politics, the colonists were all
Democrats, but of anti-slavery sentiments. On the
foundation of the Republican party they and their
preacher joined that organization.

Mr. Schreiner was married, Jan. 11, 1835, in
Washington County, Ohio, to Miss Anna Maria
Tuttle, daughter of Joel and Mary Tuttle. Mrs.
Schreiner w:is born at Bristol, Conn., in 1812. Her
parents were New England people, and emigrated
with teams to Washington County, Ohio, in 1817.
Mr. and Mrs. Schreiner have been the parents of
six children, five sons and one daughter: Caroline,
born Oct. 28, 1 835, was the wife of Arthur E. Wag-

staff, and died Aug. 4, 1859; Charles Julius, born
May 22, 1838, married Emma Stewart, .'md is a
carpenter residing at Mt. Pleasant; they have three
sons and one daughter, and lost one son, drowned
at Mt. Pleasant July 12, 1887. Edwin Ludwig,
born Sept. 9, 1840, a prominent minister of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, now Presiding Elder,
residing at Center ville, Iowa, married Martha Rob-
inson, and has two daughters; Theodore M. was
born Feb. 8, 1843, was a Sergeant of Company K,
6th Iowa Infantry, was captured at Shiloh, and was
a prisoner at Andersouville; he died Sept. 25, 1862,
and was buried at Andersouville. John Augustus,
born ]March 2, 1848, is a civil engineer, employed
in railroad work, residing at ]Mt. Pleasant; McCor-
mick O., born Oct. 8, 1852, is a carpenter, residing
at Mt. Pleasant.

Mr. Schreiner moved from Ohio to Mt. Pleasant
in 1855, arriving here August 19 of that ye.ar. He
became a contractor and builder, and erected as
many as a hundred buildings in this city and vicin-
ity. In 1860 he began the manufacture of sash
blinds, which he continued for twelve years. Since
1876 he has not been in active business. He took
an active interest in JIasonry in early manhood,
and on coming to Mt. Pleasant he made application
and was initiated into the order Aug. 22, 1856, and
was made a ^Master Mason the foUowing November.
Soon after the latter event he was chosen Tyler of
his lodge, and entered with fervency and zeal on
what seemed destined as his life work in Masonry.
He was soon made a member of Henry Chapter No.
8, and became a Royal Arch Mason March 14,
1857. He was soon after appointed Tyler of the
Chapter. The Christian order of Knighthood he
received at Des Moines, in June, 18G4. Subse-
quently, on the organization of Jerusalem Com-
mandery No. 7, of Mt. Pleasant, he became a mem-
ber and Sentinel thereof. He was appointed Grand
Tyler at the Sixteenth Annual Communication of
the Grand Lodge, at Davenport, in June, 1859.
His appointment has been renewed annually since,
until he has served twenty -eight years in that ca-
pacity. In 1863 he was appointed to the same
position in the Grand Chapter, and was assigned to
the same post in the Grand Commandcry in 1864.
All of these positions he fills with credit to himself

i

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574

4-

HENRY COUNTY.

and satisfaction to the members. He has been pre-
sented with many valuable presents .and testimonials
from the different bodies, including a beautiful
Tyler's sword, gold watch, med.als, etc. He w.as
elected an honor.iry member of the Grand Lodge
for f:iitlifulness and efficient services in tlie respon-
sible office of Grand Tyler. He was also elected,
in 1870, to the office of Grand Scribe, as a compli-
ment, and to the end tiiat he might thereliy become
a permanent member thereof. In this capacity, in
company with Parvin, Hartsock and Bowen, he rep-
resented the Grand Chapter at the triennial session
of the General Grand Ciiapter of the United States
at B.altimore, in September, 1871. He was .also
elected an honorary member of the Grand Com-
mandery and subsequentl3' elected a member of
Damascus Council of Royal and Select Masters,
No. 13, and is Sentinel for that body and .also for
the Grand Council. He is also a member of the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, a 32°, by
communication, and Gr.and Captain of the Guards
of the Grand Consistory of Iowa. At the session
of the G. T., in .Tune, 1869, he presented the Grand
Lodge with a beautiful set of ivory gavels with
ebony h.indles. On June 15, 1887, he took the
degree of the Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The subject of this sketch, next to the Grand
Secretary, is probably better known to the frater-
nity of Iowa than any other individu.al. With the
same exception, he has been longer in the service
of the craft, and in wh,ate ver position assigned or duty
imposed, he has been found true and faithful. In
his association with his brethren he has endeared
himself to tliein by his unfailing urbanity, rare in-
telligence and graces of personal character. In his
private character and at home, he is well known
and distinguished for his affable manners, and his
Christian and charitable services on all proper oc-
casions. He has an extended .acquaintance among
the leading men of this and other States, and wasap-
poinUid Door-keeper of the State Senate in 1879, was
re-appointed, and has served in that capacity twelve
years.

Mr. and Mrs. .Schreiner celebrated their golden
or fiftieth wedding anniversary- Jan. 11, 1885. The
ceremony wiis performed in the Masonic Hall in the

presence of upward of 400 friends. Many beau-
tiful and valuable presents were given to the ven-
erable bride and bridegroom, among which may
be mentioned iSlSr) in gold. The State .Senate
presented Mr. Schreiner with a beautiful silver
tea set.

"jil SAAC MORRIS, deceased, w.as a pioneer of
Henry County of 1834, and was born in Ken-
iii tucky, where he grew to manhood, and was
married to Margaret Oney. They were the parents
of nine children, six sons and three daughters. Mr.
Morris emigrated from Kentucky to Macomb,
111., in an earh' d.aj-, and from there to what is now
Henry County, Iowa, then a part of Wisconsin
Territory. He made a claim on what is now the
old .Sfhote farm, section 24, New London Town-
ship, and his second cabin is still standing. Mr. Mor-
ris is said by some to have been the first white man
who located in the county ; the date of his settle-
ment is positively fixed in the spring of 1834. Sev-
eral of his children were born here, and after their
parents' death the younger members of the familj'
were reared by Nicholas Miller, who married the
eldest daughter, Mary. Mr. Morris .and his wife
both died in New London Township, he in the
spring and she in the fall of 1847. William Morris
is the only member of the family now living in the
township.

■^t*

• •7»-

allOMAS J. TRICE, of the firm of T. J.
Price & Son, dealers in general hardware,
stoves and tinware, also of the firm of Price
& Keiser, extensive dealers in farm implements.
New London, Iowa, was born near West Point, Lee
Co., Iowa, Jan. 1, 1844. His parents, Calvin J.
and Frances A. (Langford) Price, were early set-
tlers of that county, having come there in 183.5 or
1836. His father was born ne.ar Rolla, N. C, in Jan-
uary, 1801. He emigrated from th.at State to
Southern Illinois while it was yet a Territory. He
was married in that region and remained there until
1835, when he emigrated to Lee Countj', Iowa, and
settled on a farm near West Point. He was a mem-
ber of the first Iowa State Legislature, and was

\

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HENRY COUNTY.

575

^m ^«

t

re-elected three times iifterwai'd. His death oc-
curred April 10,1860. His wife survives hira and
resides at Lowell, Iowa.

Thomas J. received his preparatory education in
the common schools, and entered the Iowa "Wes-
leyan University at Mt. Pleasant as a student, but
left on account of business considerations before
completing the regular course. He was united in
marriage, at Salem, Iowa, Oct. 21, 1863, to Miss
Josephine McFarland, a daughter of Mr. R. G. Mc-
Farland, (jf Lowell. Mrs. Price was born near
LaHarpe, 111. One child was born of this union, a
son, Frank, born on a farm near New London, April
19, 1865, who is now in business with his father.

Mr. Price was engaged in farming two years in
New London Township, from 1865 to 1867, inclu-
sive, then went to Lowell, Iowa, where he carried
on a general store for ten years. He was next
engaged in milling at Lowell for seven years, then
returned to Lee County, where he spent one year
on the old home farm ; he then came to New Lon-
don and engaged in his present business, in Novem-
ber, 1885. The firm of T. J. Price & Son carry an
average stock of about |2, 500 in the hardware line,
and the firm of Price & Reiser do an annual busi-
ness of about $20,000 in the farm implement trade.
Theirs is the largest business of the kind in Henry
County. They handle only the best tools and
machinery and have built up a good trade.

Mr. Price and his son are Democrats in their
political views. They do business on correct business
principles, and take rank among the leading firms
of their line in the county.

^^ A:\HTEL waters, a prominent farmer
and early settler of Henry County, Iowa,
resides on section 9, New London Town-
ship, where he has 120 acres of well-im-
proved land, and also has another farm of 200
acres on sections 28 and 33 of the same township.
His post-office address is New London. Mr. Waters
first located in this township in the fall of 1847, but
did not move his family here until the spring of
1848. He is a native of New York State, and was
born in Genesee County, Sept. 15, 1822. His par-

ents were William and Rachel (Cox) Waters, who
were also born in New York, the father in 1795,
and the mother May 15. 1802.

Our subject moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio,
with his parents in 1823, and from there to War-
rick County, Ind., in 1839. He was married in
that county, Dec. 2, 1844, to Miss Mary Ketcham,
daughter of John and Nancy Ketcham. Mrs_
Waters was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio. Nine
children have been born into the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Waters, seven of whom are now living: Will-
iam B. was born Dec. 22, 1845, and died May 22,
1850; Winfield S. was born Jan. 13, 1847, married
Annie Fry, lives in Northwestern Nebraska, .ind
has four children, three boys and a girl. Rachel A.,
born Nov. 20, 1848, keeps house for her father;
Nancy K. was born April 5, 1852, and is the wife
of Frank Jaclvson, resides in Roolvs Countj', Kan.,
and has three sons and two daughters. John N.,
born Dec. 10, 1854, married Sarah Moon, now re-
sides in Canaan Township, Henry County, and has
two children, a son and a daughter. James M.,
born April 29, 1856, married Alice Cornwall, and
resides in New London Township; Samuel T., born
Jan. 26, 1859, married Belle McGrue, and has one
child, a daughter, and resides in Kansas; Robert
H., born Oct. 9, 1863, died Aug. 21, 1864, and
Charles E., born July 1, 1866, makes his home with
his father.

Mrs. Waters, who was a consistent and faithful
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a de-
voted wife and mother, passed away on the 11th
of April, 1876. All the children, except the two
elder, were born in New London Township. The
two elder brothers were born in Warrick County,
Ind., prior to the removal of the family to Iowa.
Mr. Waters has made farming his business through
life. Since making his home in New London
Township he has held various local offices. He has
served three terms as Township Trustee, has been
a member of the School Board nearly the whole
time of his residence here, and for twenty-eight
years lias served as Road Supervisor. He was a
Wliig in early life, and since the dissolution of
that party has been associated with the Republican
party. He is a Master Mason, a member of New
London Lodge No. 28, A. F. & A. M., and is also

t

576

HENRY COUNTY.

1

a member of Charity Lorlge No. 56, T. O. O. F.
Mr. Waters and all his family, except two sons,
are members of the Methodist Episcopnl Church.
His father, who was a resident of New London
Township, died in Oregon in 1874, and his mother
died in New London Township in April, 1846.

JOHN Q. ROBINSON, a farmer residing on
section 32, Canaan Township, Henry Co.,
Iowa, was born in Ross Count}', Ohio, in
1825. and is a son of Joshua and Hannah
(Rodgers) Robinson. Joshua Robinson, Sr., the
grandfather of our subject, was killed by the
Indians in 1795 at the time the city of Chillicothe,
Ohio, was being laid out by Gen. Massey. The
cuff-buttons worn by him at that time are now in
the possession of Mr. Robinson, being more than a
century old. His youngest son was the father of
John Q., and married Hannah Rodgers in Ross
County, Ohio, Jan. 29, 1818. She was descended
from the Scotch Irish on the paternal side, and
from the Welsh and German on the maternal side.
Both she and her husband lived and died in Ohio,
and as in life they were united, in death they were
not long divided, <l3'ing within six weeks of each
other in 1867. Joshua Robinson was born June
10, 1795, his wife Sept. 3, 1797. They were
parents of James C, who married Kate McAuIey;
William R., husband of Elizabeth Ingersoll; John
r., who died in infancj'; Sarah A. also died in
childhood ; John Q. and Elizabeth P. were twins,
born Oct. 19, 1825; she became the wife of Na-
thaniel Hillhouse; Mary J. wedded William Mc-
Lean; Hamilton married Abigail Grubb; Henry S.
wedded Clementine Evans; Hugh K. S. was a
member of CVuniJany I, 81st Ohio Volunteers, of
which he was First Lieutenant, was wedded to Mary
Pinto, and after her dealli to Mary Farr; Sarah C.
died in childhood ; Krskine I', w.is also a soldier,
and died at Haltimoro, July 7, 1864, aged twenty-
three.

John Q. Robinson w.is the fourth son, and was
educated in Ohio, where his earl}' life was spent
upon a farm. Having a desire to see st>mething of
the western country, he made a visit to Iowa in

1850. and conceiving it would be a desirable place
to live, purchased land. In 1855 he again came to
Iowa, and began the improvement of a farm the
following year. He erected a small shanty on the
site of his present farmhouse, and began fencing,
and breaking the sod. The first three crops were
complete failures, but this brought but little dis-
couragement to the young man, who had come to
the West to live and make a home. For eleven
years after coming to Iowa Mr. Robinson remained
a bachelor. Visiting friends at Fairfield, he formed
the acquaintance of Miss Anna Mount, who became
his wife Dec. 5, 1806, Rev. James Haines, a Meth-
odist Episcopal minister, officiating. Her father
was Jedediah Mount, a nurser3'nian and florist of
Fairfield, who came from Zanesville, Ohio, to Iowa
in 1854, establishing his business the same year.
He wedded Mar}' Ruth in Ohio, and nine children
were born in that State prior to their removal:
Kate J., wife of George Howell; Samuel, husband
of Mary Bloss, was a soldier during the war; Will-
iam was also a soldier; Anna, wife of our subject;
Eliza, wife of John Hoopcs ; Sarah, deceased wife
of Joshua Robinson, nephew of our subject; Callie,
wife of Henry Knight ; Henry, who married Mary
Calhoun; and Laura, wife of Elijah Spry. After
coming to Fairfield, James and John were born,
but neither are now living. The mother of Mrs.
Robinson died Dec. 30, 1871; her father yet re-
sides in Fairfield, and is seventy-six years of age.
After the marriage of Mr. Robinson, his young
wife was duly installed mistress of the house, over
whit-h she has presided for more than a score of
ye.irs, and which has been hallowed by the birth of
her children, and made happy by successes that
come to those wliu diligently labor. Her husband,
now a man t)f large experience, and ripe with years,
has developed a model farm in Can.ian Township,
and since his coming has grown wealthy as his years
have increased. A residence of more than thirt}'
years has won for him the esteem of the public as
a good citizen, a kind neighbor, and genial gentle-
man, and in the northern part of the county no
family is more higiily respected than the one under
consideration. Before children of their own came
an infant had been adojited, Edith Emily, then one
year old. She has been as carefully reared, as

=f

HENRY COUNTY.

577

\

i'

tenderly loved, and is in every way as dear to those
good peojile as their own children. Their first
born was Lulu M., followed by Charles W. and
Edgar, all j^et school children. Lulu M. being now
in her seventeenth 3'ear.

Mr. Robinson has served manj' terms upon the
School Board, and in 186G was elected Township
Trustee, holding that position for ten consecutive
years. Mrs. Robinson gradually lost her eyesight
until in 1882 she became totally blind, but has since
become so accustomed to the change that she does
much of the work about the house. Two hundred
and forty acres of excellent land comprise the
admirable farm of Mr. Robinson, and everything
in the w.ay of improvement on the farm has been
made by Mr. Robinson, and there is no finer farm
in Canaan Township. To such men as he the pros-
perit}' of the county is largely due.

-^^- o+«..@^<A^..o*o.. <r—

EV. JOHANE.S FRANZEN is a resident of
Swedesburg, at which place the Swedish
Lutheran Church is one of the prominent
J^ones in Henry County, and a brief sketch
of its pastor is hereby given to the people of Henry
County, as also a few items of much interest re-
garding the church since its organization in 186G.
Johanes Franzen was born in Foglum Parish, Prov-
ince of Westergotland, Sweden, July 15, 18.50,
and is a son of Anders and Kersteu (Larson) Fran-
zen, both natives of Sweden. By trade, his father
was a mason, at which he became quite wealthy,
and gave his children a good education in Sweden.
There were seventeen children, two of whom are
ministers. Eleven died in infancy; one sister,
Breta, died in 1875 in Sweden; she was the wife of
Andre Anderson, who afterward died in America,
leaving three children. Four are living in this
country; Anders, who lives in Sweden, married
Catherine Anderson; Maria, wife of John Ander-
son, and lives in Minnesota; Svante married Anica
Neilson, and also lives in Minnesota; Anica married
Gustav Anderson, lives in Minnesota, and our
subject. The mother died in Sweden, Aug. 3, 1863,
and her husband came to America in 1870, to make
his home with his elder son in Minnesota, and in 1 883

came to the home of our subject, with whom he re-
mained until his death, which occurred in 1886, at
the ripe age of eighty-five years.

Rev. Mr. Franzen came to America in 1870, .and
for some years worked as a farm hand in Minne-
sota. In 1872 he matriculated at, and in 1874 grad-
uated from Ansgars Academy at East Union,
Carver Co., Minn., then took a four-years cour.se
at Augustaua College, and in 1878 entered the
Theological Seminary at Rock Island, 111., com-
pleting his course and graduating from that noted
college June '10, 18S0. He was regularly ordained
by the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran August-
ana Synod at Des Moines, Iowa, June 20, 1880,
and was sent to Kane, McKean Co., Pa., re-
maining until June, 1882, .and then accepted a call
from his present congregation, and has been their
beloved pastor to this date, steadily growino- in
favor and popularity, lie was married to Miss
Hannah Louisa Bloomquist, in Burlington, Iowa,
June 13, 1882, .and the young couple began their
domestic life in the village of Swedesburg. Two
children have graced the union, both born in the
village: Anders .John Leon.ard Coustantius and
Kersteu Mathilda Maria Eufrosina. The father of
Mrs. Franzen was Leonard Theodore Bloomquist;
he married Matilda Louisa Skeperb. He was a car-
penter by trade in Sweden. After coming to Amer-
ica with his family, he contracted typhoid fever and
died in Burlington. His widow married C. A.
Fragerstrom, a contractor and builder of that city.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church was or-
ganized at Swedesburg in 1866 by Rev. Hokan
Oleson, with a membership of about fifty souls. A
church was erected onthesiteof the present church
in 1868, which was destroyed by fire Jan. 19, 1883.
A handsome building costing $8,000 was at once
erected under the supervision of our subject, com-
pleted the same year, and dedicated Oct. 7, 1886.
It seats comfortably 600 people, and the school
building, connected at the west, seats 100 pupils,
who are educated in the Swedish language, the
church paying the teachers' salaries. Since his min-
istry began in 1882, Rev. Franzen has taken into
the church forty members, besides that many by
letter, and sixty-six by confirmation. He has bap-
tized 112 children, and celebrated thirty-one mar-
•>-

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578

HENRY COUNTY.

riages, sixteen funeral sermons have been preached,
and every appointment has been filled since he
became the pastor. The residents of Wayne
Township are to be congratulated on having such
a pastor, who is accomplished in manner and a fine
speaker.

JOHN SACKETT, a farmer and stock-raiser,
residing on section 10, Marion Township,
was born July 15, 1812, in Butler County,
Ohio. His father, Thomas Sackett, was a na-
tive of Pennsylvania, born in 1789, and his mother
Margaret (Chambers) Sackett, was born in 1791, in
the State of Maryland. Six children blessed the
union of this worthy couple: Dorcas, the dece.ised
wife of Levi Batterton, a resident of Menard
County, 111. ; John, our subject ; Samuel, a farmer of
Macon County, Mo. ; Phtebe, wife of Milas Good-
win, a farmer of Coos County, Ore.; !Mary, de-
ceased wife of Rev. A. C. Gaines, of Douglas
County, Neb. ; Harriet married Thompson Crider;
both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Sackett re-
moved to Butler County in a very earlj' day, and at
that place their three eldest children were born, and
there they improved a beautiful farm on which
they resided until 1816. They then removed to
Brookville, Franklin Co., Ind., whci-e their three
youngest children came to make glad the household.
Here, as in Ohio, they cultivated a beautiful farm
of 1110 acres, but in 182(i he moved back to the old
home in Ohio. In 1828 he removed to Sangamon
County, III., and, as in Indiana and Ohio, ob-
tained school land and made a fanii of 1 40 acres.
Thomas Sackett was a man always in advance of
civilization. While in Sangamon County, 111., iiis
life companion was called to rest. She w;is a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and taught
her children that in the teachings of the Bible all
were made better to live and better to die. About
four 3'ears after the death of his first wife, Mr.
Sackett married Elizabeth- Dickerson, and by this
union one child was born, Margaret Z., wife of Har-
vey Wells, of .Sangamon County, 111. After the
death of his second wife in 1817, Mr. Sackett mar-
ried May McKee, who died in 1857, after which

time he made his home with his children, lie died
at the home of his son Samuel, in Macou County,
Mo., in 1872. He was a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and in his younger days de-
lighted in frontier life, and in improving and beau-
tifying his farms.

John Sackett, our subject, received but a com-
mon-school education, and until twenty-one ye.irs of
age he worked on the farm of his father, and for
the next five years worked at various occupations,
but still resided at home. On the 11th of January,
1837, he was united in matrimony with MissRhoda
Hart, of Green County, Ky., born Dec. 27, 1818.
She removed with her parents, Moses and Rhoda
(Scott) Hart, from Kentuckj' to Sangamt)n Countj',
111., in 1823, and while there the county was
divided, Menard being taken from it. Mr. and
Mrs. Hart resided in Sangamon County until their
death, the father d}'ing in 1836, preceding his wife
fifteen years to the land of rest, she dying in 1851.
Of their eleven children five are now living; Mi-
4-anda, widow of Calvin Simmons, residing in Han-
cock County, 111. ; M.artha, the widow of John F.
Wilson, a resident of Mt. Pleasant; Nancy, wife of
Hiram S. Webb, now residing in Wapello County,
Iowa; Elias, a farmer in Clarke County, Iowa; Moses
entered the army and has never been heard of since.
The land on which Mr. Hart lived was survej'ed by
Abraham Lincoln.

Mr. and Mrs. Sackett came from .Sangamon, 111.,
to Henry County, Iowa, in 1851, where he pur-
chased 100 acres of land on section 10, and fortj-
.acres on section 17, Marion Township. On the
latter farm he erected a beautiful two-story coun-
try residence, surrounded by fine groves and or-
chards. When he obtained the land it was noth-
ing but a wild prairie. He hauled the lumber for his
house and b.arn from Btnlington, and made man^' im-
provements, until he now' has one of the finest resi-
dences in that part of the county. Mr. .Sackett
and his wife have witnessed many changes, and are
the <mly ones living in the neighborhood who were
there in the da^'S of 1851. Thej' are the p.arents
of eight children: Mary, the deceased wife of I.
H. Draper, a farmer in Riley County, Kan.; Nancy,
wife of J. W. Moore, a farmer in Marion Town-
ship; Thomas died at the .age of five; INIiranda,

r

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_-^«'/!^<Ce<.,'tt*-Z>e ^<^ciJ0Uu^

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<(ii

4

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4.

HENRY COUNTY.

583

wife of Jacob Messman, a farmer of Clarke County,
Iowa; Alford, a farmer of Ringgold County, Iowa,
married Louisa Deer; Rosann, wife of William
Draker, a farmer in Gage County, Neb. ; Melissa,
wife of Aaron MeClure, of Mt. Pleasant; Alice,
wife of William Jones, resides on the old home
farm. Mr. and Mrs. Sackett have been members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty years)
and always take an active part in church work. No
couple in the community are more highly respected
than they. All of this world's goods that they pos-
sess they have made by their own honest efforts and
industrj'. Mr. vSackett cast his first vote for Will-
iam Henry Harrison, and ever since its organiza-
tion he has never failed to cast his ballot with the
Republican party. He was a great friend of Abra-
ham Lincoln, having become acquainted with him
while in Sangamon County, 111. On the 11th day
of January, 1888, they celebrated their golden
wedding, having trod the path of life for half a
century together. They have twenty-two grand-
children and two great-grandchildren.

EV. JESSE CUMMINGS HARBIN, real-
estate and insurance agent, Mt. Pleasant,
IK\ Iowa, was born in Iredell County, N. C,
\^Nov. 20, 1810, and is a son of William and
Lucy (Cummings) Harbin, both of whom were of
English descent, the former being a native of
Georgetown, Md., now District of Columbia, and
the latter of Virginia. On his father's side he
traces his ancestry to Edward Harbin, who emigrated
from England to America in the early days of the
colonies. William Harbin and f.amily moved to
Iredell County, N. C, at a very early day.

Jesse C. Harbin, the subject of this sketch, was
reared in his native county, and was married in the
fall of 1830 to Miss Matilda Robertson, a native of
Iredell County, N. C-, and daughter of William
Robertson, formerly of Virginia. In consequence
of his general correspondence, Mr. Harbin changed
the spelling of the family name, using an " i " in-
stead of an "e" in the final syllable. Soon after
his marriage he moved with hisyoung wife to Knox
County, Ind., and from thence to Sullivan, where

he engaged in farming. He lost his wife in 1832,
who died leaving him with one son, James Wesley,
now residing in Indianapolis, Ind. This son grew
to manhood, studied and engaged in the practice of
medicine prior to the war. He entered the army,
and on account of ill-health was discharged, re-
turned home and is now engaged in the manufact-
ure of a corn-planter of which he is the inventor.

In 1824 Mr. Harbin united with the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and in 1 831 was licensed to preach.
On the death of his wife he joined the Indiana
Conference and entered upon his duties as a circuit
preacher. He traveled in the discharge of the
duties of his holy calling for a term of eight ycarsi
when his health failing he retired from active service
for a term of three years. Re-entering the work
he continued for one j'ear, when health failing again,
he settled at Delaware Station, in Ripley County,
where he engaged in the mercantile business and
was appointed Station Agent for the Ohio & Missis-
sippi Railroad Compamy. On his first effort to
couple some freight cars he was loading, he lost the
end of his thumb and two fingers.

In 1840 Mr. Harbin married Miss Eliza Nicker-
•son, daughter of Abijah Nickerson, whose family
were from Vermont. Two children were born of
their union, a son and a daughter. The son, George
W., after the death of his mother, went into the
army, where he remained during the war, the last
year serving as Hospital Steward. He married Miss
Amelia Snyder, .and now resides at Waterloo, Iowa.
He was one of the principal organizers of the Equit-
able Mutual Life and Endowment Association of
that place. He has been very successful in the
enterprise, and the company is rated among the
leading local companies of the State. The daugh-
ter, Emma A., is the wife of William R. Scott, with
whom she was united in marriage March 30, 1886.
Both she and her husband are successful agents for
the Equitable Mutual Life and Endowment Asso-
ciation. They reside at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, but
are engaged in traveling the greater part of the
time. Mrs. Scott is a graduate of the Iowa Wes-
leyan University, of the class of 1869.

Mr. Harbin emigrated to Iowa in 1859, and set-
tled in the township of Davis Creek, W.ashingtou
County, where he was engaged in farming a few

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584

HENRY COUNTY.

years. His second wife, Eliza Harbin, died July 7,
1861, saying as she passed away, "Sweet rivers of
redeeming love lie just before mine eyes."

Mr. Harbin was again maiTied, Aug. 27, 1862, to
Mrs. C.ntheriue Brown, widow of John Brown and
daughter of Peter Posey. Her father was of Scotch-
English descent. Mrs. Harbin was born near Phil-
adelphia, Chester Co., Pa., and came to Iowa in
1852. She was married in Washington County,
Iowa, to Mr. John Brown, who died the third year
after their marriage. They hud one child, a daugh-
ter Mary Laura, who died aged nearly two years. One
child was born of her union with Mr. Harbin, a
daughter, Lillie May, who grew to be a beautiful
and accomplished young lady of eighteen years of
age, when death claimed her on the 23d of Febru-
ary, 1882. Miss Harbin was a close student, and
would soon have graduated with honors. She was
stricken with scarlet fever and died after a short
illness. She was a devout Christian, having been
converted at the age of nine years. Amiable, in-
telligent and winning in manner, she was a general
favorite among schoolmates and friends.

Mr. Harbin removed to Washington, Washington
Co., Iowa, soon after his last marriage, where he
was engaged in mercantile business for two and a
half years. Prior to that, and while a resident of
Richmond, he supplied the Millersburg circuit one
year as pastor. He removed from Washington to
Mt. Pleasant in April, 1866, and has resided here
continuously since that time. During this time he
has devoted his attention to the real-estate and in-
surance business. His son George enlisted in the
late war, in 1862, in Company D, 24th Regiment
Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close
of the war. His regiment was in the Department
of the Mississippi, and participated in the capture
of Vicksburg. He was Hospital Steward during the
last year of his service. Mr. Harbin is a Repub-
lican in j)olitics, and cast his first vote for William
H. Harrison, and voted with the AVhigs till the
organization of the Republican part}', since which
time he has been a member of that party. Mr.
Harbin is highly respected as a citizen and business
man.

Fine lithographic portraits of this worthy couple
may be found upon preceding pages. That they

are worthy a place in this volume none will denj'.

The following sermon was iireaehed b}' Mr. Hai'-
bin, Feb. 22, 1863, during a dark period of the
war :

Who knowest whether thou art come to the
kingdom for such a time as this. — p]sther, iv:14.

1st. Tlie time in which we live. 2d. The end
for which we live.

We live in a time of great corruption. First,
political corruption. We are aware that an idea is
quite prevalent that a minister should not interfere
with politics. To determine the correctness or in-
correctness of this idea, let us inquire what is, or are
politics. We answer, it is (or should be) that policy
by which a government secures to its votaries the ex-
ercise of certa ininalienable rights, as life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. Now, we ask, have ministers
no interest in those rights? Must they stand b}' and
see them ruthlessly trailed in the dust and fearlessly
trampled in the mire with sealed lips and placid
countenance.? The stains would cr3' out against
them as dumb dogs, who, seeing the sword of de-
struction coming on their people, should then not
raise their warning voice against those errors cal-
culated to undermine and destroj' their liberties.
Therefore, in the name of Israel's God, let them set
up their banners proclaiming the vengeance of our
God against all evil-doers, political as well as
moral. To secure these rights and liberties, govern-
ment is necessary, and in order to government the
power to govern must be vested somewhere. Hence
the different forms of government, from an absolute
monarchy up to the democracy. In the former
this power is vested in the breast of one man ; in the
latter it is placed in the hands of the people or a
majority of them, which is the form adopted by our
fathers, sealing it to us with their hearts' blood, as
a sacred boon which we should never surrender to
bold aspirants and tyrants. That the people may
secure to each. their rights and liberties, laws must
be enacted and enforced, hence the necessity of
legislators to enact those laws, and rulers to enforce
them. This requires the delegation of certain
rights or powers to these representatives and officers,
which constitutes the Republican form of democ-
racy. In a large variety of |)eople there will nec-
essarily arise a variety of sentiment in regard to

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HENRY COUNTY.

585 ' '

the better poliej' to be pursued in order to secure
these rights and liberties, hence the formation of
different political parties, which, if properly guarded
will on!}' tend to sift the precious from the vile, and
operate as checks and balances to guard and secure
these sacred rights more firmly. But in order to
do this, there must be no motive but pure patriot-
ism or love of country influencing these parties.
But is this the case with us to-day ? We have only
to look at the historj^ of our country since the in-
auguration of that military chieftain, Gen. Jackson,
who adopted the sentiment "To the victors belong
the spoils," and thus wrested the emoluments of
the country out of the hands of the people, and
distributed them among the party as bribes to the
one and rewards to the other, since when Eplm-ibvs
unum — one of many — has not been true of us, but
we have been two belligerent powers, contending for
the loaves and fishes. This is the exotic that has
nearly extinguished the last spark of pure patriotism
by inducing men to sacrifice their honest principles
to their interest, equivalent to selling themselves,
which if a man will do, what will he not sell } His
countrj' or anything for which he gets his price.
See this illustrated in the history of the Democratic
party since its adoption at the time referred to
above. Hear them boasting now of having ruled
the country for forty years (this boast was made
at the beginning of the war), which to our disgrace
we must say is more truth than fiction. But how
have they done it? We answer, by bribes, rewards,
imolation and assassination. AVhen they by bribery
could not control the ballot, they resorted to the
bullet or poison, its equivalent, as in the case, as
we verily believe, of Harrison, having Tyler with
them either by bribery or otherwise. And when
they feared the result of the ballot of 1860, hear
them saying to the South in the Charleston Con-
vention: "Do you sustain our party which hith-
erto has been anti-slavery and we will sustain
slavery," thus imolating the whole slave population
at the shrine of Democracy. The ballot, however,
proved that the people were not longer to be
bought and sold by the party, but were disposed to
assert their rights by the election of Abraham Lin-
coln, when the party determined if they could not
rule they would ruin. The South said : "The Dem-

ocratic party which has ruled the country by hook
and crook for fort^' years, is pledged to defend us
in our strife for the perpetuation of slavery. To
arms, 0 Democrats!" and thus the first gun was
heard thundering on Sumter. And now comes the
tug of war in earnest. Buchanan, with his Demo-
cratic Cabinet and Congress, had emptied our
treasury, scattered our army to the four winds, and
shipped our arms to the South, carrying out his
pledge. In' this condition, but for the God of na-
tions putting into the heart of Douglas to divide
the Democratic party, we must have fallen by the
hand of these combined traitors. But this division
kept them at bay till we had time to replenish our
treasury, army and navy, by the uprising of the
people. Thus foiled, they now resort to assassina-
tion, and Douglas is removed as the barrier to the
reunion of the party, upon which event bribed
agents are sent all through the North, organizing
secret associations, such as Knights of the Golden
Circle, Kuklux, etc., the sole object of which was
to reunite and rally the part}'.

Thus far the history w:is traced at the time of the
delivery of the above sermon, and to show its correct'
ness we have only to trace down the darker and more
bloody developments of the same program in the
assassination of our Lincoln, as their last resort to
get the government in their own hands through the
treachery of Andy Johnson. Thus they felt, if they
had not ruled at the ballot, they had ruled by
Booth's bullet, and then was there a surrender of
Johnson to Sherman, who, knowing the program
(having been one of the party), felt he must atone
for his world-renowned march, devastating their
country, by giving them better terms than they
asked, and thus paved the way for his exaltation
to the Presidential chair. One man, however,
seems to have been found who was not an aspirant,
and exclaimed: "On this line we will fight it out
(unconditional surrender to the rights of the peo-
ple) if it takes all summer to do it." The people
rallied around the banner and thus we conquered
Andy Johnson, and Kukluxism has been kept at
bay, notwithstanding Horace Greeley and many
others have joined with Jeff Davis and the whisky
ring in an open fight to reinstate the party again
in power. But I think the people, through the in-

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586

HENRY COUNTY.

fluence of the God of nations, will not slack their
efforts till the emoluments of the country are
wrested out of the tyrant party's hands, and placed
again in their own, when they will guard them
more sacredly than ever before.

It is not the above C(jnglonieration of evils,
all of which from attinity now concentrate around
the rotten carcass of Democracy, that we depre-
cate. They are sold to Satan, to work all manner
of wickedness with greediness, and will ere long, we
fear, bring on themselves swift destruction. But
we think there is vitality enough yet in the body
politic to eject these vile excrescences and recon-
struct the country on the pure old patriotism love
of country, growing out of love supreme to God
and equal to each other, and that will not allow an
aspirant promoted to any office of trust or profit,
but the people select their rulers on personal and
not political merit, with the understanding that they
shall only retain said position on condition of un-
swerving adherence to the strict principles of equity,
devoid of favoritism.

.i-;>*^-o—

• >tf5«fN.

SRAEL ROSS, a farmer residing on section 9,
Scott Township, Henry Co., Iowa, was born in
ll\ Brown Countj', Ohio, Nov. 16, 1815. He is a
son of Thom.as and Deborah (.Jennings) Ross. The
Ross family were natives of Virginia, of Scotch
ancestry. Of the Jennings family but little is
known except that the grandmother, Charity (Free-
man) Jennings, was born in Europe, and when a
child came to America. Her parents later moved
to Kentuckj^ and were there during the troublous
times when tlie Indians were hostile, and the family
were occasionally forced to take refuge iti a boat,
and to .avoid capture would paddle to the otiier side
of the Ohio River. Tlie Jennings family later
removed to Brown County, Ohio, near Georgetown,
where the venerable parents lived and died. Tiiomas
Ross became the husband of Deborah Jennings in
Brown County, where both families were early set-
tlers. Prior to marriage Mr. Ross ran a keelboat
upon the Ohio River, and made regular trips be-
tween Cincinnati and Pittsburg. His boat occasion-

ally made a trip to New Orleans, carrying the
products of the country, as there were no railroads
at that time. When a boat was sent to New Orleans
the return journey had to be made on foot or
horseback, it being impossible to bring the boat up
stream.

After his marriage Thomas Ross settled on a
farm, and reared a family of children: Israel, our
subject; Margaret, who wedded David Vand^'ke;
Sarah, the wife of WinBeld Wright, and after his
death of Dr. Dennis Callihar, of Hillsboro, High-
land Co., Ohio; John W. became the husband of
Miss Power; Thomas wedded Amy Snedaker; Isaac
wedded Hannah Day; and three others died in child-
hood. All the sons of Thomas Ross, Jr., are ministers
in the Methodist Churcii, except our subject, who
learned the tanner's trade with the father of Gen.
Grant, and w.as a bosom friend of the lamented
General and President. They frequently slept to-
gether, and on one occasion, while bathing in a
creek, Israel saved tlie life of tlie future President,
who was younger tlian he, and h;ul strangled and
gone down in the water. After completing his trade
Mr. Ross farmed for awhile, and theu worked at
journeyman's w.iges for Mr. Grant for some time.

For two years prior to his marriage Israel Ross
engaged in farming, and on April 13, 1841, Miss
Elizabetli Jennings became his wife. They begiin
their domestic life upon a small farm, and two years
later Mr. Ross erected a tannery upon his father's
farm, and for several years was engaged in business
tliere. In 1855 he removed with his family to
Marion County, Iowa, settling first in Knoxville
Township, near Knoxville. In March, 18G1, he
purchased and removed to the farm, at that time
fairly imiirovcd, and wiiieh he yet owns. Here for
years ISlr. Ross has lived and prospered, his children
have grown to maturity, the good wife and mother,
who was a true one in every sense, lived to see the
country well devclojied, schools, churches and rail-
roads built, Mud to her lUl seemed prosperous, when
the death angel came and carried her away, J:ni.
13, 1885.

Twelve cliildren were burn to Mr. and Mrs. Ross.
The three eldest died in eliildliood, while the fauiilj-
were living in Ohio. The olliers were: Jasper, now
husband of Melinda Ross; John A., married to

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687

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Emma Blockmartin; Isaac W., wedded to Emma
Willis ; and Diana, were all born in Ohio. Adeline,
wife of John Rittenhouse; Arethusa, J. F., Amy
and Maggie J. were born in Iowa, the two latter in
this county, on the old homestead.

Township offices have been repeatedly filled by
onr subject, who has, however, always preferred the
management of his farm, and the privacy and com-
fort of his pleasant home. Since the death of his
wife Mr. Ross has taken life easy, and his son Jay
assumes the management of the farm. In an ele-
gant home, made attractive by prosperity and the
bright faces of his younger children, Mr. Ross
is passing the evening of a well-spent life in de-
served ease and comfort, and for his years is a
remarkably youthful and well-preserved man. He
has ever been a citizen of whom his countrymen are
proud, and his family rank second to none in social
circles.

AMUEL HAMELL, a farmer of Baltimore
Township, residing on section 3, was born
in Madison County, Ind., in 1841, and is a
son of William and Dorcas (Meade) Ham-
ell. In that State the latter were married, and there
all their children were born, namely: James, Isaac;
Joseph, deceased ; Samuel ; Garrett, deceased ; Phffibe,
Mary and Elizabeth. In 1852 the family removed
to this county, and William Hamell purchased a
residence in New London, where he resided during
his lifetime. His widow died Dec. 17, 1887, in her
sevent^'-ninth year. Their daughter Phcebe wedded
Zebedee Rains, a well-known farmer of this town-
ship; Mary became the wife of Wellington Leach,
a resident of New London; Isaac married Julia A.
Troby, and is a resident of Arkansas ; Joseph died
unmarried, and James has not been henrd of since
the war, at which time he was a soldier in the rebel
army; Garrett died while in the service, unmarried ;
Elizabeth became the wife of Clark Ireland, a resi-
dent engineer of Minneapolis, Minn.; Samuel, the
subject of this sketch, became the husband of Miss
Martha Shepherd, in 1861. She was the daughter
of John and Rebecca (Fees) Shepherd, who came
to this county from Adair County, Ky., about the
year 1838, taking up a claim one mile south of

where the village of New London has since been
built. Upon this they built a log cabin, and for a
year or two the Indians were very plentiful in that
vicinity. Their two eldest children, Sarah and
Nancj^ were born in Kentucky, and their mother
often trembled with fear when alone with her little
ones, thinking that perhaps the Indians might do
them injury, but they were never molested, except
by their frequent calls-for something to eat. This
was not easy to furnish, for Mr. Shepherd was not
only a poor man, but had to cross the Mississippi to
obtain supplies from Illinois, and the journey
always took four days' time, during which the
wife and little children were left alone. They,
however, remained secure in their little cabin, and
the emigration soon brought other neighbors.
Their land was entered at the first land sale held at
Burlington, and upon this tract the father lived
and died. After the Shepherd family came to
Iowa other children were born : Martha, wife of our
subject; Lewis, who wedded Martha Cox; John,
the husband of Maggie Williams; Alva, married to
Ann Reed; William, wedded to Minnie Pero; all
living except the j'oungest. All the sons except
Lewis were soldiers, and all were in the same com-
pany and regiment, except AVilliam. Alvin was the
only one receiving a wound, and all passed through
some of the hardest fought battles of the war.
The eldest daughter, Sarah A., wedded Arthur
Cornwell, and Nancy became the wife of William
Lansinger.

After his return from the army Samuel Hamell
purchased his present farm, upon which the family
have since resided. Prosperity has always smiled
upon them, and they are numbered, not only among
the early settlers, but with the best families of the
township. Five children have graced their home:
Clara B. is the wife of Samuel Denny, a resident of
New London ; Minnie B. is the wife of James
Kramer, a machinist of Burlington; Ami, Maggie
and Ai are yet with their parents.

We are pleased to mention the family of this
brave soldier, and those of the Shepherd family as
well. The mother of Mrs. Hamell is yet a resident
of New London, and is now in her seventy-fourth
year. For twelve years Mr. Hamell has been con-
nected with the School Board, seven years of which

t

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588

HENRY COUNTY.

r

time he was Treasurer. He is a member of "Wesley
Harden Post No. 384, G. A. R., of which he is
one of the charter members, and to him is due the
credit of its organization. He is a member of and
the Treasurer of the anti-horse-thief association,
and is one of its original members. As a gallant
soldier, and upright citizen, and faithful official, he
commands the respect of all who know him.

A. OILMAN, M. D., Superintendent of the
Hospital for the Insane, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
w.is born at Gilmantou Center, Belknap
P Co., N. H., Jan. 15, 1845. His parents were
William Henry Gilman and Sarah A. Gilman, nee
Otis. The latter is still living. The father, William
Henry Gilman, died Dec. 31, 1877.

Dr. Gilman received a classical education, and
graduated from Gilmantou Academy, after a four
years' course of study, in 1860, and was valedic-
torian of his class. At the age of eighteen he
commenced the study of medicine, under the
tuition of Nahum Wight, M. D., and at the age of
twenty-one, in October, 1866, graduated at Dart-
mouth Medical College. In December of the same
year he received the appointment as Second Assist-
ant Phj'sician to the Illinois State Hospital for the
Insane at Jacksonville, III., which position he held
for a year and a half, when he was promoted to the
position of First Assistant Physician, and in that
capacity served the State of Illinois for fourteen
and a half years.

July 25, 1882, Dr. Gilman was elected Superin-
tendent of the Iowa State Hospital for the Insane
at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Early in life he manifested
an earnest desire to obtain a liberal education, and
was fond of literary and scientific pursuits. He
had a hard struggle for an education, and is entirely
self-made. Politically lie has idways been a stanch
Rei)ul)lican, descending from the old Whig and
Federal stock. He is a member of the Masonic
fraternity, viz: Blue Lodge, Chapter, and Coni-
niandery of Knights Templar. lie is also a mem-
ber of the Independent Order of Mutual Aid and
the Knights of Honor. He was one of the founders
of the Young Men's Christian Association of Jack-

sonville, III., and for four years its President. To
him is largely due the credit of erecting a com-
modious and cheerful home for the association, he
having himself contributed liberallj' and secured a
large portion of the 814,000 required to complete
and furnish it. He is an active member of the
Congregational Church.

The same indomitable perseverance that charac-
terized his early years, and by which he mastered
the situation, is manifest in his more mature life.
In his profession, as indicated by his promotion,
he has achieved eminence and distinction, and
among the unfortunate class to whom his life-work
is devoted, he is looked upon with that feeling of
confidence and affection which can only result from
the unselfish kindness and ever- watchful care of a
true physician.

Upon assuming the superintendency of the hos-
pital at Mt. Pleasant he immediately commenced
active operations to repair the old building, intro-
ducing a complete and eflfective system of ventila-
tion, renewing the plastering, woodwork, floors, and
repainting throughout, also refurnishing all the
wards for patients with comfortable beds, and
cheerful accompaniments.

During this period he informed himself of the
number and condition of the insane in the State,
and persistently agitated the importance of further
accommodations, under State care and supervision.
Showing the sad condition of the hundreds unable
to be thus cared for, he appealed to the humanity
of the people, and the legislatures as the}- con-
vened. As a result, with the aid of others who
were interested in this philanthropic work, accom-
modation for 400 more has been made at the Mt.
Pleasant Hospital, and 200 at the Independence
IIosi)ital, and a third hospital partially completed at
Clarinda, which, when the i)lan is executed, will
accommodate 1,000.

On the 2!lth of November, 1806, he married L.
Amanda, widow of the late Lewis J. (Jale, and
daughter of the late Capt. George W. Moodj', of
Gilmantou, by whom he has had four diildreii : Es-
telle Amy, born Aug. 18, 1868, <licd Jan. 23, 1871 ;
Frederick Albert, born Jan. 22, 1872, died July 1,
1876; Nahum Wight, born July 1, 1877, and Ju-
lian Sturtevant, born March 8, 1882.

■•►-■

4

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4-

HENRY COUNTY.

589

4

This brief sketch of Dr. Oilman would be incom-
plete without further reference to his work since
his taking charge of the Iowa Hospital for the In-
sane, at Mt. Pleasant. Under his judicious and
able management the usefulness of the institution
has been largely increased. Not only in the reme-
dial measures taken for the benefit of the unfortu-
nate class for whom the hospital is designed, but
in matters of administration has his good judg-
ment and executive abilitj^ produced most excel-
lent results. The appropriations made bj' the Leg-
islature for enlargement of the buildings have been
wisely expended, and the capacity of the institu-
tion increased beyond the most sanguine expecta-
tions of its friends. In the report of the Trustees,
of July 1, 1887, the following acknowledgment is
made of the services of Dr. Gilman in this resiiect:

" The money was expended as directed under
the supervision and direction of Dr. II. A. Oilman,
Superintendent, and was completed, furnished,
heated and lighted within the |i 1 00,000 appropriated,
and was ready to receive patients by March 1,
1887, and is now almost filled, and has furnished
great relief when it was so much needed.

" The structure is built of stone, is of the most
substantial character, and contains ample accommo-
dations for 200 patients and their attendants, as
provided in said act; and we have no hesitancy in
saying that it is not only one of the best constructed
buildings in the State, but that in point of econ-
omy in its erection, we will challenge comparison
with any similar structure anywhere. This is due
to the active vigilance and perfect knowledge of
just what was needed, possessed by Superintendent
Gilman, who had charge of its construction ; and
in employing, when it could be done, the labor of
the patients, many of whom are physically able and
willing to work, and who were much benefited
thereby."

In the management of the internal affairs of the
hospital Dr. Gilman has shown equal efficiency.
Under his care, a large number of patients have
been discharged, relieved or cured, and the condi-
tion of those deemed incurable, greatly ameliorated.
The report of the Superintendent, incorporated in
the Trustees' report already mentioned, shovvs that
during the preceding two years, in addition to those
4«

already in the hospital, 767 patients had been ad-
mitted, and 604 discharged. Of the latter, 235 had
entirely recovered; 131 were much improved ; 124:
were unimproved, and 114 died. These results
are gratifying to Dr. Gilman, and to all humanita-
rians, who have at heart the amelioration of the con-
dition of those unfortunate human beings suffering
from that worst of all disorders — brain disease and
mental aberration. To the relief and cure of this
class of diseases Dr. Gilman has dedicated his life,
and his success in his chosen vocation is the legiti-
mate result of his untiring zeal, constant study of
the best modes of treatment, and personal care in
insuring that the measures devised for the relief of
those under his charge shall be carried out as
directed.

Since removing to Mt. Pleasant, Dr. Gilman has
acquired the confidence and respect of its citizens
in an eminent degree, and the hope is widely ex-
pressed that he has become a permanent resident of
Henry County.

-3"»^

WASHINGTON MULLIN, Mayor of Win-
field, Iowa, and one of the prominent
farmers of Scott Township, was born in
Montgomery County, Ohio, June 30, 1838. His
parents were Nathan and Mary A. (Borton) Mullin,
the former a native of Warren County, Ohio, and
the latter born in New Jersey. Isaac Mullin, the
grandfather, was one of the pioneers of ^Varren
County, and at the time he went there he had to
cut his way through the heavy timber for miles.
The marriage of Nathan Mullin and Mar^' Borton
was celebrated in his native county, and there two
sons and six daughters were born unto them:
Washington, the subject of this sketch; Marietta,
wife of David Bomgardner, of Los Gatos, Cal. ;
Lucinda, wife of Truman Schenk, of Park City,
Utah; Harrison, a resident of Ogden, Ohio; Emma,
wife of Calvin Hadley, of Ilarveysburg, Ohio;
Esther, who married Jacob Hale, of Ogden, Ohio;
Ada, wife of Crispin Lippincott, of Harveysburg;
Ohio; Lola, born in Trenton, Henry Co., Iowa,
married Theodore Lawrence, and is now living in

¥

\

t

590

HENRY COUNTY.

Harveysburg, Ohio. In April, 1856, Nathan Mul-
lin left his home in Ohio and came to Henry C'ounty,
first settling in Mt. Pleasant. Remaining there but
a short time he removed to Trenton, where he pur-
chased property with the intention of making a home,
but Mrs. Mullin being dissatisfied, he returned to
Ohio, where, during the remainder of his life, he
resided. Politically, Mr. Mullin in early life was
an old-line Whig. There was no man in that sec-
tion of the country who was better posted on all
political questions than he. Both he and his wife
were reared, lived and died in the Friends' faith.
Naught could be said against such people, and they
were everywhere known and respected for their
honesty and integrity. Mr. Mullin was called to
his final home in 1882, and by his death a happy
union of nearly half a century was broken. His
wife still survives him, and resides in Harveysburg,
Warren Co., Ohio.

Washington Mullin, the subject of this sketch,
came with his parents to Henry County when eight-
een years of age. His early education was limited,
he receiving but three months' schooling in the
winter, while he was compelled to work upon the
farm in summer, but bj' reading and the aid of
experience he has gained a good practical educa-
tion. In the fall of 1859 Mr. Mullin led to the
marriage altar Miss Elizabeth L. Felgar, a native
of Ohio. She came with her parents to Henry
County in 1846, they being pioneers of the county.
Mrs. Mullin is a lady who is highly respected for
her many good qualities. In the winter of 1859-GO
Mr. Mullin was engaged as a teacher near Trenton,
and in the following spring he moved upon his
present beautiful farm adjoining Wiufield. Here
he embarked in farming and stock-raising, and for
five years during the winter, as the work upon the
farm was finished, Jie taught school. In 1881 Mr.
Mullin laid out what is known as MuUin's second
addition to Winfield, his father having jjreviously
laid off an addition. Mr. Mullin has a fine farm of
100 acres under a high state of cultivation, which
is stocked Willi a fine grade of Short-horn cattle
and English draft horses. In politics he is a stanch
Republican, and has held several local offices in the
township, has been Mayor, and has been .Justice of
the Peace for four years. Socially, Mr. iSIulIin is a

member of the I. O. O. F., has filled all the large
offices, and has been representative to the Grand
Lodge several times.

Mr. and Mrs. Mullin are the parents of four liv-
ing children : Lucinda v., wife of Wesley James,
of Iowa City; Alberta L., wife of George Kepper,
farmer of Scott Township; Mary A. and Yirgie L.,
at home. Mr. Mullin has been an ardent worker
for the Agricultural Society of Winfield, and to
him much credit is due for its prosperity. He is at
present Mayor of Winfield, and is favorably known
throughout the community as a man of enterprise
and integrity.

AVID PARKINS, farmer, was born in Bel-
mont Count}', Ohio, July 22, 1 812, and is a
son of Stephen and Catherine (Ogan) Par-
kins. Both families were natives of Vir-
ginia, near Winchester, and both emigrated to Ohio
about the same time, settling in the same locality,
when the Ohio country was new and undeveloped.
Our subject thinks it was prior to 1800, and in the
adjoining county west the Indians held undisputed
possession. Only a small settlement was made at
Cincinnati, a small one at the mouth of the Mus-
kingum River, and onl}' a few men had taken
claims or entered land along the Ohio. Stephen
Parkins lived to see almost ninety-three years of
life, and both himself and wife lived and died in
Ohio. They were Friends, and Mr. Parkins would
not take up arms during the War of 1812; but after
being drafted and still refusing to serve, officers
came and took all his hogs, his cow, and whatever
else the}' could find, which were sold to pay his fine.
This, coming in the dead of winter, made it hard
for the family to subsist; yet they managed to
recover the loss, and at the time of his death .Ste-
phen Parkins was in prosperous cirttumstances.
They were the parents of fourteen children, thir-
teen reaching maturity, and all are living except one
daughter, Phemy, who was the wife of Jesse Hart-
sock. The others were named respectively: David,
our subject; Ann, Hannah, Peter, Stephen, Eliza-

^

Ipjiw

David Parkins.

\..-'

-I

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HENRY COUNTY.

593

beth, Jonathan, Lewis, John, Catherine, Martha and
Mary. Six of these children came to Iowa, and
are now residents of this State. All were married
in Ohio, except our subject, and the families are
well settled in life in their respective localities.

David Parkins was married in Henry County,
Ind., in 1837, to Miss Mary Burk, daughter of
Thomas and Rachel Burk, who were natives of Vir-
ginia. They were also early settlers in Belmont
County, Ohio, but prior to the death of her parents
all removed to Indiana. David intended entering
land further west before his marriage, but after
securing the lady to whom his troth was plighted,
before the Burks left Ohio, he rented a little farm,
and the young couple settled near her parents; and
about four years later he purchased land upon
which they remained until their removal to Iowa.
Children blessed their union, all born in Indiana.
"William H., who wedded first Eliza J. Hobson, and
after her death another Iowa lady ; Stephen, a resi-
dent of Fairfield, wedded Mary, a sister of Eliza
Hobson; Levi, who manages his father's farm, wed-
ded Hannah Tribby. In 185-1 Mr. Parkins and
family removed to this State, settling four miles
north of West Point, in Lee County, where he pur-
chased an 80-acre farm. In 1856 he sold that land
and removed to Henry County, purchasing the
farm upon which he now resides. He purchased a
130-acre tract, and his successes in life are due to
his own energy, for when he was first married he
was worth only $100, but his wealth to-day is esti-
mated by thousands. His wife, who was a true
helpmeet during their married life, died in 1869,
and one year later he was wedded to Miss Rhoda
Comstock, of Wisconsin, born in New York State,
who came to this county in order to be in a neigh-
hood of the Society of Friends. She found favor
in the sight of our subject, and became his wife.
For some time her health has been failing, but her
devoted husband lightens every care, and she is
provided with all the comforts that wealth brings,
and in their roomy house all attention is given to
her that is possible to bestow.

In his seventy-sixth year, our subject finds him-
self a retired farmer, with the esteem of his fellow-
men, with abundance at his command, and within
fifteen minutes' ride of village, church and railway,
-^s ■

His farm has increased from 130 to 250 acres of
land.

We are pleased to give him a jilace among
those of his fellow-townsmen, and this sketch will
be welcomed by all readers of the Albu.m.

The portrait of Mr. Parkins, on the adjoining
page, will be welcomed by his many friends in the
county, who justly regard him as one of its most
upright and conscientious citizens.

'-^^^^i^k^^^T^f^

-> <<-.-

HILIP SUMMERS, dealer in staple and
fancy groceries, flour, feed, etc., Mt. Pleas-
ant, Henry Co., Iowa, has been established
in business in that place since 1870. He
was born in Shelby County, Ohio, near Sidney,
Nov. 7, 1831, and is a son of Samuel and Margaret
Summers, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in
this volume. Philip was reared in his native State,
and remained in Shelby County until April, 1850,
when he and his brother Robert followed his father
to Iowa, locating in New London Township, Henry
County, where he engaged in fanning on a place
near his father's. In the spring of 1861 he assisted
in organizing a part^' for a trip to California. His
father, brothers John and George, and sister Mary
A. were of the party. They had an outfit com-
posed of three wagons, four yoke of oxen, a pair
of horses, two cows, and several loose horses. On
reaching Omaha the elder Summers went to visit a
neighbor, Thomas Johnson, who was with a large
party camped not far off. He stopped with them
all night, and the next morning his own train
started without him, and he did not find it again
until they all arrived at Boise City, Idaho. The
Summers party escaped collision with the Indians,
while the larger train, with which his father was
then traveling, was attacked, their stock stampeded,
and one man killed. On reaching the South Pass
they learned there was but little grass for their
stock on the direct route, and they struck off north-
ward into Idaho and Washington Territory, and
thence through Oregon to California. They left
Mt. Pleasant in April, and arrived in California the
following September. Our subject walked every,
step of the way, and waded or swam all the rivers

i

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I

i 594

■*►

HENRY COUNTY.

in his zeal to make the most of the trip. On reach-
ing the Pacific Coast the party first stopped at
Yreka, Siskiyou County, thence to Sacramento
City, and from there to Nevada City, Cal. Mr.
Summers explored the coast country pretty thor-
oughly, and was one of the party who explored
the celebrated Mt. Shasta, on which they reached a
great altitude. For five years our subject engaged
in mercantile pursuits in Nevada City, and in the
fall of 1869 returned East. Jan. 20, 1870, he was
married at Sidney, Shelby Co., Ohio, to Miss Re-
becca E. Lemon, daughter of Hector Lemon, of
that place. She was born in Dinsmore Township,
that county, Jan. 29, 1838, her parents being from
Chester County, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Summers have
one child : Harry R., born at Mt. Pleasant, Nov.
28, 1871.

In April, 1870, Mr. Summers returned to Iowa,
and the same spring embarked in his present busi-
ness at Mt. Pleasant, in which he has since been
continuously engaged. Prior to going to Cali-
fornia he had purchased a number of land warrants,
which he located in Kansas, Missouri and Iowa, and
spent considerable time in traveling back and forth in
that business, and in visits to his old home in Ohio.
He and his wife are regular attendants at the Pres-
byterian Church in Mt. Pleasant. In politics he
has always been a strict Democrat, and is at present
Chairman of the Democratic Central C'ommittee of
Henry County, but he has never sought or wished
for office. He has now been in business in Mt.
Pleasant for eighteen years, and is cl.issed among
the prosperous and respected citizens of Henry
County.

ASON BAYLES, a farmer residing on sec-
tion 21, Canaan Township, Henry Co.,
Iowa, was born in Champaign Count}',
Ohio, Sept. 24, 1833, and is a son of Joseph
and Ann (Arrowsmith) Bayles. Joseph was a na-
tive of Monongalia County, Va., the wife of Ohio,
but her parents removed from Maysville, Ky., to
Champaign County, in 1806, probably about the
date of her birth. The Bayles also arrived in But-
ler County, Ohio, about the same time, reuniining

two yeai's, when a permanent location was made in
Champaign County. David Bayles, the paternal
grandfather, wedded Sarah Thornton, and reared a
large family of children, all of whom were born in
Virginia. After coming to Ohio David entered a
large tract of land near Tremont, which he im-
proved, and upon this both he and his wife lived, and
he died there at the advanced age of eighty -six. His
widow removed to Lexington, Ky., and died there
two years later, also aged eighty-six years. With
John, his eldest son, David Bayles was instrumental
in the formation and organization of Mad River
Township in Champaign Count}', each being one of
its first Trustees. David and his three eldest sons,
John, Coats and David Bajdes, Jr., were soldiers
during the War of 1812. The two eldest sons were
present and included in Hull's surrender. Coats
was Captain of a company. David Bayles, Jr., was
a member of the army operating at that time in the
East, thereby escaping capture. William, the
fourth son, wedded a daughter of Moses Corwin, of
Urbana, studied law and practiced in the courts of
the county and State for several years prior to his
death. Jesse, the sixth son, was appointed Colonel
of the Ohio State Militia by the Governor in 1825,
and was known by that title during the remainder
of his life. He was an active politician, and widely
known. He later removed to Lexington, Ky., and
during the late war organized and was in command
of the 4th Kentucky Cavalry. He was an ardent
Whig, and was Chairman of the Clay Committee
during the Presidential campaign of 1844, and the
entire family of Bayles are to-day members of the
Republican party.

Joseph, the fifth son, was the father of our sub-
ject, and one of the leading citizens in that county
in every enterprise. He received his education in
Urbana, and wedded Miss Ann Arrowsmilli wlien
twenty-six years of age. About that time Ezekiel
Arrowsmith gave his daughter a portion of his
farm, and there the young couple began llieir do-
mestic life. All their children were born there,
namely: Celenira, wife of Joseph Ilixon; Sarah
A., wife of James Mickclwaito; .lulm M., husband
of Sylvia Waterman; Sniilli, liiishand of Sarah
Mendoniiall. Then came our sulijcct, followed by
Elizabeth, who married James Turner, and Jesse W.i

-i

HENRY COUNTY.

595

who was wedded in California to Mamie Ford.
All these children are living and happily married.
In 1845 Joseph Bayles with his family removed to
Iowa, settling near Hillsboro, this count3^ He
purchased 200 acres, partly improved, and there
those good people resided for many years. Both
he and his wife belonged to the Methodist Epis-
copal Church in Ohio. After coming to Iowa they
were equally ardent in Christian work, and aided
in the organization of the early churches in their
neighborhood, in Lee, Henry and,Van Buren Coun-
ties. Both died regi-etted, he at the age of eighty,
she in her fifty-sixth year.

Our subject was educated in Mt. Pleasant, gradu-
ating in the classical department of the Iowa Wes-
leyan University in 1859. On the day of his grad-
uation, June 22, 1859, his wedding was celebrated,
Miss Maggie Corkhill becoming his wife. She was
a daughter of William H. and Mary A. (Baker) Cork-
hill, of Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Corkhill was a large
land-owner in this county, and offered his son-in-
law an opportunity for engaging in the cattle busi-
ness upon his lands in Canaan Township, which
offer was accepted, and for three years that enter-
prise was conducted upon an extensive scale.

With the first call to arms, after the firing upon
Ft. Sumter, came a desire to enlist and lend his aid
in upholding the old flag. Enlisting as a private
in the first company formed in this part of the
country, he was soon afterward made an officer,
and rose from rank to rank, filling every position,
except Orderly Sergeant, and becoming Captain of
the company in two months. The company was
known as the Canaan Home Guards, but was never
assigned to any regiment. Six months later the
company was disbanded, and was never re-or-
ganized. In July, 1862, Capt. Bayles was ap-
pointed by the Commissary General, J. P. Taylor,
to a place in the Subsistence Department, Army of
the Potomac, with headquarters at the 2d. Brigade,
2d Division, of the 2d Army Corps, then in
front of Richmond, remaining in that depart-
ment until December, 1863. He w.is then appointed
Inspector of the Subsistence Department of the
2d Corps by the command of Gen. Warren, and
Feb. 23, 1864, he was again promoted, receiving
from the United States Senate confirmation as
i^*-

Captain and Commissary of Subsistence, United
States Volunteers. After this confirmation by the
Senate Capt. Bayles was invited by the Commis-
sary General to come to Washington, and upon his
compliance his commission was presented in person
by the General, A. B. Eaton, who upon its presenta-
tion remarked that " it did not often occur that com-
missions were either given or received personally.
Upon you is bestowed a work of great responsibility,
and I hope you will fully appreciate the magnitude
of its importance. Return to your division, report
to Col. Wilson, who will assign you to duty." The
Colonel had been notified by telegraph, and upon
his return Capt. Bayles found orders awaiting him.
He was assigned to duty with the 2d Brigade,
.irtillery reserve, Army of the Potomac, Maj. John
Bigelow, of the 9th Massachusetts Artillery, in
command. On the route to Richmond this corps
was disbanded, and the Captain was assigned to the
2d Brigade, 2d Division, 9th Corps, Army of
the Potomac, Gen. John F. Hartranft in com-
mand. His next assignment was in August of the
same 3^ear, as Chief Commissary of the second di-
vision of the same army corps, Gen. Wilcox in
command. In December Capt. Bayles was tempo-
rarily assig^ied Chief C'ommissary of the 9th
Corps. The following March his first leave of ab-
sence was granted. He returned to his wife and
boy at Mt. Pleasant, finding them in the best of
health, and to add to his pleasure, his ten days'
leave of absence w.is increased to fifteen, and an
accompanying order from the Secretary of War
appointing him Commissary of Subsistence, United
States Volunteers, with the rank of Major, and an
assignment to duty .as Chief Commissary of Cav-
alry of the Army of the Potomac, awaited him.
On the eighth day after leave of absence was
granted Maj. Bayles h.astened to the front, re-
maining with his command until the close of the
war. He was present at every engagement in which
his command participated, from and including the
second battle of Bull Run to the surrender of the
rebel army at Appomattox, except the battle of
Bristoe SUition, Oct. 14, 1863. After Lee's sur-
render, the command having returned to Peters-
burg, they were moved in great haste to the border
of North Carolina, to aid in the capture of John-

^

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596

HENRY COUNTY.

ston's army. Hence Maj. Bayles had the rare fort-
une to be in the vicinit3' of the .surrender of tlie
two great armies of the Confederacy. He took
part in the grand military review held at Washing-
ton, D. C. The troops composing this command
were then disbanded until late in Julj', and upon
the 29th of that month Maj. Bayles was ordered
home, from which place he should report to the
Adjutant General, United Stites Army. On Aug.
4, 186.'i, his order of muster out was issued.

Returning then to the business left to itself when
he became a soldier, Maj. Bayles secured it com-
fortably ere his health, which in the army had
become impaired, gave way, and he was forced to
retire from active agriculture and the stock busi-
ness. Recuperating somewhat after an enforced
rest, he accepted in the spring of 1870 an appoint-
ment as Asssistant United States Marshal for Henrj'
County. He .ilso engaged in the mercantile busi-
ness at Mt. Pleasant, at the same time. In 1871
he was elected to the Chair of Geology and Natural
History in the Iowa Wesleyan University, serving
until 1874, when he was elected President of the
Western Iowa Collegiate Institute at Glen wood,
which position he filled but one year. Later his
health entirely gave wa}', and he was forced to re-
turn to his home in Mt. Pleasant. In 1876 and
1877 the entire family spent the autumn and winter
in Washington, D. C, returning again to their Iowa
home in the spring. In 1878 Mr. Bayles, accom-
panied by his two sons, went to Kansas and re-
mained two years, making there a pioneer home.
After the return Mr. Bayles removed to his farm
in Ciuiaan Township, purchased in 1868, where the
family now reside, preferring the quiet, unostenta-
tious life of a farmer to the worry of official or
other public life.

Four children have graced the union of Maj.
Bayles and his wife — Will C, George C, Ollie M.
and Helen E., the latter deceased. The education
of all has been tiiorough, and the daughter is an
accomplished musician. With a home which any
man of taste might envy, a handsome and well-
selected library, music and works of art, in fact
with all that makes home life pleasant, this gentle-
man and ills family are most ha|ipily situated.

The proudest moment in the life of our subject

was when the Secretary of War, Edwin IM. Stsinton,
received a letter with only one line tracing the page,
in relation to the appointment of our subject as
Captain and Commissary of Subsistence. It was
brief and to the point:

" Let this appointment be made at once.

A. Lincoln."

We present with pleasure this sketch of the sol-
dier, the official, the teacher, the gentleman, and
now the genial farmer, to the consideration of the
people of Henry County, among whom his name is
so well known.

— : — ^^^-|^B-i«^-i-«~-

'JfjAMES II. PATTERSON, son of Ledger-
wood and Drusilla Patterson, is one of the
prominent farmers and pioneer settlers of
Scott Township, Henry Co., Iowa, and was
born in Augusta County, Va., Oct. 21, 1834. He
came with his parents to this county in 1842, when
but a lad of eight years. Ills first education was
received in the common schools, and afterward he
attended Howe's Academy in Mt. Pleasant. In
September, 1861, he responded to the President's
call for troops, and enlisted in the 4th Iowa Cavalry,
Company C. He was mustered into service at
Camp Harlan, and the following spring went to
Benton Barracks, St. Louis, from there to Raleigh,
and subsequentl}' to Springfield, Mo. He enlisted
as a private, but at the organization of the company
was elected Second Lieutenant, and was later
appointed Quartermaster. An order was issued by
the War Department in Washington, relieving all
supernumerary officers, and he was one of those
coming under that designation. Not wishing to
go buck into the ranks as a private, he resigned,
after serving about fifteen months. After his
return home he lay sick at Mt. Pleasant for some
time.

On the 8th of October, 1863, James II. Patterson
led to the marriage aitar Miss Fannie Wallace,
and the ceromony was performed which made them
man and wife. She was a daughter of Benjamin
and Mary Wallace. Her parents died witli that
dread dise.isc, cholera, in 185,"), leaving Fannie an
orphan at the age of twelve. The}- were both

u

HENRY COUNTY.

••»-

597

U

members of the Presbyterian Church, and both
were buried at Flemingsburg, Ky.

In 1864 Mr. and Mrs. Patterson removed to
Winfleld, locating upon a farm adjoining the town.
To them have been born six children: Anna, now
attending college at Oskaloosa, Iowa; William W.,
at home; Eva, now attending college at Mt. Pleas-
ant; Essie, John H. and James M. C, also at home.
In politics Mr. Patterson is one of the stanch
Republicans of Henrj- County, and an active worker
for his party, although not aspiring to office. He
is also a great friend to education. His wife is a
member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and
Mrs. Patterson have a fine farm of 400 acres, all of
which have been developed since moving upon the
land, with the exception of eighty acres, which had
been partially broken. A nice home has been
erected, which is presided over by a most genial
host and amiable hostess. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson
stand high in the community where they reside,
and have the respect of all who know them. He is
active in the advancement of any enterprise which
is for the good of the township or county. He is
a member of the Mort Hobart Post No. 280, G.
A. R., and he is also a member of Winfield Lodge
No. 154, I. O. O. F., of Winfield.

^ EDGERWOOD PATTERSON, deceased,
I ^ ^^^ °^^ ^^ ^^® -pioneer settlers of Henry
/il=^ Count3', Iowa. He was born in Augusta
County, Ya., in 1801, and there grew to manhood,
receiving his education in the schools of his native
county. About the year 1828 Mr. Patterson was
united in marriage with Drusilla T. Henry, of the
same county. She was a native of that county,
born in 1809. In 183.5 Mr. Patterson and his
young bride removed to Henry County, Ind.,
remaining there for seven years, and in 1842 came
to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, which was then but a small
village. Soon after their arrival the husband was
taken sick, never recovering from his illness, and
dying in November of the same year. Politically
Mr. Patterson affiliated with the Whig party. To
him and his wife six children were born, four of
whom ai-e living: Mary M., wife of James Craig, of

Cameron, Mo.; William W., of San Jose, Cal. ;
James H., and Elvira, also at Cameron, Mo. Mr.
and Mrs. Patterson were among the founders of the
Presb3'terian Church of this county, in fact the
society was organized in their home. Mrs. Patter-
son died in 1871, in Kansas City, at the age of
sixty-two, and she and her husband were buried
side by side in the cemetery of Mt. Pleasant.
None stood higher in the community than did Mr.
and Mrs. Patterson, and their deaths were sincerely
mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaint-
ances.

<^ OHN HUBBARD WILLIAMS, a farmer of
Baltimore Township, was born near White
Water, Ind., in 1842, and is the son of John
^^ W. and Catharine (Deardoff) Williams. The
former was a native of Maryland, while his wife
was of German ancestry, but w.as born in Union
County, Ind. While in Indiana Cynthia A., Lu-
cinda, Jonas and John H. were born. In 1843 the
family removed to Des Moines County, Iowa, and
were among the early settlers in that county.
Lands were entered and frequent changes were made
by Mr. Williams in real estate, but the lands first
entered are now in possession of his son-in-law,
Joseph Cresap. After Mr. Williams located in Des
Moines County, other children were born — Rebecca,
Sarah E., George W., Margaret C, Matilda, Emily
M., Franklin B., Algelena, and Laura, who died in
infancy. The others reached adult age.

John W. Williams brought considerable money
to this State and prior to his death accumulated a
large property. He was a heavy dealer in stock,
and before railroads were built drove his stock to
market. In Indiana he drove his stock to Cincin-
nati, and was there, as in Iowa, a large dealer. He
was an active business man and died in 1881 at a ripe
age. His widow survives him and is now in her sixty-
ninth year. John W. Williams was an early official
of Des Moines County', Iowa, and several terms
served as Trustee. Of his children all were married
except the infant mentioned. Cynthia wedded
Elias G. Rowe; Lucinda married Elisha Gappen ;
Jonas wedded Amanda R. Armstrong; Rebecca was
the wife of Alex Jacoby ; Sarah A. became the wife
of Byron Lilly; George W. married Sarah Sibert;

T

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598

HENRY COUNTY.

Margaret C. became the wife of Joseph Cresap;
Matilda is the wife of Emory Knickerbocker: Emily
M. is the wife of John Bishop; Franklin B. is the
husband of Flora Parrot, and Algelena is the wife
of Milton McDonald.

Our subject was married in Des Moines County,
Nov. 25, 1862, to Miss Marj- E., daughter of Sam-
uel and Elizabeth (Mathias) Dickey. Her father
was a native of Indiana and his wife of Kentuckj'.
They were married in Des Moines County, in 1843.
Burlington consisted of a few log cabins at that
time, and Mr. and Mrs. Dicky saw the entire growth
of that now prosperous city. Neither of the par-
ents of Mrs. Williams are living, but their memory
is sacred and rendered doublj- dear as she was their
only child, and upon her a wealth of love and care
was lavished. In 1873 Mr. Dickey removed to
Oregon. His wife Elizabeth died some years before.
and Mr. Dickey became the husband of Mary E.
(Furry) Dicke>', who was. prior to the latter mar-
riage, the wife of his brother Isaac. Mr. Dickey's
death took place in Trinity County, Cal.

Mr. and Mrs. "Williams remained in Des Moines
County until their removal, in 1878, to Henrj- Coun-
ty. He also owned a steam sawmill in that county,
which he operated in connection with his farm. His
place in this county was purchased in 1878. and is
now a handsome and finely improved estate. His
taste for machinery still continues, and he is the
owner of a mill which he erected on his own land
since he came to this county. He also runs a steam
thrasher, and in 1887 thrashed over 60,000 bushels
of grain. He is a practical machinist, having
learned the trade in McCormick's great factory in
Chicago, in 1864. He is the inventor of one of the
most perfect traction engines that has to this date
been used on the road, and over all other compet-
itors was awarded the first prize at the Burlington
Exposition, in 1885. Mr. Williams is an enter-
prising and industrious citizen, as was his father
before him, and the family are highl}' spoken of by
their neighbors, and by all who know them. A man
of enterprise and character he takes a leading place
in the community.

To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born nine
children — George W., Charles E., Orel P., Frank L.,
Hubbard G., Daisy B., Samuel A., Robert C. and

■ -4»-

Mary Edith. Theirs is indeed a happy home. The
silent reaper has passed it by and the familj- circle
remains unbroken. There is not a man in this part
of the county who does not know and appreciate
the genial and gentlemanly J. Hubbard Williams,
and in their pleasant farmhouse the good wife and
mother does her part to make life pleasant and
profitable. We welcome the familj* to a place
among the best in this township.

1815.

OX. JAMES C. GREEN, of Trenton, is
one of the pioneers of Henry County. He
is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born
near Bristol, on Neshaming Creek, Jan. 21,
His parents, Robert and Anna (Page)
Green, were both natives of Pennsylvania, the
mother being born in the city of Philadelphia. She
was a daughter of Stephen Page, a native of Vir-
ginia. Robert Green w.is a son of John Green,
who was a native of Waterford, Ireland, and a
seaman for many 3'ears, and Captain of a merchant
ship. The father of our subject was a farmer
through life. His death occurred April 6, 1826, at
the age of fort}--two j'ears, and the mother died
June 5, 1826, at the age of forty years, thus leaving
James Can orphan at the age of eleven. After the
death of his parents, James went to live with his
grandmother, who, with the aid of his brother,
Joseph Green, reared him. Even to this da^- James
Green looks to his brother for help and comfort,
and his home is ever a home for his brother.

When twenty years of age, James C. Green left
home to fight the battle of life .alone. He went to
Louisville, Ky., remaining only two months, then
to Madison, Ind., and from there to Indianapolis by
rail on the first railroad in the State of Indian.a.
From Indianapolis, he started by stage to Terre
Haute, Ind., but on the road the stage broke down,
and while waiting for repairs Mr. Green met an
emigrant fai'mer who was going West, and as he
was ready for adventure, he engaged with the
farmer to drive stock for his passage and U>ard,
and started for the then wild West of Iowa. Mak-
ing a slow trip through the State of Illinois, they
crossed the Mississippi at Burlington, Julj- 4, 1836.

i

u.

-•^H ^

HENRY COUNTY.

599

t

There, leaving their stock and wagons, he and his
employer, Mr. Updegraff, started on horseback for
the interior to select claims for their future homes.
They first stopped at Mt. Pleasant, then but the
commencement of a village, and then rode to where
the village of Trenton now stands, and in that
vicinity Mr. Updegraff took a claim. As soon
as a cabin could be prepared, he brought his family,
and with him Mr. Green made his home for a
short time, but soon took a claim for himself of
160 acres on section 10, Trenton Township. Here
he erected a cabin, living alone until the arrival of
his older brother Joseph, who had come to take
James back home, but liking the country, concluded
to remain, so he and his brother lived alone until
September, 1839. At that time James was united
in marriage with Jane Morrison, a native of Penn-
sylvania, and a daughter of Joseph and Sanih
Morrison, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this
work. After his marriage, he and his wife lived in
a cabin in true frontier style, but as years have
rolled on he has greatly improved their home.
They have acquired a large property, and may now
be found in a commodious and comfortable resi
dence on the original claim on section 10, Trenton
Township.

Mr. and Mrs. Green have been the parents of
nine children: Sarah, residing at home; Anna,
wife of Charles Turney, County Treasurer of Saun-
ders County, Neb.; Samuel, a farmer residing in
Jefferson Township, Henry Count}' ; Charles, a
farmer of Trenton Township; Emily, who died
Jan. 26, 1876, at the age of twenty-seven years;
Joseph, residing at home; Alice, also at home;
James C, Jr., a merchant of Winfield, Henry County,
and Frank, who died Sept. 19, 1875. Mr. Green
has been a leader of the Democratic party in this
county, and has been elected to the office of Justice
of the Peace, which he held for a number of years.
He was a member of the Board of Supervisors of
the county for six years, and was also elected to the
State Legislature, serving one term. He is at pres-
ent Notary Public, and has been a life-long Demo-
crat. Socially he is a member of the I. O. 0. F.
Mr. Green is a self-made man; having been left an
orphan with but small means, he has fought nobly
the battle of life. By his perseverance and energy

and habits of industry and economy, he has accu-
mulated an ample competence, owning 500 acres of
land and other propertj'. He has been a liberal and
indulgent father, and now in his declining years, he
and his estimable wife look with pride upon their
sons and daughters, who do honor to their name.
Among the pioneers and prominent citizens of
Henry County, few are better known and none
more highly respected than James C. Green.

ylLLIAM LA
residing on
Henry Co.,

(^ j^ILLIAM LAUDER is a prominent farmer
section 25, Scott Township,
Iowa. From Scotland eme-
nated the ancestry of our subject on both sides, but
they have been citizens of the United States for
more than three-quarters of a centurj', and three
generations have been born under its flag. Alex-
ander Adair was the maternal, and William Lauder
the jjaternal grandfather of our subject, both
families coming to this country about the same
time, Mr. Lauder settling in Schenectady County,
N. Y., and the Adairs in Montgomery County, in
the same State. James Lauder, father of our sub-
ject, was the eldest born in that family, he being
but an infant in arms when the voyage from Scot-
land to America was made.

Both the grandparents on the Adair side lived
and died in Montgomery County. Their children
were: Jane, the mother of our subject; Jeannette,
John and Alex. The sons were both married, but
died soon afterward, John leaving two daughters,
consequently the Adair name from this branch of
the family has ceased to exist. Jeannette became
the wife of Robert Little, a resident farmer of
Southeastern Michigan, near Ypsilanti ; Jane became
the wife of James Lauder, and from this date the
history proper of the familj' can be reliably traced.
William Lauder, the grandfather of our subject,
was the father of five children — James, John, Will-
iam, David and Mary. The parents botli lived and
died in Schenectady County, and their children all
married and reared families, but none are now
living with the exception of Mary, who wedded
John Robinson, of Ohio. James Lauder became
the husband of Jane Adair, and the farm he pur-

f

i*

600

HENRY COUNTY.

i'

chased was iu Florida Township, Montgomery Co.,
N. Y., upon which they lived until his death, which
occurred thirteen years after the birth of his son
William. Three daughters and two sons graced
their union, namely : Jane, now a resident of
Amsterdam, N. Y., is the widow of James H.
Merry ; Ann became the wife of W. D. M. Condon,
a well-known resident of Mt. Union, Henry County:
Jeannette resides in Denver, Col.; John, wedded
to Ann Bowman, became a resident farmer of
Norton Mills, Ontario Co., N. Y., and at his death
in 1885, left one heir, a son John, who is also
married, and resides on the home farm; William
was the youngest of the family. The mother of our
subject made her home with her eldest daughter
during her lifetime.

William Lauder, the subject of this sketch, was
born in Montgomery County, N. Y.,Nov. 13, 1833.
Reared on a farm and educated in the district
schools, he grew to manhood with a practical
education, and a perfect phj'sical organization, and
thus the foundation was laid for a successful busi-
ness life. His marriage to Miss Prudence Butler
was celebrated Feb. 22, 1854. Prior to this he had
purchased the homestead, but after their marriage
the young couple removed to Michigan, and later
to Knox County, 111., near Galesburg, and in
November, 1856, their removal was made to Henry
Count}', Iowa, Mr. Lauder locating in Scott Town-
ship, on the east half of the southeast quarter of
section 36. Upon this he erected a frame house,
which still stands. The land was in a virgin con-
dition, and before he left this farm it was all
placed under cultivation. It is needless to enumer-
ate the hardships and toil of the life of a pioneer
farmer. Suffice it to say, that his energy, with the
encouragement and aid of a true wife, have brought
him and his a fitting reward. Mr. Lauder purchased
his present homestead May 1, 1865. The first
eighty acres have grown into 375, a half section of
which is comprised in his farm in Scott Township.
Their r()umy house was completed in 1879, and the
large barn and out-buildings testify to the thrift of
the owner.

Their home has been blessed by the birth of
eight children, all living except the eldest daughter,
Florence, who was born in Illinois. They are:
-<* ■

Schuyler E. ; William J., husband of Viola Lagel;
they having one son, Walter. These two sons
reside in Moscow County, Ore., and are owners
of a sheep ranch. Nettie, wife of Frank Edgerton,
a farmer of Riverton, Fremont Co., Iowa, has one
son, AVillie; May A., Charles E., Carrie and Gene-
vieve complete the family, all of whom are at
home. Charles E. is completing his education at
the Iowa Wesleyan University, in Mt. Pleasant,
with the expectation of graduating later in law.
All the children have been carefully educated.
The daughter. May, is an artist of note in the
neighborhood, and her productions, both in oil and
crayon, give ample proof of her talent. Both ]Mr.
and Mrs. Lauder are members of the Winfield
Presbyterian Church, of which their daughters are
also members.

We now present a brief history of the ancestry
of Mrs. Lauder. She was born in Montgomery
County, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1835, and is a daughter
of Jeremiah M. and Ruth (Gates) Butler. He was
of Irish-American nationality, his wife of German
origin, remotely connected with Gen. Gates of
Revolutionary fame. Jeremiah Butler had one
brother, James, who wedded Mary Bell, of Mont-
gomer}' County, N. Y. They had several children,
all dying young, except two, Daniel C. and John.
Jeremiah and Ruth Butler were parents of five
children : William H., husband of Mrs. Lizzie
(Seaton) Reed, whose brothers are noted men, one
being a General in the Canadian army; William H.
resides in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, a verj'
wealthj' retired gentleman ; Prudence is the wife of
William Lauder; Polly wedded Wilson Duncan,
of Scotch ancestry, a resident of Council Bluffs,
and for many years a business man of that cit^';
Hannah E., deceased, was the wife of William Peck,
who died in the army, and afterward of Ezra
Swiekard, who still lives in Council Bluffs, and his
youngest son, Charles Edward, is a member of
William Lauder's family; Jeremiah M., the hus-
band of Mary Wood, resides in Neola, Pottawat-
tamie Countj', and was for many j'ears a prominent
Justice of the Peace, marrying man}' couples who
were descendants of the original pioneers.

Mrs. Lauder is a lady of culture and taste, and
their home is noted for its hospitality. She is a

5E^--^^\.

^^K

^ ii

X

'L

^^^ W^T'

S. p. Ratliff.

^

HENRY COUNTY.

603

near relative of Attorney General Benjamin F.
Butler, who served during the administration of
President Van Buren, and is also distantly related to
the celebrated Gen. Benjamin F. Butler. The mother
of the husband of the eldest daughter, Jeannette,
is a second cousin of Jeff Davis, President of the
Confederacy. The courtesj' of the old settler is
yet a characteristic trait in William Lauder, and
stranger or friend alii<e find a cordial welcome. In
easy circumstances, with a pleasant home, children
who do honor to the name and example of their
parents, and with grandchildren prattling around
their knees, this worthy couple are envLably situ-
ated.

'iri?<

^■V.'/r ',.'/■ ,7^ r'iV.f'^

^^ AMU EL p. RATLIFFE was born in Ran-
^^ dolph County, N. C, March 16, 1813, and
%M_^ is the son of Joshua and Letitia (Prevo)
Ratliffe. The ancestors of the Ratliffe
family are of Scotch and Welsh origin. William,
the great-grandfather of our subject, came with his
family from England, settling near Elizabeth City,
N. C, prior to the war of the Revolution. He was one
of the men who purchased a large tract of land in
North Carolina, of the P^nglish Crown, thirteen
miles .square. After the settlement upon this land
by the familj^ William engaged in seafaring, own-
ing several vessels playing between England and
America, one of which he commanded in person.
During one of his trips his death occurred, and his
men favored throwing his body overboard, but his
faithful negro servant prevented it, and the body
was brought to the United States and interred at
Elizabeth City. On the same vessel his wife re-
turned to England to settle the estate, and neither she
nor the vessel was ever heard of again. Thomas,
his son, the grandfatlier of our subject, was thus
left an orphan. Upon reaching manhood he mar-
ried Catherine Bundy. Their cliildren, nine in
number, were named Joshua, Benjamin, Ephraim,
Phineas, Margaret, Asa, Elizabeth, Sarah and Han-
nah, all now deceased. Joshua, the father of our
subject, was born in North Carolina. Thomas
Ratliffe, with the other children, all minors, after
the death of their parents were cared for by resi-
dents of the locality until their estate was disposed

of. He, with Cornelius, Richard and two daugh-
ters, comprised the family, and the sons later
removed to Indiana and died, and were buried in
that State. One of the daughters married William
Newby, who subsequently died in Indiana. Joshua
married Letitia Prevo, a daughter of Samuel and
Rachel (Gibson) Prevo, of French nationality.
They probably came from the Island of Guern.sey,
but this is not authentic. Samuel Prevo was a son
of Sir Robert Prevo, who was engaged in some of
the reformatory wars which proved unsuccessful.
His death.occurred in England, and his son Samuel
came to America, and in Lancaster County, Pa.,
wedded Rachel Gibson, and they emigrated to
North Carolina. They were the parents of several
children, and several of the sons, as they became
old enough, participated in the war of the Revolu-
tion. John, Samuel and Alexander were among
these, but James and Asa were too young to be of
service, but the elder brothers held commissions in
the army. The daughters were Mary, Letitia and
Rachel, the latter dying in infancy. The parents
lived and died in North Carolina. Letitia w.as the
mother of our subject, and removed with the
family to Wayne County, lud., locating there in
1H21. The parents of Mr. Ratliffe, with their
children, started from Indiana for Henrj' County,
Iowa, but the father died just as they got loaded
up ready to start. After his burial the family, as
soon as legal forms could be complied with, separated,
but finally all came to this county. Their children
were Ruth, Mary, Hannah, Thomas, Samuel P.,
Ephraim B., Joseph B. and Emily L. The mother
and son Thomas afterward returned to Hendricks
County, Ind., where both died. Hannah, Emily
and Joseph died unmarried; Ruth became the wife
of David Hiatt; Mary wedded Robert Price;
Thomas married Jane Small, and Ephraim wedded
Annie Small, in Rush County, Ind., Dec. 12, 1836.
Samuel P. Ratliffe, our subject, was wedded to
Mary Hobson in Salem, Iowa, in July, 1839. She
was the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Gibbs)
Hobson, who were early settlers of this county.
Samuel P. had taken a claim east of his brother
Ephraim, and their first experience in married life
was had in a shanty far worse than a pole cabin.
The house was not yet completed when the first

•►-*-*

4-

604

HENRY COUNTY.

snowstorm came. This shanty was built by nailing
sheeting-boards to posts set in the ground, but these
afforded but little protection from the inclement
weather. The first visitor that came to the shanty
was a lean, gaunt wolf, and these brutes often
prowled about the place in the night-time. A
neighbor of Mr. Ratliffe gave him a dog, but the
acquaintance between the cur and his owner was
far from confiding, and when his master urged him
to chase the hungry wolves, the hound would crawl
under the shanty and howl. Soon, however, the new
frame house was completed, and the greater part of
the winter of 1839 was spent in it. After fairlj'
opening his new farm, Mr. Ratliffe sold it and pur-
chased a claim in Keokuk County, near timber.
This he entered and improved, but three years
later returned to Henry County and purchased his
present farm on section 32, Jackson Township,
which has been his home to date. Eleven children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ratliffe : Emily,
married to Joseph Hiatt, is the mother of Albert.
Samuel and Minnie, the latter being educated at
Whittier College and graduating at the Normal
School, has taught twelve consecutive terms of
school in this and other counties, and during the
winter of 1887 taught school in District No 7, Jack-
son Township. Albert, Mr. Ratliflfe's eldest son, was
a volunteer soldier, and belonged to Company E,
14th Iowa Infantry, and died of disease while in
camp at St. Louis; George died in childhood;
William, unmarried, was three years a soldier in
the 30th Illinois Infantry, and passed unharmed
through some of the most desperately fought bat-
tles of the war; Tamar is the wife of J. H. Taylor,
of Red Oak, Iowa, a prosperous farmer; Thomas,
also a farmer, resides in the same neighborhood,
and is the husband of Alice McAllister; he is a
student of Whittier College, and taught school for
several j'ears in Montgomery- County, Iowa. Mary
L. became the wife of Joel Stewart, a farmer of
Richland, Keokuk Co., Iowa; Laura is the wife of
A.J.Butler, of Sherman County, Kan.; Oscar is
unmarried and resides at Red Oak; Huldah married
James Hall, a resident farmer of Sherman Countj',
Kan.; and Charles died unmarried, at the age of
twenty-two years. Mrs. Ratlifife died March 3,
1874. Her husband has remained true to her niem-
-^

ory, and has for his housekeeperiis daughter, Mrs.
Hiatt, who in the care of her aged father, now an
invalid, finds an opportunity to repay in part the
attention given her when a favorite daughter under
the paternal roof.

Fortj^-eight years spent in this county, wth their
toil and care, have whitened the hair of our subject,
and made him an aged man. His congenialit}' has,
however, not diminished, and his pioneer friends of
the earl}- daj's still find pleasure in his companion-
ship. An old and well-known citizen, he has in a
marked degree the respect of his friends and neigh-
bors, and not only they but future generations will
look with interest upon his portrait, which we take
pleasure in presenting as the fit embellishment of
this sketch.

<ji| OHN C. BOWMAN, a dairyman and farmer
I residing on section 21, Center Township,
I Henry Co., Iowa, was born in Warren,
(^j) Trumbull Co., Ohio, July 13, 1835, and is a
son of John and Zilpah (Hull) Bowman, now resi-
dents of California. He came with his parents to
Mt. Pleasant in 1844, when but a lad of nine years,
was educated at Farr's private school at that place,
and was married, Jan. 7, 1862, to Miss Eliza A.
Saunders, daughter of Presley Saunders, the founder
of Mt. Pleasant. She was educated at Howe's
Academy, at Mt. Pleasant, her instructor being the
same person who taught Gen. John Sherman and
Chief Justice Ch.ose. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman are
the parents of three living children : Flora S., wife
of Charles A. INIcCloud, of York, Neb.; Roscoe
P., who was one of the pioneer settlers of Greeley
County, Kan., mairied Emma Laird, of Mt. Pleas-
ant, and has one son, Barney: Myrtle E. died at the
age of five; Everett N. resides at home. In 1864
Mr. Bowman went to Petaluma, Cal., where he was
engaged in the hardware trade, being also interested
in the gas works, he putting in gas works in manj-
of the towns and principal residences. Remaining
in California until 1882, he then returned to Henry
County, since which time he has been eng.aged in
farming. Mrs. Bowman is a member of the Chris-
tian Church, and there her family attends. This

4

HENRY COUNTY.

605

worthy couple have always beeu identified with the
improvements and public enterprises of the county,
and Mr. Bowman, politically a Eepublican, is always
ready to aid in the advancement of his party's
interests.

John Bowman, Sr., was born in Sharon, Mercer
Co., Pa., Dec. 25, 1802, and in that county grew
to manhood, receiving a liberal education. He
married Zilpah Hull, daughter of Besharaand Rhoda
Hull, the former a Captain in the Revolutionary
War. John Bowman, of this sketch, has one
brother, James, of Mercer County, Pa. Nine chil-
dren have been born to this worthy couple, six of
whom are j'et living; Besharer, who died in San
Fr.ancisco, Cal., was the husband of Lillie Baldwin,
by whom he had one child, Jennie ; Rhoda, wife of
Henry C. Saunders, resides in Mt. Pleasant, and has
a family of six children, two of whom died in infancy ;
those living are Monte, Oua, Frank and Anna;
Frank M., of Walla Walla, Wash. Ten, married
Belle Dodson, who died, leaving one child who
is now dead, and he was again married, to Ella Mc-
Cash, three children gracing their union — Bell
Willie and Charles. John C, a resident of Henry
County, married Miss Eliza A. Saunders; Philo
Newton resides in Petaluma, Cal. ; Anna, deceased
wife of Frank Jacobs, of Ohio, was the mother of
one child, now dead; Jerome F., of Walla Walla,
Wash. Ter., married Josephine Cameron, and to
them four children have been born ; Henry C. mar-
ried Jennie Pugh, and to them has been born one
child, a daughter.

In 1844 Mr. Bowman came to Mt. Pleasant, where
he embarked in the hatter's trade, his principal bus-
iness being among the Friends who wore tall white
hats, but he always kept the latest styles of hats in
stock. In 1846, having sold out that business, he
purchased and became the proprietor of the Eagle
Hotel, which he kept until 1851, but selling out
during that year, he removed to West Union, Fay-
ette Co., Iowa, and there purchased a farm of 160
acres on which he remained three years, then returned
to INIt. Pleasant, and engaged in the dry -goods busi-
ness until 1866, when he removed to Petaluma, Cal.,
where he continued to reside until his death, which
occurred Dec. 1, 1887. In politics he formerly
voted with the Whigs, but subsequently was a

Republican. He was a man of good business abil-
ity, a great Bible student, and a member of the
Christian Church, to which his wife also belonged.
They stood high in the community where they
resided and were greatly esteemed wherever they
were known.

-<vw -\*aizc/©^@^

.gj.®/OT7»>~ •vw-

eHRISTIAN WENGER, a farmer residing on
section 10, Jefferson Township, was born in
Switzerland in 1833, and is a son of Chris-
tian and Mary (Roth) Wenger. In 1862 he became
a citizen of Washington County, Iowa, his father at
that time being a man of limited means, who had
worked hard in Canada to make a home. He
reared a large familj', and his descendants are
worthy and most highly respected.

Christian Wenger was married in this county to
Elizabeth Goldsmith, in 1850, and at that time he
had only money enough to buy what was needed to
furnish his home, .and pay the wedding expenses.
His first fanning w.is done in Washington County
on rented land, and the next year he purchased 100
acres, going in debt for the whole amount, $1,600.
Eight years he remained on that tract, paid for it
and saved $1,000 moi-e, with which he bought the
eighty acres on which he now resides. From 1 858
he has accumulated, by the hardest labor, 605 acres
in this county, and the same farm in Washington
County, upon which his first start in life was made.
Mr. Wenger knows what hard times are, having sold
wheat for forty cents, taking one-half in trade, hogs
for $2, and corn by the thousands of bushels, at
fifteen cents per bushel. His lands were bought at
from $20 to $40 per acre, and the farms averaged
$33 per acre. He began to raise stock soon after
he commehced farming, but the first two years he
had not enough to sell to pay the interest on his
debts. Now all this is changed ; on one of the best
farms in the township he has erected fine buildings,
and his farm almost resembles a village in itself
from the number of barns and out-buildings, and
the brick mansion was erected in 1875. Mr. Wen-
ger is a large breeder of horses, and now owns thirty
head. His stallions are all imported and are four
in number, three of them prize winners. They are

■► II ^«

606

HENRY COUNTY.

valued at 16,000. Prefer, a four-year-old gray,
took at the exposition in France, when one year
old, the gold medal, which Mr. Wenger has in his
possession. Duke, a Clyde stallion, likewise took
the medal in Canada, from which place Mr. Wenger
brought him. In fact, he is owner of more fine
stallions than any farmer in Henry County.

Mr. AVenger is the largest land -owner, and the
heaviest taxpa3'er in Jefferson Township, which is
saying much for a man who came a few years ago
from Switzerland without a dollar, and his sons are
rapidly developing into the best of business men.
A new daughter was recently welcomed into tlie
family, Katie Henss, who wedded Joseph, the eld-
est son, mention of whom is elsewhere made.

To complete the history of the family, we add
the sketch of Joseph Goldsmith, the father of Mrs.
Wenger. Rev. Joseph Goldsmith was one of the
first ministers of the Mennonite faith in Iowa, and
was the second in Lee, and the first in this county
to organize a church. The Trenton Church is made
mention of in the sketch of the Rev. Sebastian
Gerig, and no man was more widely known in this
part of the State, during his lifetime, than Rev.
Goldsmith. For more than a half century he was
an active and faithful member in the cause of re-
ligion, much of which time was spent as an itinerant
minister. In Canada West he began preaching,
having united with the church in Lancaster County,
Pa. Both himself and his wife were born in
Germany, were married in Lancaster County,
Pa., and were the parents of twelve children, of
whom one is now deceased. Elizabeth Miller be-
came the wife of Joseph Goldsmith in 1823,
and for fifty-three years she was to him a lov-
ing and devoted wife. The death of Rev. Joseph
Goldsmith occurred in April, 187G; his widow, yet
surviving, is now in her eighty-first j'ear. The
family first left Pennsylvania and located in Canada;
from thence they removed to Butler County, Ohio.
From that county and State they came to Iowa,
making first a home in Lee County, settling there
in the spring of 1837. The last residence of the
family was in Trenton Township. The Rev. Gold-
smith made a fine farm in Lee County, placing
every stick upon it, and erected fine buildings.

As the children grew to maturity, they aided
■^«

largely in the work. The farm in Trenton Town-
ship was partly improved, and the removal made in
the spring of 1845. Their children were named:
John, now husband of Barbara Slonecher; Cath-
erine, who wedded Joseph Oxlenger, of Butler
County, Ohio, is the only child deceased; Lydia
yet unmarried, resides with her widowed mother at
Wayland; Benjamin married Martha Houder. and
resides in Trenton ; Joseph married Magdalene Kin-
singer, and resides in Butler County; Elizabeth is
the wife of Christian Wenger, Sr. ; Christian is
married, and resides in Butler County, Ohio; Peter
married Eva Summers, and resides near Cheyenne,
Wyo. ; Jacob married Lena Schontz, and resides
in Wayne Township, Henry County; Nancy mar-
ried Michael Roth, a resident of Jefferson Town-
ship; Magdalene is the wife of Rev. Sebastian
Gerig, whose history appears elsewhere in tills
work; Fannie is the wife of Rev. Joseph Gen-
gerich, of Johnson County, Iowa.

aKtfitf-»-

-*

W

r/ILLIAM HARRIS, residing on section 28,
Center Township, Henry Co., Iowa, is a

farmer and stock-raiser, and was born in
Devonshire, England, on the 24th day of September,
1840. His parents were Tliomas and Maria (Weeks)
Harris, both of whom were also natives of Devon-
shire, England. They emigrated to America in
ISfiO, settling in Stephenson County, III., subse-
quently removing to Olmsted County, Minn., locat-
ing near Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Harris were the
parents of nine children, six of whom are now
living — Samuel, William, Thomas, John, Rosa E. and
Maurice. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Harris are still
living, and are members of the Seventh-Day Ad-
ventist Church.

The subject of this sketch was but ten years old
when his parents came to this county, and received
but a conmion-school education. William Harris
was united in marriage with Miss Estella A. Pierce,
in Olmsted County, Minn., Dec. 30, 1869. She
was born in Washington County, Vt., Jul^' 27,
1850, and is the daughter of Stephen and Almira
(Tarbcll) Pierce, both of whom were natives of
Cavendish, Vt. Mr. Pierce wiis a stonemason by

-4«-

HENRY COUNTY.

607

trade, and helped to build the capitol at Mont-
pelier, Vt:, Augusta, Me., and also the forts of
Boston Harbor. INIr. and Mrs. Pierce were the par-
ents of three children : Benjamin T. died at the
age of eighteen; Oliver W. died when thirtj'-two
3'ears of age. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce removed from
Vermont to Mower County, Minn., in 1865. From
there they came to Henry County, Iowa, in De-
cember, 1874. He was a Seventh-Day Adventist,
sometimes preaching for that church, and always
taking an active interest in the church work. On
the 21st day of September, 1883, in Dakota, Mr.
Pierce was called to his last rest.

Mr. and Mrs. Harris stand high in the com-
munity where they live, and have the respect of all.
They are the parents of four cliildren : Maria E.
was born Sept. 25, 1870; Laura was born Dec. 6,
1871; Hattie R. was born .Jan. 2G, 1875; Howard
W. was born Dec. 10, 1879.

^^EORGE W. McADAM, senior proprietor.

G

I <^t7 '^"^^ editor of the Mt. Pleasant Journal,
^^ was born in Cadiz, Harrison Co., Ohio,
Nov. 2, 1832, and is a son of James and Nancy
(McDowell) McAdam, the former a native of Ire-
land, who came with his parents to this countrj'
when an infant. James McAdam was a farmer,
living the greater part of his life after coming to
this country near Cadiz, where be died in 1858, at
the age of fifty-six. His death was the result of
an accident, his team running awaj' with a loaded
wagQn, and in the attempt to stop them he was
thrown under the wheels and the horses' feet, and
was instantly killed. His wife Nancy survived him
many years, dying at the age of seventy-three.
They were the parents of eight children, all but
one of whom are now living. They are named :
Samuel, now a farmer in Muskingum County, Ohio;
Eliza, deceased, who was the wife of George
Roberts, of Cadiz, Ohio; W. Morelaud, who lives
on the old homestead in Ohio; H. Parks, a minis-
ter of the Presbyterian Church, residing in Utica,
N. Y. ; Jennie, nho has been twice married, and is
now the wife of John Knox, a farmer of Cadiz.

Ohio; Sally unmarried, and living in the old home
with her brother; James, a resident of Mt. Pleas-
ant, Henry Co., Iowa; and George W., our subject,
who was third in order of birth. Until he was
twenty years of age the latter lived ou a farm, but
at that time entered Franklin College, whence he
graduated in 1857 with the honors of his class,
being the valedictorian. After teaching for a time,
he entered the Theological Seminary at Allegheny
College, where he completed a theological course,
and for two years was engaged in preaching in the
United Presbyterian Church. In 1864 Mr. Mc-
Adam removed to Newark, Ohio, and became the
publisher of the American, of that place. In
186G he removed to Iowa, locating at Mt. Pleasant,
Henry County, where for the ensuing two j'ears he
was engaged in the clothing trade. Retiring from
this business, he in 1869 associated himself with
his brother-in-law, Frank Hatton, in the publication
of the Mt. Pleasant Journal. The latter subse-
quently became well known in National affairs,
having as Postmaster General been a member of
President Arthur's Cabinet. He is now editor of
the New York Press, an ablj^ conducted Repub-
lican journal. In May, 1874, Mr. McAdam bought
Mr. Hatton's interest, and conducted the paper
alone for a time; and for a short period thereafter
had a partner. Jan. 1, 1880, he sold a portion of
his interest in the Journal to his present asso-
ciate, John W. Palm, the fii-m being McAdam &
Palm since that date.

For twelve years Mr. McAdam held the position
of Postmaster of Mt. Pleasant, being appointed in
April, 1874; for six years he was a member of the
School Board of the city, and in every position to
which he has been called he has borne the reputa-
tion of an upright and conscientious official.

On May 12, 1864, Mr. McAdam was married to
Miss Carrie Hatton, who was born in Cadiz, Ohio,
March 17, 1842, and is a daughter of Richard Hat-
ton, one of the best-known newspaper men of Ohio,
and for fourteen years editor of the Cadiz Repub-
lican, one of the most influential papers of East-
ern Ohio. Mrs. McAdam was educated at the
Steubenville (Ohio) Female Seminary, and is a lady
of culture, who well sustains the reputation of the
gifted family from which she is descended. The

-^-

f

608

■•►

f

HENRY COUNTY.

union of Mr. and Mrs. McAdam has been blessed
with three children — Frank H., Richard H. and
Jessie.

During the more than twenty years that the sub-
ject of this sketch has been a resident of Henry
County, he has ever borne the reputation of a thor-
oughly honest and trustworthy man, and has ac-
quired the confidence and respect of its citizens,
with a majority of whom he has been brought into
contact in his official, business and private relations.

-4^1^^-^

TSSQiT

WilLLIAM L. HAMILTON, residing on sec-
tion 24, Canaan Township, Heni-y Co.,
Iowa, was born in Clermont County, Ohio,
May 31, 1817. He is a son of William Brice and
Sabina (McJIichael) Hamilton. His father was
born in Pennsylvania of Scotch descent, and was a
soldier in the War of 1812. Mrs. Hamilton was of
Irish jjarentage.

William Hamilton was left in charge of an uncle
and aunt, James H. and Margaret Gates, at the
death of his mother, which occurred when he was
but six years old. He remained with them until
nearly twenty-one years of age, when he engaged
to teach a district school in his native county. He
taught for nine months, during which lime he laid
up enough money with which to enter Carey's
Academy, situated near Cincinnati. Attending one
terra Mr. Hamilton then went to Clermont Acad-
emy, near New Richmond on the Ohio River. He
attended school there for several terms, teachiu"- in
his vacations in order to raise money to p.ay the
tuition. Completing his education he engaged in
teaching for eleven years, but lu's health failing him
he was obliged to give this up, and so purchased a
small farm. Mr. Hamilton then, during the sum-
mer time, took chiirgeof the farm, but in the winter
again taught school. In the spring of 1856 he
emigrated to Iowa, settling at Mt. Pleasant, where
he lived a short time, and then rented a farm on
which he resided for two years. In the spring of
18.5!) Mr. Hamilton purcliased forty acres of un-
improved laud on section 24, Canaan Township.
This has been his home ever since, and he has

added to his possessions until he now o^vns 120
acres, comprising one of the best farms in that sec-
tion of the county.

Mr. Hamilton was married, in 1842, to Eliza Ann
Duncan, a native of Maysville, Ky., and a daughter
of Ennis and Hester (Bloxsora) Duncan, Kentucky
being also their native State. Mr. and Mrs. Ham-
ilton have been the parents of seven children:
William E., now President of Simpson College at
Indianola, Iowa, is a graduate of Mt. Pleasant Uni-
versity ; Eliza Jane, also a graduate of the Wesleyan
University at Mt Pleasant, is the wife of Rev. Ed-
ward H. Sawers, now pastor of a church at Wilton
Grove, Ontario, Canada; Mary, residing at home;
Melissa, who is engaged as a teacher in the graded
schools of Panama, Iowa; Charles Wesley-, who
died when only nineteen months old; James K.
died at the age of five years; .John Bloxsom, who
died while yet an infant nineteen months old. Mr.
Hamilton and wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. He united with the church
over half a century ago, and has always been instru-
mental in the building of churches, and aids largely
in church work. For forty years he has been a
local preacher in that faith.

Among the prominent pioneer settlers of Canaan
Township, we are pleased to mention the name of
William L. Hamilton, who is ona of the best known
anil most highly respected citizens of Henry County.
Politically, he is a Republican. His son, W. E.,
was a soldier in the war for the Union, a member
of the 45th Iowa Volunteer Infantry.

-~v^~vt2Ci2.>©-^^

©t-SJ/ZJSZ^^-vw-

ARTLEY M. SAUNDERS, an honored pio-
neer of Heur^' County, Iowa, of 18.'i9, was
born in Claiborne County, Tenn. His par-
ents were of Scotch-Irish descent, and origi-
nally- from Maryland. They botii came to Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa, in 1839, and died in this city. Our
subject was married in his native count}' to Miss
Annie Caulk, and three children were born to them,
a sou and two daughters: llcnrv C, now a prt)mi-
neut real-estate agent of Mt. I'lo.asant; Angeline,
residing !it Lincoln, Neb., and Amanda M., widow
of Israel Putnam, also of Lincoln, Neb. Mr. ISaun-

i

HENRY COUNTY.

609

ders was a farmer and merchant. lie left Tennes-
see in earlj' life, resided for awhile in Virginia and
Georgia, and removed to Georgetown, Vermilion
Co., III., in the pioneer days of that region. In
1839 he emigi-ated to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he
passed the remainder of his days. Mr. and Mrs.
Saunders were consistent members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church from early life. Mr. (Saunders
was an old-line Democrat of the Jackson type, and
never swerved from a firm belief in the correctness
of the doctrines taught h}- Jefferson and Jackson.
He was an upright, honorable man, of earnest con-
viction and correct habits, and his memory is kindly
cherished by his old-time comrades of pioneer days.

JOHN T. SHANE, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, is
numbered with tlie pioneers of 1845. He
was born in Fayette Count3', Pa., March 13,
1825, and is the son of George and Mary
(Tuttle) Shane, the former a native of Maryland
and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were married
in Fayette County, Pa., and reared a family of six
children, all dead except our subject. His father
died in 1852 and his mother in 1833. On the
death of his mother John was placed in the faniil}'
of Hiram Hughes, with whom he remained until he
was fifteen years of age, when he went to Browns-
ville, where he was employed on a farm, and later
upon the pikes in that vicinity. In the fall of 1 840
he went to Beaver, Pa., and had the pleasure of
hearing Gen. Harrison, who was then a candidate
for President, make a speech. In the fall of 1844
he went to Steubenville, Ohio, and in 1845 came to
Henry County, Iowa, where he has since continued
to reside, and for some time was engaged in black-
smithing.

On the 24th day of September, 184G, Mr. Shane
was united with Miss Margaret Jack, a daughter of
Milton H. and Elizabeth (Smith) Jack, and a native
of Tennessee. There were three children in her
father's family : Mary, who married L. W. Bus-
sey, now deceased, and who resides in Washington
County, Ark. ; Amanda, wife of Patterson Martin,
of Mahaska County, Iowa; and Mrs. Shane. Her
mother died in 1826 and her father in 1827. Mrs.

■^«

Shane came to Henrj^ County in 1841 in company
with an uncle, John Tolle, who located in New
Loudon Township, but who, in 1843, removed to
Mt. Pleasant, at that time but a small village.
Mrs. Shane well remembers being in Keokuk when
there was not a church in the place, the first class-
meeting being held at the house of the friend she
was visiting.

Mr. and Mrs. Shane are the parents of five living
children: George M., now in Arkansas, was a sol-
dier in- the regular army over seven years ; Sarah J.,
wife of John Crabb, resides in this county; Margaret
E., wife of Morcland Ritchie, also resides in this
county; John W. W., of Mt. Pleasant; and Philip
E., in railroad service in the Indian Nation.

In 1861 Mr. Shane enlisted in Company C, 4th
Iowa Cavalry, under command of Capt. Beckwith.
He was mustered in at Camp Harlan and partici-
pated in the first battle of Jackson, Miss., was in
the siege and capture of Vicksburg, second battle of
Jackson and the battle of Canton, Miss. After the
last engagement in company with the regiment, he
went to Vicksburg, veteranized and returned home.
On his way home he caught a severe cold, and
starting back to camp after the expiration of his
furlough he grew worse, was examined at Keokuk,
sent to the hospital, and was subsequently discharged

In 1852 Mr. Shane crossed the plains and was
four months in making the trip to Salem, Ore.,
where he engaged as a laborer, but in the fall
started to the mines. The snow falling blocked
the way, and he in company with others, was com-
pelled to remain in the valley till the following
spring. He arrived in the mines March 4, 1853,
where he remained till September, 1854, engaged
in mining. While in the valley in the winter of
1852-53, he paid $1 per pound for flour, and for
poor meat thirty-five cents per pound ; for board,
$4.50 per day. The sufferings of the company
were terrible, and some of their number dug up the
feet of cattle that had been killed in the fall, that
they might pick the flesh from the bones. Leaving
the mines in the fall of 1854, he returned home by
water, by way of New Orleans, thence down the
river to Burlington.

The fathers of both Mr. and Mrs. Shane were in
the War of 1812, the father of Mrs. Shane being

-► ■— <

f

■•►

610

HENRY COUNTY.

wounded in the hip, carrying the bullet to his grave.
Mr. Shane came to Henry County a poor young
man, and while not numbered among the more
wealthy, fortune has yet favored him. He has a
comfortable home in the city, with twelve acres of
land, together with eighty acres on section 7. To-
gether with his good wife, he enjoys the respect and
confidence of friends and neighbors among whom
they have lived for more than forty years.

#>#

-^*>-

/^JEORGE S. GASS, who for the past four
ll( ,-_ years has filled the office of Treasurer of
^^^ Henry Countj-, was born in Gallia County,
Ohio, March 12, 1838, and is a son of Elias and
Pernielia (Topping) Gass. His father and mother
were born and reared in Greene Count}-, Pa., of
which county his parents were also both natives.
They were residents of Ohio for about sixteen
years, when he returned to Pennsylvania. There
the mother died, the father coming to Iowa with
our subject and dying in Mt. Pleasant in 188f).
His father's people were old residents of the State,
and his mother's had originally come from New
Jersey.

The subject of this sketch remained at home
until he was twenty years of age, when he went to
Washington County, Pa.; from there he went to
Illinois and from there to Columbia, Ark., where
he was at the breaking out of the war of the Re-
bellion. He returned North, and wishing to give
his services to his country, he enlisted Aug. 1,
1861, in the Ringgold Cavalry, an independent
company which afterward saw much active service
until after the close of the war, not being mustered
out until the last of October, 1865. Successive
promotions had raised Mr. Gass to tlie rank of First
Lieutenant, and he made an honorable record as a
brave and gallant soldier. During the war the
companj' was merged into other organizations, and
at the time it was mustered out w:is a part of the
3d Provisional Pcnns3'lvania Cavalry. Its service
was principally with the army of West Virginia,
and took part in all the hard-fought battles and
skirmishes in the vallej' of the Shenandoah, the
theatre of the hardest cavalry service of the entire

war. It did general cavalry duty under Gen. Phil

Sheridan, with all that implies, scouting, skirmish-
ing, fighting and raiding. Under Gen. Shields it
took active part in the famous battle of Winchester,
and in all this severe duty Lieut, (lass bore himself
gallautl}'. He returned to his home from the army
in November, 1865, and in the following mouth
came to Iowa, looking for a permanent location.
Being pleased with the country, he settled here in
the spring of 1866, on a farm near Mt. Pleasant,
where he engaged in farming until he was elected
Treasurer of the county iu 1883.

During his army life he took a furlough and
went home to fill a more agreeable engagement,
and was married on March 22, 1863, in Greene
County, Pa., to Miss Charlotte Morton, daughter
of Robert and Marj- Morton. Mrs. Gass is also a
native of Greene County, and was born in 1845.
The}- are the parents of six children, one of whom,
a daughter named Anna, died at the age of sixteen.
Those now living are — John T., Olive H., Rachel,
William and Harlan, all making their home with
their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Gass are both mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is
also a member of Mystic Lodge No. 55, I. 0. O.
F., and of MeFarland Post No. 20, G. A. R.
Ever since he came of age, Mr. Gass ha.s been a
supporter of the principles of the Republican part}-,
b\- whom he has twice been elected to the respon-
sible office of Treasurer of the count}', the duties
of which he has discharged with fidelity to the in-
terests of the people, and credit to himself. As an
officer and as a private citizen, he has ttie confidence
and esteem of all who know him, and is highly
respected for his integrity of character.

C-*-^ ^

Lodist Episcopal Chur
Iowa of 1815, was b

, EV. M. II. HARE, deceased, a prominent
minister and Presiding Elder of the Jlcth-
irch, and a pioneer of
born in Ross County,
Ohio, Dec. 23, 1818. His parents, Daniel and Sarah
Hare, were natives of Kentucky, who settled in
Ross County, Ohio, in the pioneer days of that
region. The subject of our sketch received his
primary education in the public schools, and com-

^

-V\v.O

■♦-

=L

HENRY COUNTY.

613

pleted his studies at Hillsboro Academy. He
united with the Methodist Episcopal Church when
thirteen years of age. He was engaged in school
teaching, and was married near Hillsboro, Ohio,
Sept. 17, 1840, to Miss Matilda Parkinson. Three
children were born of their union, two of whom
died in childhood; and one son, Joseph, born Jan.
1, 1844, was a soldier of the late war, served as a
member of the 6th Regiment Iowa A^olunteer In-
fantry, and died at Mt. Pleasant, Dec. 4, 1870, from
disease contracted while in the service. Mr. Hare
emigrated to Iowa in 1845, and made his home in
Farmington, Van Buren County. He was a student
of the Scriptures from boyhood, and a zealous
worker in the cause of religion. He was admitted
to the iowa Conference immediately on his arrival
in Iowa, and engaged in ministerial duties in the
Farmington Circuit, which included Keokuk, West
Point, and the region adjacent. Mr. Hare was next
assigned to White Breast Mission, which included
the most of Marion, Monroe and Wapello Coun-
ties, and was very sparsely settled. He labored in
that field one year and was then appointed to New
London Circuit, where he served two years. Mrs.
Hare died Aug. 7, 1849, at the close of the second
year. His next appointment was Keosauqua for
one ye.ar, and then Ft. Des Moines Mission. While
laboring here he visited the new settlements and
arranged appointments over a large scope of coun-
try, taking in all the country then settled between
the Des Moines and Coon Rivers and extending
some sixty miles toward the Missouri River. From
this charge Mr. Hare was sent to Iowa City, then
the capital of the State. The next four years he
was Presiding Elder over the Keokuk District. He
was then appointed to Mt. Pleasant, and served the
church two years at Asbury and one at College
Chapel. In the fall of 1859 he was made Presiding
Elder of the Albia District. At the s.ame Confer-
ence he was elected a delegate to the Gener.al Con-
ference which met in Buffalo, N. Y., in May, 1860.
Mr. Hare was ordained Deacon at Mt Pleasant in
1847, and Elder at Ft. Madison in 1849.

On the outbreak of the great Rebellion he dedi-
cated his services to his country, and by voice and
pen did all he could to sustain the Government.
The war having continued a year and a half he de-

-^a

cided that for him the call for personal service was
imperative, and on Nov. 18, 1862, entered the
Union army as Chaplain of the 36th Iowa Volun-
teer Infantiy. His enthusiasm did much to ani-
mate the men, and he speedily acquired the love
and confidence of the command. His words of
cheer raised the spirits of the despondent, and many
a halting spirit was sustained and helped by his wise
counsels. He, with a large number of his comrades,
was captured at Mark's Mills, Ark., and sent to the
stockade, at Tyler, Tex., where he was confined for
three months, enduring unusual hardships and pri-
vations, and contracting the disease which finally
ended his useful life. He had long been noted as a
singer of the songs of Zion. While preaching it had
been his practice to lead the singing in his church,
both in the pulpit and on the floor, and his sweet
and powerful voice had such an influence over his
hearers that often they listened entranced, each for-
getting his own part, and leaving him to sing alone.
In the prison-pen this gift was exercised to its
utmost to sustain and cheer his fellow-prisoners, and
day after day and night after night the good old
Methodist tunes rang out over the pen, telling of
the better land where all would be reunited. Many
a fellow-prisoner, for whom the last bugle call had
been sounded, passed over the dark river holding
the hand" of his beloved Chaplain, and to whose ear,
dulled bj' the near ai>i)ro.ach of death, the last sound
was the voice of Michael Hare telling of the hap-
pier home beyond the skies, where beyond the great
silence there is peace. Not only inside the stock-
ade but outside did his voice penetrate, and when
it came his turn to be detailed for outside work, as
in bringing in wood, etc., manj' a little present
secretly found its way to his h.and, and was secreted
and kept for the l)enefit of his suffering comrades.
Being exchanged he rejoined his regiment, and
served until the close of the war, being discharged
at Duvall's Bluff, Ark., Aug. 24, 1865, when he
returned to Iowa. He spent the succeeding year
in charge of the old Zion (!:!hurch of Burlington,
and then went to Mt. Pleasant, where he served
one year. Then, in the hopes of improving his
health, he accepted an appointment to the Keokuk
District, where he would have to travel more than
usual. But a mortal disease had fastened upon his

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'i

-f

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t

614

HENRY COUNTY.

system, and he was cut oflf before the close of the
first year, his death occurring July 27, 18G8.

Mr. Hare was united in marriage at Keosauqua,
Iowa, Aug. 3, 1850, to Jliss Hannuh J. T3'lee,
daughter of Edward and Rebecca Tylee. Mrs.
Hare was born in Wayne Count}', Pa. Her father
was born in Vermont, and her mother in Pennsyl-
vania. Seven children were born of their union,
six of whom are living at this writing, three sons
and three daughters: Ella, the eldest child, is the
wife of M. M. Taylor, a prominent merchant of
Tacoma, Wash. Ter., and Treasurer of that city;
Edward R. married Miss Winnifred Beattie, and is
engaged in the clothing business :it Tacoma; Ida
II. is the wife of B. W. Coiner, Prosecuting At-
torney of Tacoma, and a prominent lawyer of that
city; Ma^' has been a teacher of the Mt. Pleasfint
citj' scliools for sever.al 3-ears, anil resides with her
mother in that city ; Harlan T. is a civil engineer, and
at present is in Wisconsin with the Burlington &
Northwestern. He married Miss Mary Furman, of
De Soto, Wis. Charles H. is a dentist, of Knoxville,
Iowa, and is married to Miss May Craddick, of
that cit3'.

Mr. Hare served three terms as Presiding Elder,
twice of the Keoliuli District, and once of the Albia
District, and was Presiding Elder of the Keokuk
District at the time of his deatii. He was elected,
and served as a member of the Board of Trustees
of the Iowa Wesleyan University, from 1850 till his
death, and w.as an influential member of that body.
In his political views he was a Democrat in early
life, but of strong anti-slavery sentiments. On the
formation of the Republican party he joined that
organization, and was a consistent advocate of its
principles during the remainder of his life. He
toolc a warm interest in the cause of temperance,
and while not an extremist in his views did much
toward encour.aging jiublic sentiment in favor of
temperance legislation, and in building up a health-
ful [lopular opinion in opposition to the liquor
trallic. He was patriotic and earnest in the support
of the Goverimient, and sympathised with llie un-
fortun.ate victims of the slavery laws. He was never
fanatical in liis views, but practical and earnest,
so much so that it is said of hiiu tliat any enterprise
or project that Michael H. Hare had endorsed must

be all right, and worthy of favorable consideration.
During the many years that he was associated with
the Iowa Wesleyan University he was a leader in
its management, and aided materiallj' in its devel-
opment and progress. He was prominent in the
affairs of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Iowa,
and his wife's counsel in the settlement of difficul-
ties, or in the advancement of measures, was always
received with respect and consideration. In his
social and domestic relations he was kind, affable
and entertaining. He lived a useful and righteous
life, and died sincerely lamented, not only by those
naturally endeared to him by familj' ties, but by a
host of sincere friends throughout the State. Mrs.
Hare, a lad}' of high social standing, and possessing
many estimable qualities, survives her husband, and
resides at Mt. Pleasant.

An excellent portrait of this worthy minister and
patriot appears on an adjoining page, and will be
regarded with respect and love by the many friends
he has left behind.

1?SRAEL W. MARTIN, a farmer of Canaan
I Township, Henry Co., Iowa, residing un sec-
(ii tion 28, was born in Carroll Count}', Ohio,
July 21, 1837, and is a son of Israel and Sarah
P. (Welker) Martin, both natives of Ohio, he of
Columbiana, she of Stark County. Simeon Martin
was the grandfather of our subject, and his great-
grandfather was .'ilso named Simeon. The latter
resided in Columbiana County, Ohio, and was there
once visited by our subject. Simeon Martin. Sr.,
was a sailor during his earlier j'ears and w:u-i a man
of great information and of a very retentive mem-
ory. His second wife was a Blackburn, lie died
in Columbiana Count}' in his eighty-fifth year.
Simeon Martin, Jr., the grandfather, was a son of
the second marriage. He was a farmer, and m.ar-
ried Ai-hsah Dye, most likely in Meigs County,
Ohio, as her people resided there. They later
removed to Carroll County, Ohio, from Columbi-
ana County, and there resideil during their life-
time. He was a farmer in that county and died in

i

-^

HENRY COUNTY.

615

1847, at the age of fiftj^-three. His wife reached
the extreme age of niuety. Their cliilch-en were ;
Israel, the father of our subject, who married Sarah
P. Wellier; Wesley died unmarried ; Harrison A.
wedded p]Iizabeth Dolvin; Albert S. became the
husband of Mary A. Downs; Matilda wedded
Amasa Shaffer: Eli L. married Catherine Wheador;
Achsah A. first married George W. Worley, and is
now the wife of Robert Jaekman, and Elinor A.,
wife of Adam H. Erskine. After the marriage of
Israel Martin, and also prior to that time, he taught
school and had acquired a fine practical as well as a
technical education. He had mastered surveying,
and was spoken of for the future surveyor of Car-
roll County at the time of his demise, which came
most unexpectedly about six mouths after his mar-
riage. His son, Israel W., was never seen by his
father, who died several months prior to his birth.
Of Israel Martin, Sr., we may say that his was a
life full of promise, which was cut off ere his
twenty-first birthda}' was reached. His widow, true
to his memory, never married again, but gave to
her son a wealth of love and care. His education
was carefully' attended to, and at the age of eight-
een he began teaching. His first school was in the
winter of 1855-56 in Stark County, Ohio, which
was followed by a three years' continuous service
in Carroll County, Ohio.

At the expiration of that time Mr. Martin's
marriage was celebrated, that event occurring June
17, 1859, when Miss Sarah E. Bonbrake became his
wife. She was a daughter of Henry and Sarah
Bonbrake, of Carroll County, Ohio. She was of
American birth but of German origin, and at the
time of her marriage could speak the German or
English languages with equal fluency. Her parents
resided on the farm until the death of the father.
His widow yet lives in Stark County with her
daughter, Letitia Hawkins. Mrs. Bonbrake is the
mother of a large family of children, namely:
Urich, who married Eliza J. Hardin, is a merchant
of Pjureka Springs, Ark. ; Isaac, who was the hus-
band of Elizabeth McDowell, died during the war,
at Murfreesboro, Tenn., at which time he was a
Lieutenant in an Ohio regiment of sharpshooters,
and prior to his enlistment was a merchant of
Waynesburg, Ohio; Lewis had charge of a store at

Waynesburg, Ohio, but died at the age of twenty;
.Samuel, a farmer in Indiana, wedded Carrie Sillan-
ders; Hannah married William Dunlap, and after his
death John Woy, of Decatur, Ind. ; Lydia is the wife
of George W. Jackmiui, of Whiting, Kan.; Lovina
wedded George A. Bowman, of Alliance, Ohio;
Amanda J. died at the age of eighteen; Cora C.
resides with her mother; Ella wedded Harry Kin-
zie ; both were expert telegraph operators, and she
died at their home in La Otto, Ind., in 1880 ; Letitia
C. is the wife of Alvin Hawkins, a farmer of Stark
County, Ohio.

In 1859 Israel W. Martin and hisyoung wife left
their native county, their wedding tour being a
trip to the AVest. They stopped in Illinois and
located in Fulton County, near Le wistown, on a farm,
remaining there until the sirring of 1866. During
the winter season Mr. Martin engaged in teaching,
and spent the summer in farm work. All their chil-
dren were born in Fulton County. They are : Cora
A., wife of D. M. Holland, a farmer of Canaan
Township, who has one son, Clayton M.,now in his
fifth year; Olive M. attended Howe's Academy,
and is now engaged in teaching in this county, and
is an artist of merit; she was a pupil of Miss Pet
AValton, of Mt. Pleasant. Lewis W. finds a home
with his parents on the farm, which is the one first
occupied by them on their arrival in Henry County.
He has received a fine business education atElliott's
Business College at Burlington, but prefers the farm
to all other occupations.

In 1866, Mr. Martin with his family removed to
Henry County and purchased the northeast quarter
of section 28, at that time unimproved. To this he
has added eighty acres, and has made many im-
provements. His mother found a home with him
after his marriage, and her death occurred beneath
his roof in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also
a member of New London Lodge No. 28, A. F. &
A. M., and an ardent Republican, and cast his first
vote for President Lincoln. After coming to Henry
County, the first ten winters were spent by Mr.
Martin in teaching. He was elected Township
Clerk in Illinois, and served in the same position a
number of years after coming to Henry County.
He was the trusted Assessor of Canaan Township T

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t

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616

HENRY COUNTY.

i

for six consecutive years, prior to which he served
as District Township Secretary for a number of
years.

Since becoming residents of this county the fam-
ily have become endeared to all who know them, and
are highly respected in the community.

GEORGE E. FERRIS, of Mt. Pleasant, is one
of the pioneer settlers of Henr}' County,
Iowa, and was born in Devonshire, England,
on the 3ist of March, 1823, and is the son of Ed-
ward and Mary (Knighton) Ferris, both of whom
were also natives of Devonshire. They were the
parents of five children, two sons and three daugh-
ters: Mary, wife of Benjamin Harvey, deceased, is
now residing at Weymouth, ICngl.and; Elizabeth,
who was the wife of Mr. Holmwood, now deceased,
also resides at Weymouth ; Anna, the wife of Charles
Woods, resides at St. Albans, England; George E.,
the subject of this sketch, and William, a resident
of Dawlish, Devonshire, England. Mr. .and Mrs.
Edward Ferris were members of the Congregational
Church in England for many years. Mrs. Ferris
departed this life Jan. 2.5, 1832, her husband sur-
viving her for many years, and dying April 15,
1854.

George E., our subject, received but a common-
school education, being apprenticed at the age of
fifteen to the carpenter trade for six years, in re-
turn for his services receiving only his board. He
was married to Miss Sarah C. Champ, in 1849, who
was the daughter of Samuel R. and Mary (Hooper)
Champ, of Dorsetshire, England. Mr. and Mrs.
Champ were the parents of nine children, eight of
whom are now living: John, of England; Edvvin, a
resident of Montgomery County, Iowa; Alfred,
Stephen, Henry, Frederick, and Mary, wife of Mr.
Wearham, all live in England. Mr. and Mrs.
Champ are members of the Congregational Church.
Mr. Ferris, in 1849, embarked with his young
wife for America in a sailing-vessel, the voyage
lasting seven weeks. He settled at Pittsburgh,
where he remained but a short time, being obliged
to leave on account of sickness, removing to
Brownsville, and three years subsequently removing

to Marion County, W. Va. In the month of April,
1857, he came to Kenry County, working at his
trade until the breaking out of the Rebellion, en-
listing in the 4th Iowa Cavalry Nov. 16, 1861. He
was mustered into service at Camp Harlan. The
following March the regiment was sent to Benton
Barracks at St. Louis and from thence to Rolla, JIo.,
and subsequently to Springfield, Mo. Mr. Ferris
was detailed as assistant nurse at Helena, Ark. On
the 14th of March, 1864, he re-enlisted, serving
until the close of the war, and was discharged Aug.
18, 1865, since which time he has been living in
Mt. Pleasant.

Mr. and Mrs. Ferris are the parents of three liv-
ing children: Mary E., wife of Samuel W. Siberts,
LL. D., of the Methodist Episcopal Church, now
in mission service at the cit^' of Mexico; he at-
tended school at Mt. Pleasant and completed his
education at the Boston Theological University.
Ida C. is the wife of Rev. J. E. Corley, a Methodist
minister, who was also educated at Mt. Pleasant
and Boston Theological University; Carrie H., who
is the wife of Park Kauffman, the superintendent of
the schools of Red Oak, Iowa; he is a graduate of
Wesleyan University at Mt. Pleasant. There is also
an adopted son, Francis M., a graduate of the High
School, who has taken a partial course in the Uni-
versity at Mt. Pleasant, and is now an attorney-at-
law in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Ferris are active
members in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
are held in high esteem by all who know them.

OBADIAH HARRIS COOK, a resident of sec-
tion 36, Salem Township, was born in Preble
County, Ohio, in 1834, and is a son of
Nathan and Sarah (Denny) Cook. The paternal
ancestors were of English origin, and the maternal
of Irish. The union of the couple named w.as cele-
brated in Ohio, but Nathan and his second wife,
the mother of O. II., came from the Carolin.as,
whore both were born. They cleared a farm in
Preble County and upon that farm their children
were all born. The first wife, who was a Miss
Comer, bore two children : Jonathan, who is wedded
to Susannah Beason, and Martha, the wife of Samuel

J» ■ <■

»► ■ <•■

4

HENRY COUNTY.

617

t=

Maddock. After the death of the first wife Nathan
married Sarah Denny, who in that State bore Eliza-
beth, now wife of Henrj' Lamm; William, who
wedded Lncinda Bales; Susannah, wife of Wheeler
Davis; Isaac, husband of Mary J. Bishop; Hannah
wedded first to Cyrus Coffin, and after his death,
married Jabez B. Smith; Charitj' married David
Thatcher; Eli, unmarried, finds a home with our
subject; Henry W., deceased, was married to Laura
Davis; then came our subject, followed by the
birth of Louisa, deceased ; Elihu, who is married to
Mary Pope, and Eliza and Amos, who died unmar-
ried. In 1839 the parents came to this county',
and made a location npon the same farm now
owned and tilled by his son. This was then in its
virgin state, but the Quaker family soon made it a
fine farm, and upon the new land splendid crops
grew. Nathan paid Gideon Frasier |7 per acre at
that early day for part of the farm, entering the
east eighty acres. Upon this farm both the father
and mother died, she at the age of seventy, and he
at eighty-six. The historian has learned much of
their goodness, and finds it only necessary to state
that their children have proved themselves worthy
of such parents. From the age of five years our
subject grew to manhood on the farm, and at the
age of twenty-two Miss Elizabeth Fisher became
his wife. She was the daughter of John and Esther
Fisher, who emigrated from New Jersey to this
State in 1842, and made a location at Ft. Madison.
J. Fisher, Jr., a brother, was for a number of years
engaged in business in Salem, leaving that vill.ige
in 1887 for Clarinda, Iowa. Another brother,
Alexander, is still in business in Salem. There was
a large number of children born to Mr. Fisher, wlio
was twice married. The second wife was Eliza
Jane Alterman, both bearing children to him.

The marriage of our subject to Miss Fisher was
celebrated April 17, 1856. Their domestic life
was begun and has been continued upon the old
home, and their children have all been born in the
roomy old mansion : Amos E. wedded Florence
Rice ; Edwin W., Clifton H. and Cora B. are unmar-
ried. The two eldest children are now in business.
Amos graduated in law at Iowa City, and is a
practicing attorney at Malvern, Iowa; Edwin
graduated in medicine at Iowa City, and is a resi-
4»

dent physician of Plattsmouth, Neb; Clifton
graduated in stenograph}' at Iowa City the winter
of 1887; Corals completing her education, and
makes the old home cheerful by her presence. Mr.
Cook has served his township in positions of trust
for several years. He has been one of the ener-
getic men who have aided in making this one of the
noteworthy counties of Southeastern Iowa. Through
the endeavors of Mi-. Cook, George W. Tyner and
X. H. Arnold, the Salem District Fair has been
made a success, and in 1887, the third year, was
largely attended. The premium list awarded was
$250, and Mr. Cook is now upon his second term
as President of the society. The grading and
breeding of stock are largely due to such enterprise,
•and to such men we are pleased to give proper
credit. As a man and citizen Mr. Cook justly
holds a front rank in Salem Township.

,,^ ITKIN BAXTER, a farmer residing on sec-
KM tion 24, Canaan Township, Henry Co.,
Ill Iowa, was born in Westmoreland County,
Pa., Sept. 16, 1812, and is a son of Aitkin
and Elizabeth (Wallace) Baxter. John Baxter, the
grandfather, was a native of Ireland, and came to
this country prior to the Revolutionary War, in
which he served as Sergeant. His eldest son, Rob-
ert, was old enough to carry arms at that time, and
relieved his father, who then went home on a fur-
lough. His wife was supposed to be a Miss Gibbs,
but the early history of her family is not known.
She was the mother of four children — Robert, Gil-
bert, Aitkin and Margaret. The pai-ents died in Penn-
sylvania at an advanced age. Robert married Miss
Dillon, and after her de.ath Jane Boj'd became his
wife: Gilbert and Margaret died unmarried, and
Aitkin married Elizabeth Wallace, reared a family
of eight children, and both he and his wife died
and were Iniried in Pennsylvania. Aitkin Baxter,
Sr., was a stonemason, but spent his last days on
a farm.

Our subject is the only one of the children now
living. His marriage was celebrated in Westmore-
land County, Pa., Oct. 11, 1838, Miss Matilda
Crawford becoming his wife. Their six eldest chil-

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618

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HENRY COUNTY.

dren were born there, three of whom died before
the family came West. Those living are: Robert,
who wedded Marietta Miltenberger, and resides in
Albia, Iowa; James, who married May A.Thomp-
son, is a merchant of Mt. Union, and Elizabeth is
the wife of William Martin, of Marion Township,
Henry County.

In 1851 Mr. Baxter, with his young wife and
family, embarked at Pittsburgh for the West, taking
passage down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to
Burlington, where they landed April 18 of the
same year. Mr. Baxter came to the new country
with some means and soon afterward entered sec-
tion 24, Canaan Township, .and there he has lived
ever since. The first house erected was a log
shanty, into which the family moved, they being
the fourth family to settle in the township. Their
first lionse stood almost upon the same site as the
present residence. That house was destroyed b}'
fire in March, 1887, but from the smoldering ruins
an elegant cottage has arisen.

Only one child was born after Mr. and Mrs.
Baxter came to Henry County, Josepli, who died
in 1861. Robert and James were botli soldiers,
Robert in tlie 1st Iowa Cavalry and James in the
Marine service. Robert was wounded by guerrillas
in Missouri, and of his foraging party only himself
and one other were left to tell the tale. 8ix balls
passed through portions of his person, and he 3'et
cari'ies a minie ball in his body as a souvenir of the
.war. He retired from service with tlie rank of
Captain, and covered with the scars of iionorable
warfare.

For a number of months Mrs. Baxter has been
an invalid, and is confined to lier room. She has
reached the age of seventy-six, h.as seen her chil-
dren all married and well settled in life; her boys
have returned from the war and become useful citi-
zens, and her daughter a loving mother. Plight
grandchildren are living and have nestled in lier
arms, and do her honor by the love they l)ear for
one of the most devoted of grandmothers.

Our subject was one of the Judges at the fir.st
election in Canaan Township, which was held at
the McCalie farm. lie w-as one of the first ap-
pointed and also the first elected Trustee in the
township, and later was County Supervisor for

five j'ears. Long since past his prime, but yet in
fair health, Mr. Baxter manages his farm and for
years has been accounted one of the most indus-
trious and honest neighbors in the community.
He j'et owns the southeast quarter of section 24,
after giving half the section to his sons, and his
daughter is to have the old home farm.

^-

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1799.

■^*-

AMUEL H. ROSS, a prominent and in-
fluential citizen of Henry County, residing
on section 27, Marion Township, was born
in Westmoreland County, Pa., Nov. 25,
His parents were John and Maiy (Cochrane)
Ross, she being a niece of William Finley, associate
of Gen. George Washington, and a brother-in-law
of one of the members of the old Continental Con-
gress. Her grandfather Cochrane was a Captain in
the Light Horse Guards of Gen. Washington, he
acting as Washington's body-guard for seven years
afterward. Mr. and Mrs. Ross were the parents of
eight children : Samuel II., of Mt. Pleasant; Sarah
married John Magill, both now deceased ; their
son AVilliam is one of the prominent men of Pennsyl-
vania, having served as Justice of the Peace in
West Deer Township, Allegheny Co., Pa., and
four terms in the State Legislature, being promi-
nently spoken of for State Senator by the Repub-
lican party. John died in Allegheny' County', Pa.
in 1885, leaving four sons and two daughters; he
was an Elder in the United Presbyterian Church.
Rhuma, wife of Thomas Cox, died in Cincinnati,
Ohio; George W. was united in marriage with Miss
Ester Irvin, and now resides in Allegheny County,
Pa., on the old home farm ; Eliza, deceased wife
of Robert Cunningham, a resident of Alleghen3'
County, Pa. ; William died when a j'oung man, and
Mary A., the widow of Allen Aber, resides in
Allegheny County.

Our subject remained under the inu-cntal roof un-
til he was twenty-two years of age. The father
being an invalid, the care of the family fell ujwn
the mother and himself, while he was yet a boy.
He worked at stone-cutting and various occuiiations
in his native State. The father and mother both
died in Allegheny County, Pa., and were devoted

HENRY COUNTY.

619

members of the United Presbyterian Church. Mr.
Ross was a cousin of Gen. Ross, who was killed by
the Americans at Baltimore. Samuel Ross wedded
Miss Sarah Livingston, a daughter of James and
Martha (Robertson) Livingston, both natives of
Pennsylvania, and in that State, in Westmoreland
County, May 19, 1803, their daughter Sarah was
born.

Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ross
removed to Allegheny County, where he leased a
farm for ten years. At the expiration of the time,
he decided to try the far West, so in 1811 he with
his wife and four children came to Henry County,
Iowa, locating in Center Township, his post-office
being Mt. Pleasant. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are the par-
ents of six children: John P., residing in Baker
City, Ore. ; James; Martha, now Mrs. Thomas Lash,
of Mt. Pleasant; William E. owns a large ranch in
Nevada; Sarah, wife of John Huling, a farmer of
Center Township; and Sam, a resident of Oregon.
Mr. Ross is one of the pioneer settlers of Henry
County, has witnessed the many changes that have
taken place, and has ever been identified with all
public improvements. He and his estimable wife
traveled life's journey together for nearly fifty-
seven years, she being called to her final home Sept.
24, 1887. They were both members of the United
Presbj'terian Church, doing their part in all church
work. As a pioneer, citizen and friend, none more
truly deserve the respect and love of all than does
Samuel H. Ross. Politically, he is a Republican,
having voted with that party since its organization.

-S^^'

D. W. C. THROOP, deceased, was for
many yeai'S the senior editor of the Mt.
Pleasant Free Press, owned by his nephew,
James A. Throop, who had from boyhood
been to him as a son, and whom he had followed
to Iowa from his home in the State of New York.
He was born in Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y., Nov.
27, 1819, and was the youngest of a family of seven
children, all of whom had preceded him to the
farther shore. In early life he was designed by his
friends for the ministry, for which his devout and
reverent nature seemed especially to fit him. His

own inclinations, however, led him to the study of
the law, in which he spent three years. Too great
.in absorption in the studies which he loved im-
paired his health, and a long .and dangerous illness
resulted, compelling him to relinquish his cherished
design, and seek a more active career for his life
work, which he accordingly did.

May 4, 1847, he was married in his native town
to Lydia A. Whipple, also of th.at place. The young
couple began their domestic life in Preston, Che-
nango Co., N. Y,, where thej' lived until about
twenty years later, when they removed to Mt. Pleas-
ant, Iowa. Their union was blessed by the births of
three children, one daughter and two sons, namely:
Eliza C, who became the wife of M. J. Blauding,
and died in Henry County, in 1877, leaving two
children, who were taken to rear by their grand-
parents, and on whom Mr. Throop lavished the
love he had felt for his only daughter, whose death
was to him the greatest sorrow of his life. The
sons are: George E., a well-known resident of Mt.
Ple.asant, and Deputj' Postmaster; and James H.,
who carried out the early ambition of his father,
and is now a successful attorney at Norwich, N. Y.,
the town where his father had begun his studies,
.and of which James H. Throop has recently been
elected as INIayor. Besides his own children, our
subject had reared his nephew, James A. Throop,
proprietor of the Mt. Pleasant Free Press, and had
regarded him as one of his own, an affection fully
reciprocated by its recipient. The latter settled in
Mt. Pleasant in December, 1 856, and in March, 1 868,
our subject decided to make that pliice his home,
also, having likewise a sister and other relatives
living there. On his arrival in Mt. Pleasant he
engaged in the hardw.are business with his nephew,
the connection continuing until the latter became,
in the summer of 1872, one of the proprietors of
the Mt. Pleasant Free Press. He then became a
regular contributor to the paper, a labor he loved,
and on the retirement of the regular editor, Mr.
Edwin Van Cise, he assumed the duties of editor-
in-chief, a position he filled until the moment of his
de.ath, the proprietor giving his attention to its man-
agement. He was a ready and fluent writer, and
his editorial work on the Free Press marked him
as a man of no ordinary ability.

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620

HENRY COUNTY.

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T

In politics Mr. Throop was in early life an ardent
Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party,
was equally enthusiastic in its support. Especially
was he an admirer of Horace Greeley, who was his
ideal Statesmau, and when the latter was nominated
for the Presidency in 1872, he followed him into
the ranks of the Democratic party, with which he
afterward continued to act. He was also an ardent
advocate of the cause of prohibition, and in his
New York home was especially active in its sup-
port.

The death of Mr. Throop was sudden. He died
as he had often expressed a wish to do, "with the
harness on." On Saturday, March 10, 1888, he was
cheerfully conversing with an old friend and former
associate, Mr. Edwin Van Cise, in the Free Press
office, when lie was seen to put his hand to his head
and fall forward. Loving arms caught him and
laid him genth- down, and in a few moments the
spirit of the just man winged its way to Him who
gave it.

Mr. Throop was a man of rare purity of life, of
deep religious feeling, honest in word and deed, of
a cheerful, kindly disposition, beloved by all who
knew him well, and his death was mourned by an
unusually large circle of friends to whom bis lov-
able traits of character had greatly endeared iiim.

ON. JAMES HARLAN is the best known
of all the citizens of Henry County. He is a
native of Clarke County, 111., born Aug.
2(), 1S20, and is the son of Silas and IMary
(Conley) Harlan. On the fatiier's side the family
are of English descent, who in an early daj- settled
in South ('arolina, moving from thence to Pennsyl-
vania. The maternal grandfather of our subject
was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

Silas Harlan moved with his family to I'arke
County, Ind., when James was but three years old,
and there the son was roared on a farm. He re-
ceived his education in Asbury University, at
Greencastle, Ind., then under the Presidency of
the late Bishop Simpson, graduating in 184.5. On
receiving his <liplonia he came to Iowa, locating in
Iowa City, where he took a professorship in the col-

lege at that place. In 1846 he was elected Superin-
tendent of Public Schools, being the only candidate
of his party elected. After serving one 3'ear, the
election was declared void, and going before the
people, he was re-elected, but on account of some
informalities in the ballots, the office was given to
his opponent, a portion of the tickets being printed
Harland and Harlin, instead of Harlan.

In 1848 Mr. Harlan was admitted to the bar,
and practiced law at Iowa City until 1853, when
he was elected the first President of the Iowa AVes-
leyan University, and removed to Mt. Pleasant,
where he has since continued to reside. Under his
administration the university was financially a suc-
cess. In 18.55 he was elected United States Sena-
tor for the term of six years, and took his seat
in jMarch foOowing, and served till the end of that
session. On re-assembling in the winter of 1856-
57, the Senate declared his seat vacant, the majority
asserting that he was not regularl3' elected by the
Iowa Legislature. Returning home, the Legisla-
ture being in session he was again elected, returned,
and served out his term. In 1861 he was re-elected
for another term, but resigned in May. 1 865, to
assume the office of Secretary of the Interior, which
office he filled with signal abilitj* till September,
1866, being once more elected United States Sena-
tof from his State, serving from March, 1867, till
March, 1873. During his service in the United
States Senate, Mr. Harlan was an industrious and
influential member, serving on some of the most
iniiiortant committees, being chairmiui of several,
among others those of |)ublic lands and liidinn
affairs.

Leaving the Senate March 4, 1873, Jlr. Harlan
lived a retired life until the summer of 1882, when
he was appointed a Judge in the Court of Claims
in the celebrated Alabama case, and on the death
of Presiding Judge Wells, was appointed b^' Presi-
dent Arthur as Presiding Judge of the same court,
in which capacity he served until June 1, 1885,
when the business of the court was concluded,
since which time he has remained in private life in
Mt. Pleasant.

Mr. Harlan was united in marriage with Miss
Ann Eliza Peck, in October, 1845. Four children
were born to them, two of whom died in early child-

HENRY COUNTY.

hood, and one son, William A., at tlie age of twenty-
three years; one is living, Mary E., wife of Robert
T. Lincoln, of Chicago. Mrs. Harlan died at Old
Point Comfort, Ya., Sept. 4, 1884, and was interred
in the Forest Home Cemetery, at Mt. Pleasant. She
was a woman greatly loved by all who knew her,
and her memory will ever be cherished by her
many friends.

•«-«#^

>?5-?V

,EV. WILLIAM E. DeGARMO, residing on
section 19, Marion Township, is a native of
Pennsylvania, born in Washington County,
\Vg)F(li. 27, 1818, and is a son of William and
Mary (McDonald) DeGarmo, the former a native of
New Jersey, and the latter of Pennsylvania. His
grandfather, Paul DeGarmo, was a native of Long
Island, N. Y.

The early life of our subject was spent in his
native State, assisting in the farm work when old
enough, and attending the common schools when
the opportunity was afforded him. When four-
teen years of age he accompanied his parents to
Virginia, the family locating on a farm near
Wheeling, now in West Virginia, Here he re-
mained until 1846, engaged in farming with his
father the greater part of the time. After his
removal to Virginia, he had the privilege of at-
tending school but four months. This, with what
little he was taught in the schools of his native
State, completed his education so far as obtained
by study in school. But he was not one to be con-
tented with such a limited education, and by
much reading and studj' in after years, has become
a well-informed man.

On leaving his father's house, Mr. DeGarmo
went to Clinton County, Ohio, where he remained
eight years, engaged in teaching much of the time,
a profession in which he had some experience be-
fore leaving Virginia. While here he was licensed
to preach the Gospel, and was ordained a Deacon
in the Methodist Protestant Church in the district
of Oliio. In 1854 he came to Iowa, locating in
Keokuk County. In the fall of 18.55 he united
with the Iowa Conference of the Methodist Protest-
ant Church, and traveled the circuit in Davis

i*

County for one year. During the succeeding year
he taught school in Davis County, where he became
acquainted with and married Miss Susan Heidle-
baugh, a native of Lancaster County, Ohio, the
eeremonj' being performed April 30, 1857. Mrs.
DeGarmo came to Iowa in 1851 with her parents,
who located in Davis County. Five children have
been born unto them : one, Ray P., dying in infancy ;
four are yet living: Sarah Bell married John
Booten, and lives in Jackson Township, Henry
County; Allie May married George W. Zellar, and
is living in Jasper County, Iowa; Ed married Miss
Beatrice Daniels, and lives in Trenton Township,
on the old homestead ; Delia lives at home with
her parents.

In the fall of 1857 Mr. DeGarmo took his
young wife to Mt. Pleasant, where they resided
one year, he being engaged in preaching. They
then moved to Trenton Township, Henry County,
and in the neighboihood where they first settled,
known as the Rich wood neighborhood, have since
continued to reside, and during all this time Mr.
DeGarmo has been engaged principally in teaching,
and preaching the Gospel as he finds opportunity.
In 1859 he was ordained an Elder in the Methodist
Protestant Church. For twenty years he has been
engaged a part of his time in burning lime. Three
times has he been elected Justice of the Peace, but
qualified but once.

Mr. DeGarmo is essentially a self-educated and
self-made man. As a husband and father he is kind
and affectionate; as a minister of the Gospel, he
endeavors faithfully' to serve his Master; as a citizen
he is esteemed by all.

\f^ AUL F. STRAUB, M. D., Third Assist-
ant Physician at the Iowa State Hospital for
the Insane, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was born
in the celebrated Black Forest of Ger-
many, near Baden, July 3, 1865. His parents,
Edward and Addrieuna (Rappenecker) Straub,
were natives of that country, and emigrated from
(Jcrmany to America in 1872, with their family,
and came directly to Mt. Pleasant, where they now
reside. Paul, the subject of our sketch, received
. m^

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622

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HENRY COUNTY.

his primary education in the public schools of Mt.
Pleasant, and spent one and a half years as a stu-
dent of the Iowa Wesleyan University. He then
took a regular course at the medical department of
the Iowa State University, and graduated in the
class of 1885. He was then employed at the Kan-
sas State Insane Asylum, at Topeka, several months,
and in Maj', 1886, was appointed to his present
position. He is a member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge
No. 1, A. F. & A. M., of Henry Chapter No. 8,
R. A. M., and of Jerusalem Comraanderj' No. 20,
all of Mt. Pleasant.

Dr. Straub is a promising young physician, who
has but entered upon his career in the honorable
pi'ofession of medicine.

-,^S-

#-•#

ylLLIAM F. JONES, Postmaster and far-
mer. Perhaps in the boundaries of Jack-
son Township there resides no man of a
wider acquaintance in Henry County, either in a
business or a social sense, than the subject of this
sketch. Everyone, from the youngest to the old-
est settler, knows hira, and a more genial couple than
Mr. Jones and wife would be hard to find. He is a
son of George and Lydia (McMurtry) Jones, and
was born in Morgan County, 111., June 17, 1832.
His parents soon after his birth moved to Knox
County, 111., remaining until April 1, 1838, when
they emigrated westward and found a location in
this county. Mr. Jones entered 249^ acres of land
on sections 2.5 and 20, in Jackson Township. On
part of this tract stood a cabin built by Elijah
Bunting, his claim being purchased by Mr. Jones.
George Jones originally came from Virginia, ami
was born March 21, 1785, in Roanoke Count}', and
was the son of James and Catherine (Howe) Jones.
He was a soldier under Gen. Harrison during the
Indian War, and from him his son inherited his
loyal sentiments as well as his patriotism, for later
events prove him to have been a brave soldier.
George Jones was mariicd in Harrison Count}', Ind.,
to Lydia McMurtry, Feb. 17, 1817. She was born in
Mercer County, K}'., Dec. 7, 17115, her parents
being James .and I'.lizabeth (Rose) McMurtry, of
Irish ancestry. Her grandfather lived in Kentucky,
4»

and was engaged in the Indian wars in that State,
and was killed by the Indians. Her father was also
a soldier, and from his boyhood was an Indian
fighter. There were eight children in the Jones
family, two of whom, Nancj' and Sarah, died in
Indiana. The others are: Elizabeth, who was
wedded to Walter King, and died in Chehalis
County, Wash. Ter. ; Isaac H., who married Mary
A. Garrison, died in Boone County. Iowa; Silas M
is" the husband of Hester J. Garrison; James M., who
remained a bachelor until last February, when he
W.1S wedded in Washington Territory ; Catherine,
the youngest member of the family, is wife of Will-
iam L. Davolt, and William F'., our subject, completes
the list. The father died in 1850, and his wife sur-
vived him thirty-two years, being in her eighty-
seventh year when her death occurred.

Our subject was a lad six years of age when his
parents became residents of this countj', and from
his boyhood William F. Jones has been identified
with everything that was of interest to his county
or her people. He was educated in the public
schools of that early day, and later taught school in
what is now known as Bethanj' District, in Baltimore
Township. He learned farm work in detail, and
before old enough to hold the plow drove the oxen
while one with more muscle held the handles. He
jokinglj' remarks that he lived with his mother until
he was married, when she lived the remainder of
her days with him. He was three years a soldier
in the Union army, a member of Company B, 3d
Iowa Cavahy, and was in every engagement partic-
ipated in by the right wing of his regiment to which
he was attached, except one, during his entire
term of service. He draws a pension for disability
incurred in the service.

Mr. Jones tiikes great pride, and justlj* so, in the
patriotism of his mother as manifested during this
dark period. When the war broke out he and she
lived alone, no other son being west of the Rocky
Mountains. He expressed himself to her that he did
not wish to outlive his country, and that he felt that
he must enlist in the army. She unhesitatingly
said "go," for she could take care of herself. He
did go, and served faithfully, and lived to return
to the mother who was so willing to give him as a
sacrifice for the country she so loved.

■<^

HENRY COUNTY.

623 - '

At the expiration of his term of enlistment, Mr.
Jones returned to Henry County, and Nov. 4, 1864,
was elected County Supervisor. He was subse-
quently elected Justice and served eleven years.
He has also served as Township Clerk, Township
Trustee for several terms, and in fact, it might be
truthfully said that if William F. Jones would make
any effort to secure it, the best office within the gift
of the people in this county awaits him. Asa writer
and speaker Mr. Jones has no superior among the
people, professional or scientific, in this county, and
his letters to the press upon the beneficial results of
a protective tariff have been pronounced masterly by
the best reasoners and thinkers of the county.
Brilliant in intellect, with a depth of thought en-
hanced hy constant study, Mr. Jones has made him-
self felt in social and political circles for years, and
the future promises much for him. His marriage
to MissDorthaDowell was celebrated Nov. 17, 1864.
She is a native of Miami County, Ohio, born Jan.
1, 1834, a daughter of Martin and Mary (Hall)
Dowell. Martin Dowell was born in North Caro-
lina, his wife in Charleston, S. C, and they were
married in Dayton, Ohio. They were the parents
of ten children, of whom eight came to Iowa :
John, the second son, died at Allatoona, Ga., dur-
ing the war. The Dowell family came to this
county in 1857, and the parents of Mrs. Jones are
both buried in the Pilot Cxrove Cemetery. Mrs.
Jones is the only one of the children now a resi-
dent of this county, but the names and respective
locations of the others are as follows: Ellison married
Mary Richardson, and resides in Butler County,
Neb. ; Sarah J. wedded J. H. Cowgill, of Henry
County, and is now a resident of Saline County,
Neb.; John died unmarried; Dortha is the wife
of our subject; William wedded Mattie (Jrant, and
resides in Brainard, Neb. ; Nancy, unmarried, is a
resident of Valparaiso, Neb., and Joanna is the wife
of Marquis Grant, a resident of Saunders County,
Neb. Mr. Jones and his wife are the parents of
six children : Mary A., wife of George Wanser, of
Brain.ard, Neb., was educated at Howe's Academy,
and was a teacher in this county prior to her mar-
riage; Dovie was educated at the same academy,
and is now a teacher in this count}' ; Nora is also a
graduate of the same school and is a resident

m

teacher of Tobias, Saline Co., Neb. ; Mattie C. will
also complete her education at Howe's Academy,
and intends teaching. John D. and Sarah J., the
younger membei's of the family, possess the same
brightness of intellect and are intended by their
parents to have a complete education.

In 1871 Mr. Jones was appointed Postmaster of
Boylston, his commission bearing the signature of
Postmaster-General Cresswell. He has been con-
tinued in this office to date, and is now in his seven-
teenth official year. In all the relations of life, as a
brave soldier, a capable official and an estimable
citizen, he has ever held the respect of his fellow-
men.

<3'

A 1*1 c~t_

AVID W. ROBINSON, M. D., one of the
most eminent physicians of Henry County,
was born in Harrison County, W. Va.,
June 14, 1826, and is a son of David R.
and Sarah (Walmslej') Robinson, both natives of
the same county, the former born in 1789, and the
latter in 1791. The elder Robinson was a farmer,
in connection with which he ran a flouring-mill for
many years. He was a Whig and an ardent ad-
mirer of Henry Cl.ay and Daniel Webster, whom he
strongly supported. He was a man of more than
ordinary abilitj', a reader and thinker, who wielded
considerable influence in that locality, but attended
closely to his own affairs. Mr. Robinson died in
1853, his wife in 1832. Of their nine children but
two are now living, the Doctor and a brother, Fer-
nando, who is a resident of Clarksburg, W. Va..
engaged in the jewelrj' business. On its organiza-
tion he joined the Republican party, and when it
gained the ascendancy he was elected Clerk of the
District Court of Harrison County.

When the subject of this sketch was a boy there
were no public schools in his native State, and he
was educated in subscription schools, but is mainly
self-taught, with the exception of three months
that he spent with a private tutor. In his youth
he wished to go to West Point, but was persuaded
that if he did so he would become the property of
the United States, and therefore relinquished the
idea. He was always a great reader and student.

'i^M ■**'

-^ 624

HENRY COUNTY.

and read all the miscellaneous books in his father's
library, and as many more as he could obtain. He
decided upon the practice of medicine as his life
work, and in 1848 began reading and stiid3'ing with
that end in view. Later he took up the study of
theology, and in 1850 joined the Methodist Church,
and his friends were desirous that he should enter
the pulpit, but he felt then that he had no call to
the ministr}^, and continued the study of medicine.
In 1852 and 1853 he attended the Eclectic Medical
College at Cincinnati, whence he gi'aduated in the
latter year. Returning to Virginia he remained
there until 1855, when he emigrated to Iowa, land-
ing at Muscatine, where he engaged in practice.
While there, in 1857. he was licensed to preach,
and was recommended to Conference and given a
charge at Pella, Iowa, and in 1858 was appointed
to Montezuma, Poweshiek Co., Iowa, to which place
he removed. In that year he marrjed Miss Sarah
Dudley, of Mainville, Ohio. He continued to fill
the pulpit until the meeting of the Conference in
the fall of 1858, but had previously resumed tlie
practice of medicine, and had built up a lucrative
practice, in which he was engaged until August,
1862, when he decided to talcc part in the struggle
for National existence, and in connection with
Wesley Carr, then a student in his office, enlisted
204 men. Fart ■were enrolled a.s Company B, 40th
Iowa Volunteers, with the Doctor in command as
Captain; and part were made a compan}' of tlie
28th Iowa, with Capt. Carr in command. While
at Camp Post, at Iowa City, Gov. Kirkwood came
to him and asked him to resign ;is Captain, and he
would immediately commission him as Surgeon,
efficient surgeons being at that time very much
needed. Willing to give his services where they
could be most effective, he .accepted, and went to
the field as Surgeon of the 40th Iowa. The regi-
ment w.as ordered to join the Army of the Tennes-
see, and were sent to Vicksburg, where they re-
mained until its capture. They were then sent to
Helena and Little Rock, Ark., and later took jiart
in the Red River Expedition. In 1864 Dr. Robin-
son resigned his commission, and the followingyear
located in Mt. Pleasant, where he has since lived
continuously, liuilding up a large practice, and ac-
quiring an excellent reputation as a physician and

a citizen. Still a student, he is continually adding
by reading and experience to his knowledge, and
his advice is eagerly ought by a large clientage at
home. Abroad his reputation stands equally high.
He is a member of the Henry County Medical So-
ciety.

Dr. Robinson was reared in a belief in the doc-
trines of the Whig party. He was always an anti-
slavery man, but a great .admirer of Stephen A.
Douglas. In 1860 he cast his vote for Abraham
Lincoln, and in 1864 again voted the Republican
ticket. Since then, however, he h.as affiliated with
the Democratic party. In 1869 he purchased the
Henry County Press, which he conducted .as a
Democratic newspaper, but in 1872 sold it to
Messrs. Throop & Van Cise. The Doctor has three
sons: Edw.ard H., the eldest, is a druggist, and
has begun the study of medicine, attending two
courses of lectures at the University of Iowa and a
term in Rush Medical College, Chicago. The sec-
ond son, David D., is a druggist in Burlington,
Iowa, and the youngest, Charles, is yet with his
parents. Dr. Robinson is a member of McFarland
Post No. 13, G. A. R., of Mt. Pleasant, .and is a
Knight Templar M.ason, a member of Mt. Pleasant
Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A.M., of Henry Chapter No.
8, R. A. M., .and Jerusalem Commandery No. 7,
K. T.

ON. FRANK HATTON, ex-Postmaster

General of the United States, formerly a
prominent journalist of Iowa, and resident
of Mt. Ple.asant, now editor of the New
York P7-ess.i was born in Camliridge. Oliio, April
28, 1846, and is tlie son of Ritli.ud and Sarah
(Green) Ilatton. His fallier was a journalist of
considerable [iruniinence in Ohio, an<l it was in his
office (the Cadiz llepuhlican) that Frank, while a
me;'e lad, got his first " take," learned the rudi-
ments of the printer's trade, and laid the found.a-
tion of his subsequent brilliant career .as editor and
publisher. On the breaking out of the late war
(1861), when but fifteen j'cars of age, he ran away
and enlisted .as drummer boy in the 15th Ohio Vol-
unteer Infantry. Captain Bostwick telegraphed

■\

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;

HENRY COUNTY.

625

i*

Frank's father to know whether he should send him
home, or swear him in. The reply, prompted bj'
pure patriotism, was "Swear him in." It was done,
and 'the boj' soldier went to the front. He was pro-
moted to a lieutenantcy before he was twenty, and
served till the close of the war. He participated
in many hard-fought campaigns, and made the his-
toric march with Sherman to the sea. On his
return from tiie war he went to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
where, having found the Journal of that city for
sale, he induced his father to sell out the Cadiz
Republican and purchase it, which was done, and
the family removed to Mt. Pleasant. Frank served
as local editor of the Journal till his father's death,
which occurred Nov. 5, 1869, when, in company
with his brother-in-law, Rev. G. W. McAdam, he
purchased the office. He was appointed Postmas-
ter at Mt. Pleasant in February, 1873, and served
till May, 1874. lie continued his connection with
the Journal till June 1, 1874, when he sold out to
Mr. McAdam, and bought a half interest in the
Burlington Hawkeye, oi v;\\ich. he assumed editorial
charge. A little later he purchased his partner's
interest, and became sole proprietor and editor-in-
chief.

Mr. Ilatton's brilliant talents and political sagac-
ity soon brought him into prominent notice through-
out the State. He was chosen delegate to the
National Republican Convention in 1876, at Cincin-
nati, where he worked zealously for the nomination
of Hon. Roscoe Conkling for President. While he
" did not get his choice of candidates, he labored
just as earnestly in support of the ticket in the
ensuing campaign. Under his able management
the Burlington Hawkeye became the leading Repub-
lican paper of the State. Mr. Ilatton was appointed
Postmaster at Burlington, Iowa, in 1878, and proved
an efficient officer.

In 1880 he espoused the canse of Gen. Grant for
a third term as President. He was aggressive and
stalwart in the extreme in his political views, ^nd
made the Hairkeye conspicuous throughout the
country for its stirring and eloquent advocacy of
the justice of giving the old warrior a third term.
While not a delegate to the National Republican
Convention of 1880 at Chicago, he was there, and
a power behind the throne. The historic 30G were

encouraged and abetted by him, in their persistent
support of the General. Disappointed again in get-
ting his choice, he as abl}', if not as cheerfulh% sup-
ported Garfield. The Burlington Haivkeye had
rapidly grown in favor under his judicious manage-
ment, and Mr. Ilatton's influence in the political
councils of the State and Nation was recognized
aud courted. His friends sought his appointment
as First Assistant Postmaster General, under Presi-
dent Garfield, but the assassination of the President
prevented tlie appointment being made at that
time. He was appointed under President Arthur
to that position Oct. 29, 1881, and entered upon
the discharge of the duties of the office.

Mr. Hatton's superior executive ability, energy
and integrity, soon won the admiration and confi-
dence of the nation. He proved a most efticient
officer; indefatigable in his efforts to improve and
perfect the mail service, sagacious in his appoint-
ments and rulings, and uncompromising in his en-
forcement of discipline. It is largely due to his
efforts that the fast mail system was adopted, that
has so materially shortened the time of transporta-
tion of the principal mails of the country.

Mr. Hatton succeeded Mr. George C. Gorman
as editor of The National Republican, of Washing-
ton, D. C, in December, 1882, and bj' his superior
ability as a journalist made that paper one of the
most prominent political journals in the country.
He had now won a national reputation, and was of
sulHcient importance to excite envy and malice in
the minds of some who had not been so fortunate.
Consequently he had his share of abuse and misrep-
resentation, but he kept the even tenor of his way
all the same, and when a vacancy occurred in the
Cabinet, by the promotion of Mr. Gresham to the
Treasury portfolio, he was appointed by President
Arthur to fill it, and on the 14th day of Octo-
ber, 1 884, he was sworn in as Postmaster General
of the United States, being the youngest man ever
called to a Cabinet position in the history of the
country. His administration of the office justified
the expectations of his most sanguine friends, and
won most flattering mention from the press of the
country, and especially from his brother journal-
ists of Iowa, who are proud of the distinction
acquired by their talented representative.

n

■♦"

t

626

HENRY COUNTY.

\

In recognition of Mr. Hatton's popularity a
large number of post-ofHces have been named after
liim throughout the country.

Mr. llatton severed his connection with the Bur-
lington Hawkeye, and also with The National Be-
publir.nn, and in 1 880 he bought the Chicago Mail,
which he conducted successfully till Sei)tember,
1887, when he sold out, and in October following pur-
chased the New York Press, which he now edits.

Mr. llatton was united in marriage at Mr. Pleas-
ant, Iowa, Nov. 19, 1867, to Miss Lizzie Snyder,
daughter of Henry ]\[. and Susan A. Snyder. Mrs.
Hatton was born at Mt. Pleasant. They have one
child, a son, Richard, born at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,
Nov. 30, 1872.

•.o»o-@v><V®-<»*0"

ICHARD HATTON, deceased, was born in
Virginia, March 5, 1808, and was the son of
Boland and Margaret (Keller) Hatton. His
vgjfamily were residents of Virginia for several
generations. He removed with his parents to
Noble County, Ohio, in his youth, and began his
business career as a publisher and editor of the
Guernsey Times. He subsequently' published the
Carrollton Free Press, and later the Cadiz Repub-
lican. He was married at Barnesville, Ohio, May
26, 1834, to Miss Sar.ah Green, daughter of Allen
and Mary (Nicldin) Green. Mrs. Hatton was born
in Virginia, and went to Ohio in childhood with
her parents. Ten children were born of their
union, six daughters and four sons: Mary A.,
born May 22, 1836, is the wife of J. L. McGregor, a
hardware merchant of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; Mar-
garet E. was born June 21, 183S, is the widow of
the Rev. E. W. Brady, and resides at Mt. Pleiisant;
Sar.ah Jane, twin sister of Mrs. Brady, died in
infancy, July 12, 1838; Lavina, born in 1839, died in
August, 1841 ; Caroline, born March 16, 1842, is the
wife of G. W. McAdam, of the Mt. Pleasant
Journal; Alcinda, born in 1844, died in September,
1846; Frank, born April 26, 1846; Allen was born
Dec. 27, 1850; Harry, born in December, 1852,
married Nellie Stickney.

Mr. Hatton removed with his family from Cadiz,
Ohio, to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in 1866, when he
<•

bought the Journal oflice. He continued to edit
and publish the Journal up to the time of his fatal
illness. His death occurred Nov. 5, 1869. Mr.
Hatton w.as an earnest Republican and labored
faithfully in the advocacy of the principles of
that party. He was a man of positive convictious,
upright and honorable, whose aim was to encourage
that which was good in the world.

'v«pjei2.'®^-~— ►^p

.y^W^nnny.

/p^ENIUS WHITE, residing on section 5, Tip-
jll f—, pecanoe Township, Henry Co., Iowa, is
^^5) a native of Crawford County, Ind., born
Nov. 16, 1821. His parents, Richard and Barbara
(H.armon) White, the father a native of Bullock
County, Ky., and the mother of Virginia, were pio-
neer settlers of Indiana. They reared a family of
ten children, all of whom grew to man and woman-
hood. Five are still living and five are deceased:
Ravie, born Dec. 28, 1815, was the deceased wife of
Granville Rouse; she died Sept. 20, 1844. Susan,
born Sept. 20, 1817, is the wife of Luther Benham,
now residing in Kentucky; Abraham, born Dec.
18, 1819, is a resident of Iowa; Genius, our subject;
John S., born March 25, 1824, died April 28, 1848,
in Van Buren County', Iowa; William H., born June
28, 1827, died April 20, 1848, in the same county;
Eliza, born M.arch 27, 1830, is the deceased wife of
Elij.ih Redman, of Missouri; Nancy, born Dec. 6,
1832, is the wife of Elisha McCall, now residing in
Republic Count}', Kan.; Columbus, born Aug. 1,
1835, died in California, and James H., born July 9,
1 840, is a resident of Los Angeles, Cal. Tlie father,
Richard White, was born Jan. 25, 1792, an<l was
called to his final home April 8, 1847. Mrs. White,
born Feb. 12, 1794, died March 1, 1883. They were
both devoted members of the Methodist Ei)iscopal
Church. His whole life was spent upon a farm, and
he was a pioneer of Van Bureu and also of llenrj-
County. He was a zealous worker for any cause
which he favored. In early life he voted with the
Whig p;irty, and after its organization with the
Republican. Although reared in a slave State he
was greatly ojiposed to that institution and did all
in his power for the advancement of the cause of

*

i

-^•-

HENRY COUNTY.

627

freedom. At the time of his death he owned a farm
of 240 acres and was in good circumstances.

Our subject, Genius White, was reared upon a
farm in Indiana, and at the age of twenty-one re-
moved with his parents to Van Bureu County, Iowa,
wliere he remained until the fall of 1852, at which
time he crossed the plains with an ox-team to Cali-
fornia. In that State he remained for eleven
mouths engaged in mining, in which he was reason-
ably successful. He returned by water to New
York City, thence to Rock Island, and down the
river to Burlington, and by stage to this county,
and in 18.53 purchased 120 acres of land on section
22, Tippecanoe Township. Mr. White improved
that farm, residing on it until 18G5, when he bought
160 acres on section 6 of the same township, mak-
ing that his home until 1871. He then bought 120
acres on section 5, where he still resides and has a
fine farm. He has added to this until at one time
he had over 300 acres, 160 of which he has given
to his children.

Genius White was married, June 29, 1849, to
Mary Ann Grant, a native of Harrison County,
lud. She was born July 16, 1826, and is a daughter
of Wilkinson and Christiana (Ward) Grant, the
father a native of Kentucky and the mother of
North Carolina. They came to this county in
1843 and settled in Tippecanoe Township on sec-
tion 7. Here Mr. Grant died July 24, 1872, at the
age of seventy-eight. He was a Republican in
politics, held various township offices, and was a
well-known citizen. Niue of his children survive
him, two living in this county, Harvey B. and Mrs.
White, and the remaining seven reside in Kansas.
Mrs. Grant, who was born Aug. 4, 1804, makes her
home with our subject. She has long been a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. and Mrs. White have been the parents of
seven children: Clarissa Jane, born April 2G, 1850,
is the wife of J. H. Ginn, of Republic Count}', Kan. ;
George W., born Sept. 3, 1851, died in California,
Sept. 4, 1879; Columbus, born Aug. 21, 1854, died
April 26, 1856; Emily, born April 21, 1S56, died
April 22, 1881; Richard W., born Feb. 1, 1858,
now resides in Tippecanoe Township; Maria, born
April 23, 1860, died May 23 of the same year, and
Pleasant Genius, born April 26, 1867, is still re-

«<• —

siding at home. Mr. and Mrs. White are both
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
are earnest workers in the vineyard of their Master.
He is a Republican in politics, taking an active
interest in local elections, also in educational mat-
ters, and is always ready and willing to take his
place in all public enterprises. Mr. White is a kind
and indulgent husband and father, and over his
hospitable home a most estimable lady presides,
and the children do honor to the name of White.

n SAAC PIDGEON, a farmer on section 25, in
I .Salem Township, is a son of Isaac and Phoebe
/ll (Kester) Pidgeon, who were both natives of
North Carolina. His great-grandparents were Isaac
and Sarah (Millhouse) Pidgeon, who were born in
England, and died in North Carolina, he in 1783,
and she in 1814. On both sides the ancestors were
residents of America prior to the Revolutionary
War. They were Friends and, as is well known,
never engaged in military service. The authentic
history of the Pidgeon family dates from the grand-
father, Charles Pidgeon, who with his wife resided
on a plantation in North Carolina, and both died in
that State. Their children were Elizabeth, who
married Raddock Mendenhall; Isaac, father of our
subject; Sarah, wedded to Joseph Hiatt; Jane mar-
ried Levi Buckingham ; David and Charles were
also married ; Prudence married John Harney, and
her second husband was James Ballard; Achsah
became the wife of Solomon Stanley, after whose
death Samuel Ballard became her husband; Mary
wedded a Mr. Stephens; and Susannah died unmar-
ried. Only three of these children came West;
first came Prudence and her first husband, John
Harney, and located near Rushville, Schuj-ler Co.,
111., in 1829. Their encouraging letters regarding
the fertile soil of the West was one inducement
which led Isaac to leave the South, and slavery, that
curse which cast its blight for many j'ears upon the
entire South, was to him so odious that he deter-
mined to leave the home of his boyhood and seek
a residence in a St&,te where the rights of every
man were acknowledged, and slavery in any way
had no existence. Isaac owned a small plantation

i

u

628

HENRY COUNTY.

which he sold for $400, and with his wife and fam-
ily, accompanied by his sister Achsah and her hus-
band, formed a part}' who journe3'ed from North
Carolina to Illinois in wagons drawn by horses.
The trip was made in f3fty-two days, traveling a few
miles every day. It was completed without any
p.articular incident or accident, but when the party
arrived at Rushville, they learned that Prudence
and her husband had gone to Indiana, having had
hard times in the new country. They remained in
Indiana, where Mr. Ilarney secured a position .as a
te.imster between Richmond and Cincinnati, and
upon one of tliese trips it is supposed he was mur-
dered, as the team was found standing and no trace
of H.arney was ever discovered. Prudence subse-
quently married James Ballard, reared a family, and
died in Indiana.

The party of emigrants remained one year near
Rushville, and raised a crop on rented laud. Isaac
then took a claim in Hancock County, 111., the tract
adjoining the site of the present town of Plymouth
on the southeast, and Achsah and her husband oc-
cupied a claim adjoining that of Mr. Pidgeon.
Both families remained there three years, and in the
summer of 1835 Isaac came to Iowa, located a
claim, made some improvements, built a cabin and
made ready for removal, which was done in Decem-
ber, 1835. Achsah and her husband went to
Indiana, where Solomon Stanley died, and she sub-
sequently went to North Carolina and was married
to Samuel Ballard, and they located permanently
in Ohio, where iier death afterward occurred. Isaac,
Jr., had taken a claim in the new country 3'et un-
surveycd, and jis he was a Friend and none of his
faith resided in his neighborhood in Illinois, he and
Aaron Street, Sr., conceived the idea of building up
a settlement of their own people in Iowa. Aaron
Street might be considered the prime mover in this
enterprise, and he had previously made a trip to this
neighborhood in company with his widowed sister-
in-law, Polly Pugh, and her four children, then
.almost grown. They remained in camp on Little
Cedar while Mr. Street returned to Hancock County
for his family', ami the same year ihe Streets, Pidg-
eon and Peter Bycr f.amilies located here and made
claims in the same neighborhood. Isa.ac Pidgeon
and his family were the first members of the Friends'

society in Salem Township, and the first actual
cabin house, not a bonajide shanty, was the one
built by Mr. Pidgeon. Several cabins were com-
pleted the same autumn, and quite a settlement was
made. The first religious services of the Society
of Friends were held in the cabin of Mr. Pidgeon,
and he was large!}' instrumental in the erection of
their first church building, where the Whittier
College building now stands.

Isa.ic and Phd'be Pidgeon were i)arents of eleven
children: Ruth was the wife of Stephen Hockett,
after whose death Benjamin Knight became her
husband; Orpah wedded Elihu Frasier; Elizabeth
was the wife of John Ilockelt; William wedded
Peninah Trueblood ; Mary died unmarried ; Phoebe
also died unmarried ; and Achsah wedded Stephen
Thatcher ; Isaac has been thrice married ; Jane wed-
ded Nathan Cammack; two other children died in
infancy.

Isaac Pidgeon, Sr., and his wife, were prominent
factors in the settlement of this county, and dur-
ing a long lifetime they were looked upon as a
model couple. Their family grew to maturity,
were married to good men and women, and Lands
which were a part of his original claim are yet in
the possession of his children, William and Isaac
Pidgeon, Jr. The death of the father occurred in
his eighty-fourth year, .and of his wife in her seven-
ty-third year. They both lived to see the lands
which were covered with wild flowers in the early
days, under the most advanced cultivation, and the
log cabins replaced by handsome dwellings of mod-
ern architecture. Across their original claim, and
near where the first cabin stood, the heavily loaded
trains now thunder past. Cities and towns have
been built in the county, and all tr.aces of a pioneer
life .are vested in a few cabins which skirt the
streams. All the children remained in the neigh-
boriiood, and the last d.ays of tlie parents were spent
amid peace and plenty. Only four of the children
are yet living — Orpah, Jane, Isaac and William.
The last named is the father of twelve children, all
born on the old homestead. The Pidgeons are
proud of tiieir record as business men and citizens,
and to such men and women are we indebted for
the high state of morality and culture that ai)ounds
in the township. From the beginning their names

i

■•►

HENRY COUNTY.

629

have been linked with every prominent enterprise,
and to-day tliey are in easy circumstances, and oc-
cupy a most enviable position in the business world
and in society.

Isaac Pidgeon, Jr., was the first white child born
inside the boundaries of Salem Township, his birth
occurring Sept. 2, 1 83G. As before stated, he resides
upon the original tract entered by his father, and
his modern farmhouse, stately trees, commodious
barns and out-buildings, all point toward the easy
circumstances which come to the prudent and suc-
cessful farmer.

His first wife was Mary E. Abies, who bore Walter
G., Harry C. and Hennie O. After her death Alazan-
nah Alexander became his wife, who was the mother
of one daughter, Alazannah. The death of the second
wife occurred, and for the third time Mr. Pidgeon
was married. Miss Nancy Montgomery, born in
Putnam County, Mo., March 22, 1845, becoming
his wife in 1875. She is the mother of five chil-
dren— Angeline, Julia, Evaline, Annie M. and Car-
oline. All the children are under the parental roof.
Mrs. Pidgeon's parents were natives of Kentucky,
who emigrated to Missouri nearly fifty years ago.
The father died there in 1862, and the mother in
1885.

o^>!^ •

— "-"^-itf-"

IDGWAY B. GILLIS, deceased, was one of
J the pioneers of Henry County. He was
born in Ontario County, N. Y., Feb. 2,
^1818. When a small boy he went with his
parents to Elk County, Pa., where he grew to man-
hood. His education was received in the Academy
of Chautauqua, New York. He was married in Elk
County, Pa., April 1, 1840, to Miss Margaret Mc-
Bain, a daughter of Peter McBain, formerly con-
nected with the British army. She was born in
Peebles, Scotland, June 4, 1820. When about one
year old she was taken by her parents to India, her
father being a soldier at that time. He was con-
nected with the service for many years and was
under Wellington in the battle of Waterloo. Her
father and mother both dying in India, she was sent
to the States by Rev. E. Kinkead, at that time a
missionary. In making the voyage from India to

-4*

Philadelphia, at which port she landed, she was four
months on the water. She was but thirteen years
old and was the only female on board the ship.
Arriving at Philadelphia she went to a brother of
Rev. Kinkead, where she made her home for several
years.

In 1844 Mr. Gillis came to Henr^' County, Iowa,
and purchased 160 acres of land in Marion Town-
ship, and forty acres of timber land in Trenton
Township. Three years later he moved his family,
landing in Mt. Pleasant on the 20th of October.
At this time his family consisted of a wife and
three children. During the following winter they
made their home with a neighbor, and then Mr.
Gillis built a house on his own place, and at once
commenced the development of his farm. In 1850
he crossed the plains to California in company with
Owen Ingersoll, and for the next three years was
engaged in mining and other pursuits. In 1 853 he re-
turned home by water with the intention of removing
his family to California, but not meeting with a ready
sale of his place, after a couple of months left his
family and once more crossed the plains to the New
Eldorado, where he remained four years longer, en-
gaged in teaming and mining. Returning to Henry
County he remained with his family until the spring
of 1858, and then went to Nebraska City, and took
charge of a supplj' train that was being forwarded
to Salt Lake City, at the time of the Mormon War.
In January following he returned home, but only
remained until spring, when he went to Salt Lake
City and took charge of another supply train.
James R., his oldest son, acconipjinied him on this
trip. In October, 1859, he returned home, spent
the winter, and in the spring of 1860 received the
Government appointment and took charge of the
farms on the Pawnee reservation. In this line of
duty he continued until July, 1861, when he came
home, and for the next two years was engaged
in farming and stock dealing, though a portion of
that time he was also engaged in merchandis-
ing at Wayland. AVhile much of his time was spent
away from home, Mr. Gillis was a man who thought
much of his family, and he gave each of his children
a liberal education, and supplied them with an
.abundance of reading matter. All of the children,
with the exception of one, have from time to time
•>-

'i

♦ 630

t

HENRY COUNTY.

engaged in teaching. The family of Mr. and Mrs.
Gillis consists of eight children : James R., of this
county, married Miss Augusta B. Moore, a native
of Steuben County, N. Y. ; they have four living
children — Arthur L., Charles B., Ann M. and Hud-
son B. The second child was Hudson B., an attor-
ney-at-law, now residing in Yrcka, Cal. ; Mar^' J. is
the wife of O. I. Jamieson, of Columbus Junction,
Iowa; Hemy AV. is an attorney -at-law, of Burt
County, Neb. ; Andrew J. is a civil engineer and
real-estate agent in Oakland, Cal. ; Charles B. was
killed by the kick of a horse at the age of twelve
years; two died in infancy. Mr. Gillis died in
1872, at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Mrs. Gillis is at pres-
ent making her home with her sou James R. She
is a member of the Baptist Church, with which
body she h.is aftiliated since a girl twelve years of
age.

James R. Gillis, the eldest son, is living in Henry
County, on section 20, Center Township, where he
has 175 acres of land, all of which is under a state
of high cultivation. On this farm he located in
1881. He is well educated and for several years
eng.aged in teaching. In 186G and 1867 he was
eng.iged in teaching at New Boston, Mercer Co.,
111., where he had charge of the graded schools. In
1870 he had charge of the school in Avoca, Steuben
Co., N. Y. As a teacher he was highly successful.
Since turning his attention to agricultural pursuits
he has been quite prosperous. Politicall}', he is a
Democrat; fraternally, he is a Master Mason and
has filled all the chairs of his lodge.

ney.

ANIP:L TURNEY, a farmer of Jefferson
Township, Ilem-y Co., Iowa, was born
near Columbus, Ohio, in 1815, and is a
son of John and Susan (Ridenhour) Tur-
She was born in Maryland, and her husband
in Westmoreland County, I'a., and both went to
Ohio in l.sOO, having been married in Pennsylvania.
Their eldest son, J. M., was born in Pennsylvania
prior to their emigration to Ohio. J. M. Turney,
Sr., the grandfather of our subject, purchased sev-
eral soldier's warrants and secured with them about

700 acres of land in Ohio. He and his wife lived
and died upon that laud. During the residence of
John and Susan Turney in Ohio nine children were
born to them: Henry died in childhood; Mary
married David Dill; Jacob, deceased, married
Rebecca Butler; Susan married Thomas Bell; then
came our subject, Daniel ; Catherine married Zenik
Noble, and resides in Indiana; Elizabeth married
Augustus Dill; Phd'be and George R. were twins;
Phcebe married Elijah Noble, and resides in Jeffer-
son Township; George K. married Cynthia Pinney,
and Davis, who died when five j'ears old, completes
the family. Their parents lived and died in Ohio.
Daniel, our subject, was married in 1839 to
Lavina Wilcox, and in 1843 the young couple
came to Henry County, Iowa, and entered a part
of the land he now owns. He was a voter for the
organization of Iowa as a State, and oulj' a few
families were living in Jefferson Township when he
came. Of their children, Chai-les C. and Laura
were born in Ohio, and Darius P., Joel, Theodore,
Sarah, George, and Cynthia, deceased, were born
on the Turney homestead in Jefferson Township.
Charles C. married Anna Green, and now resides
at Wahoo, Saunders Co., Neb., of which he is
County Treasurer. lie was educated and married
in Henry Count}', and with his cousin Joel, now of
Trenton, learned the blacksmith trade when a young
man. Laura married Nathan Carker, a farmer
of Audubon County, Iowa; Darius P. married
Irene Gillespie, and resides in Saunders County,
Neb.; Joel resides in Dakota, and wedded his wife
in Minneapolis, and is a large farmer and stock-
raiser and also a practical engineer bj' profession,
and formerly' ran an engine in Minneapolis; Theo-
dore married Agnes Bowen, and is a farmer in
Saline County, Neb. ; Sarah married John Ernst, a
farmer of Trenton Township; George married
Emma Fleagle, and resides upon his father's home-
stead; Darius P. enlisted in Company G, 11th Iowa
Infantry, when but seventeen years of .age, and
passed through many of the most severe battles of
the w.ar, being at home onl^' once during the entire
campaign; he was at Shiloh, Corinth, Lookout
Mountain, Atlanta, and with Sherman to the sea,
and in the mililar}- review at Wasliington he par-
ticipated.

I

HENRY COUNTY.

631

One of the finest residences in Jefferson Town-
ship in an early day was that of our subject. He
was a poor man when he came to this county, but
success has crowned his efforts .ind his acres now
number 320 in one body. His wife dep.irted this
life in 18G5, and in 1867 he was again married, his
second wife being Eliza Wheeler, of this county,
who was born in Coshocton County, Ohio. By
this marri.ige he has had two children : John W.,
now in Colorado, and Ilattie M., a student at
Howe's Academy, Mt. Ple.isant, both unmarried.
One of the most genial personages in the township
is our subject. He is of Franco-German origin,
and three generations ago his ancestors, who were
of French parentage, but German speaking, came
to America. His great-grandfather married a
Yankee lady in Massachusetts, and from him is
descended the family whom we are pleased to
honor. Mr. Turney was a Whig in the days of
that party and was one who assisted in the forma-
tion of the Republican party in this county. He
has been frequently Township Trustee, and has also
filled many other offices of the township. Prudent
in business and energetic in habits he has grown
wealthy, and in his ripe old age looks backward
upon a life well spent. Other sketches of individ-
ual members of the Turney family will be found
elsewhere, and this of Daniel Turney will be warmly
welcomed by hundreds of his old friends and
neighbors.

eHARLES D. WOOD, residing on section 21,
Center Township, Henry Co., Iowa, was
born in (.^uiucy, 111., Dec. 12, 1837, and is
the youngest son of Daniel and Edith Wood, tiie
former a native of Long Island, N. Y., and the
latter (whose maiden name was Edith Athans) of
North Carolina. When young people they came to
Hamilton County, Ohio, with their parents, where
they became acquainted and were united in mar-
ri.age. After a two-ye.ars residence in Ohio, they
removed to Lawrenceburg, Ind., where they re-
mained for three years. Settling down in the forest,
they hewed down the trees and developed a farm,
but becoming dissatisfied with the country on

account of sickness, they returned to Ohio, but
remained there only a short time. Their next
move was to Quincy, 111., where they remained
some two years, at the expiration of which they
crossed the Father of Waters into Iowa, locating
near the town of Lowell, Henry County, where
they resided some six months, after which they
made their last and fin.il move to the old homestead
occupied bj' them, until by the Angel of De.ath
they were called hence, the former, whose death
occurred Sept. 10, 1881, in the eighty-fifth year of
his age, and the latter June 8, 1866, aged sixty-
two years, both having been consistent members
of the Methodist Church for over forty j'cars.

Father Wood was also an earnest advocate of
every charitable and noble cause, contending fear-
lessly for the rights of his fellowmen, of whatever
race, color or condition, and for many years was
proud to be a member of that heroic little band of
Abolitionists, who so nobly battled and suffered in
the cause of human rights, and later, when the war
clouds that for years had been gathering, burst, and
Ft. Sumter was fired upon, and the National
Government at Washington appealed to the people
for money to arm and equip the soldiers in the
field, he proved his patriotic faith by cheerfully
tendering all his available means to his country,
receiving therefor the Government's promise to
pay, and continued to do so from time to time,
until the war was ended and the country saved.

At one time, during the darkest days of the
Rebellion, when the armies for the Union were
beaten back, and the country seemed to be trem-
bling in the balance, and the hope of many had well-
nigh given way to despair, he was admonished that
there was great risk in placing so much of his hard-
earned means in the hands of the Government.
To this he promptly replied that " if the Govern-
ment went to pieces it would probably be upon
that theory, and that if we should all act on tli.-it
supposition, the Government would surely not be
maintained." "But," said he, "slavery cannot
always exist, or the slave power much longer rule,
and in the justness of our cause, and with honest
Abe at the head, we are sure to win."

Mr. and Mrs. Wood were the parents of seven
children, four of whom are still living: John F.,
v^

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632

HENRY COUNTY.

i

of San Bernardino, Cal. ; Theodocia B., wife of
John Dawson, of Henry County, Iowa; Daniel C,
of tliis county.

Cliarles D. Wood, the subject of our slictch,
received his education in the primitive schools of
the time. In 1838 he came to Henry County with
his parents, remaining on the farm with them until
1856, when he went to Kansas, then a Territory,
where he was engaged in the border ruffian war,
under old Jim Lane, and used his vote and
influence to make that State a home for free men.
In the fall of 1860, having conceived the desire to
visit the place of his birth, he bid adieu to Kansas
and friends, leaving behind the land of the coyote
and border ruffian, and heading for the rising sun, in
a private conveyance, in due time liailed the ferry-
man at Nauvoo, and crossed into the land of his
earl}'' childhood, and remained there until the 13th
day of July, 1861, when he enlisted in the 2d Illi-
nois Cavalry, serving in Company K. He was
mustered in at Camp Butler, near Springfield, where
the regiment was encamped ; then went to Paducah,
Ky. Here the regiment remained for a 3'ear.
During this time Mr. Wood was taken sick with
measles, and was discharged April 30, 1862. Like
the prodigal he then returned home, and on the
12th of February, 1863, was married to Miss Addie
E. Willeford, daughter of .Samuel and Rhoda Wille-
ford, formerly of Kentucky, but pioneers of this
county. She was born in Henry Countj-, Iowa,
May 8, 1844. To them were born five children —
Florence H., Edith A., Ada B., Viola May and
Charles R. R. After marriage Mr. and Jlrs. AVo(_>cl
located on a farm situated three miles south of Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa, where they lived until the spring
of 1873, at which time they removed to the
vicinity of Weaverville, Trinity Co., Cal., purchas-
ing a farm in the Golden State, located on the
banks of Trinity River, from whence could be
seen the snow-capped mountains all the j-ear around.
Here they s|ient two very prosperous years, but
owing to the rough state of the society, and lack of
schooling facilities for their growing family, they
determined to sell and return to Iowa, which
resulted in the purch;ise of the farm where they now
reside, one and one-half miles south of the city of
Mt. Pleasant.

Mr. Wood's religious belief is simply to do what
is right without an}' special preference for sects or
creeds. Politically he is emphatically a Repub-
lican, believing that the great evil of intemperance
can in no other way be so surely suppressed as
through the polic}' of prohibition, advocated by
that party ; believing that the protective policy
of the Rei^ublican party to American industries
will be most beneficial to the American Laborer, and
will more rapidly develop our latent resources,
bringing prosperity to all industrious classes of
society; believing that through the Republican
party we may hope to see the ballot extended to
the noble women of our land, bringing in its wake
a higher state of refinement, more humane and
better laws; believing that no other part}' is so
willing to accord to the Union soldiers the justice
and honor they are entitled to, for the grand
achievements wrought on the many blood}' battle-
fields of the South, for the maintenance of the
Union, and the suffering endured in hosjiitals and
prison-pen; he sincerely hopes, and confidently
expects, if he should live to a ripe old .age, to see
tbese policies maintained, and in consequence to
witness the brightest, most prosperous and happiest
era that ever dawned on the American people.

-J-^'\/\/V-

R. ALFRED GABLESON, residing inMer-
rimac, was born in Western Sweden, nea
" Jonk Joping," and is the son of John
and Christiana Gableson, both born, reared
and married in Sweden, in which country two chil-
dren, our subject and a daughter who died in in-
fancy, were born before their emigration to America,
in 1868. They first located in Rockford, 111., where
John Gableson worked at his trade, that of wagon-
making. Nine months Later the family came to
Jefferson County, where a farm was purchased, and
where the parents yet reside. One son was born in
Je'fferson County, Iowa— Henry. The education of
our subject was received at Wiufield, and his medi-
cal studies were begun under the tuition of Dr. B.
G. Kimmel, a i)hysician and surgeon of that town.
After one year's study Dr. Gableson went to Edina,
Mo., and placed himself under the care of Dr. J,

:,

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HENRY COUNTY.

633

W. Downs, and after a two years' course of study
matriculated at the Keokuk Medical College, taking
one term in 1881. He returned to Missouri, and
L. S. Brown, M. D., became his tutor for another
year, when the young Doctor, now highly educated
in his chosen profession, went to Chicago and ma-
triculated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons,
and was a member of the first class, and heard the
first lectures ever delivered in that college. After
attending one full course in that noted school, he
returned to his home, and located in August, 1883,
at Merrimac, where since that time he has done a
fine practice. Dr. Gableson is a young physician
of great promise, and takes high rank among the
medical men of Southeastern Iowa. As one of her
talented citizens, and in honor to the profession he
represents, we place his sketcli on record among
those of his profession.

-.•■5*^"e«

f

I

\D OHN C. WINTERS. This enterprising and
well-known business man of Mt. Pleasant
was born in LaSalle County, III., Sept. 25,
1848. His parents are John and Margaret
(Coghlagn) Winters. His father, who deserves
more than a passing mention in this work, was born
in County Monaghan, Ireland, in 1819, and received
his education in his native country. When seven-
teen years of age, in company with his parents, he
sought a home in the New World. Soon after land-
ing in America he went to Syracuse, N. Y., where
he learned the trade of a stone-cutter, in which he
gained that thorough knowledge wliich in after
years he put to such good use, and which proved
the foundation of his large fortune. Leaving Syra-
cuse he went to Toronto, Canada, where he was
employed on the Queen's College, then building.
From Toronto he went to Rice Lake, where he
worked on the canal locks, which were then in
course of construction. He was married at Lock-
port, N. Y., and in 1844 removed to LaSalle
County, 111., where he remained until 1856, in the
meantime working on the stone works and in the con-
struction of the Michigan Canal. When the build-
ing for the Iowa Hospital for the Insane was in

course of erection in Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co.,
Iowa, he removed there in the hope of securing
employment, in which he succeeded. Here the
thorough, practical knowledge of his trade, and his
excellent judgment of the different varieties of
stone, stood him in good stead. He saw that a
beautiful and durable quality of stone was obtained
near by, and exercising good judgment in the selec-
tion bought a tract of land, on which he opened
up the now widely-known Winters' Stone Quarries,
an enterprise which has been of great benefit to
Mt. Pleasant, and which has made a goodly sum
for its proprietor. He has taken large contracts
for work on the Burlington & Missouri and Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy Roads, and has carried as
many as 400 men on his pay-rolls at one time, dis-
tributing nuich money in this region. Mr. "Winters
lives in a beautiful home, adjoining Mt. Pleasant,
on a farm of 600 acres, which he has stocked with
some of the finest blooded horses and Durham
cattle in the State, in the raising of which he has
been very successful, bringing to that business the
same sagacity and good judgment which have been
among his distinguishing characteristics. He has
raised and owned some of the finest and fastest
horses in the State, among them the renowned
Stonewall Jackson, which with other fine stock was
burned to death by a fire which consumed his barn
in 1879. Mr. Winters' landed possessions in Henry
County comprise about 1,700 acres, most of which
is under cultivation.

The history of the life of John Winters is full of
encouragement to young men just starting. He
began life without any capital other than willing
hands, a clear head, good judgment, and integ-
rity of i^urpose. Applying himself with fidelity to
what he had to do, he worked diligently and hon-
estly, and has from this capital only made himself
one of the wealthiest men in this section of the
State. The pursuit of wealth has not hardened his
heart, or narrowed his n.ature, which is too often
the case. His charities are numerous and liberal,
and a deserving applicant is never turned away
empty handed. He is a member of the Masonic
fraternity, in which he stands high. In politics he
is an uncompromising Jeffersonian Democrat, and
is thoroughly posted in National, State and county

!

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634

^•►Hh-^

HENRY COUNTY.

i'

matters. He and his wife were the parents of four
children, of whom two sous, John C. and Michael
F., are now living.

John C. Winters, whose name heads this bio-
graphical sketch, was quite young when his parents
settled in Mt. Pleasant. He received a good edu-
cation at Howe's Academy in that city, and since
arriving at manhood has assisted his father in his
business. For years he has been manager of the
quarries at Mt. Pleasant, with large numbers of men
under his charge, and attending to all the details of
the large business. He was married in September,
1809, to Miss Mary Ellen O'Hare, who was born in
St. Louis in 1846, and is a daughter of Samuel and
Mary (McKenna) O'Hare. Their union has been
blessed with ten children, eight of whom are living:
Laura M. and Mary S., twins; Samuel L., John,
Grace C, Francis C, Michael H. and Gertrude;
two died in infancy.

Like his father, Mr. Winters is a stanch Demo-
crat, and though he has never sought office has been
honored by his fellow-citizens with positions of
trust and responsibility. He is a friend of liberal
education, and has been President of the School
Board. He was also a Director in the Agricultural
Society, and now is Secretary of the Democratic
County Central Committee. Inheriting the sterling
qu.alities of his honest father, as a straightforward,
honorable and enterprising business man, no man
stands higher in Henry County. He lives in a
beautiful home near his father, adjoining the city of
Mt. Pleasant, and under his hospitable roof from
time to time are gathered together many of his
friends.

(17 ENRY CLAY LYNCHARD, of Mt. Ple.as-
'^^ ant, was born on the 8th of Maj', 1817, in
Bourbon County, Ky. He is the son of
Thomas and Prudence (Talbert) Lynchard,
who were both natives of Virginia, but at an early
day their parents emigrated to Kentucky, wiiere the
young people became acquainted and were united
in marriage. Their union was blessed with eight
children, only two of whom are now living: Nanc3',
the wife of James Burris, now resides in Virginia,
111; her husband was a soldier in the Rebellion,
■<» .

and died after being discharged, from disease con-
tracted while in the army. The other child is the
subject of this sketch. Mr. Lynchard served his
country faithfully as a soldier during the War of
1812, and died at home in Kentucky, in 1822, from
the effects of exposure during his service. His wife
was again married, to William Bowman, and they
removed in 1823 to Covington, Ky., and subse-
quently to Newport in the same State, and then to
Cincinnati, Ohio, where she resided until the time
of her death, which occurred in 1834. Mrs. Bow-
man was a faithful member of the Christian Church.
She had one child bj^ her second husband, Jacob,
who now resides in Indiana.

Henry C. Ljmch.nrd, the subject of this sketch,
went with his mother to Cincinnati when about six
3'ears of age, and was compelled to work at such
odd jobs as he could find until the age of eighteen,
when he bound himself to Mr. William Abbott for
two and a half years, receiving his board and clothes,
and was to have at the end of his apprenticeship a
set of edged tools. He was married, June 5, 1837,
to Miss Elizabeth Hill, who was born near Knox-
ville, Tenn. By this union they had a familj^
of eight children, six of whom are now living:
Isabel is the wife of John A. Hughes, an ornamental
painter of Chicago, 111. ; Caroline S. is the wife of
John Beam, of Springfield, 111.; Charles A. is a resi-
dent of Henry County, Iowa; Maggie P. is the wife
of Robert Goudy. of T.iylorville. 111.; William H.
resides at Coinicil Bluffs, Iowa, and is editor of the
Herald; Alice married John Saunders, of Harper
County, Kan., who is a real-estate agent.

Mrs. Lynchard was called to her final rest May
9, 1800, and her husband was again married, Jul}'
28, 1862, to P^annie Allen, the widow of Mathew
Syphard, who was a native of Virginia, emigrating
to Ohio, and from thence to Mt. I'leasant, Iowa,
where he died Aug. 28, 1860, respected by all wiio
knew him. Mrs. L3Michard's parents were David
and Elizabeth (Massey) Allen; their union w.as
blessed with three children, two of whom are now
living: Mary Guysleman, of Hillsboro, Ohio, and
Mrs. L3'nchard. The mother of these children died
in 1S27. Mr. Allen was again married, to Eliza
Laird, by whom he had nine children, two of whom
are now living: Amanda is the wife of George

Litchfield, of Illinois, and Nancy is the wife of
Henry Reed, of Highland County, Ohio, at which
place Mr. Allen died.

~SIt. and Mrs. Lynchard are members of the First
Methodist Episcopal Church of Mt. Pleasant, and
are earnest workers in their Master's vineyard. INIr.
Lynchard is entirely a self-made man, having worked
his way up over discouragements and difficulties
until he is now independent, and has the respect
and confidence of all. He has always been identi-
fied with the Eepublican party, and always ready
to advance its interests.

v

!

1=

<^ I^ILLIAM LITZENBERG, one of the lead-
ing farmers of Henry County, resides on
section 35, Marion Township. He was
born at Clarksville, Greene Co., Pa., Nov. 25, 1811,
and is the son of John and Nancy (Prang) Litzen-
berg, natives of Pennsylvania, though the mother
was of German descent. They were the parents of
eleven children, four of whom are living: David,
a farmer living in Knox County, Ohio; Susan, wife
of John Jackson, also resides in Knox County,
Ohio; John, who still lives in Knox County, Ohio.
The deceased are Elvina, Sarah, George, Simon,
James Weslej", .and one who died in infancy.

William, the subject of this sketch, remained at
home with his parents until he was of age, and was
educated in the common schools of his native State,
and on reaching his majority he went to Washing-
ton County, Pa., and bought a farm of 130 acres,
on which he resided until 1865, with the exception
of a period of between two and three years when
engaged in other occupation than that of farming.
On the 10th day of March, 1835, Mr. Litzenberg
was married to Miss Charlotte Rush, and to them
were born five children : Priscilla, wife of John
Rose, was born Jan. 20, 1836, and now lives in
Greene County, Pa. ; Elizabeth was born June 24,
1839, and is the wife of Hiram Horner; John, born
March 17, 1841 ; James R. was bom April 7, 1844,
and died March 8, 1847; Hiram, who is now living
on the old homestead in Washington County, Pa.

The mother of the above-named children de-
parted this life Dec. 12, 184G. She was a devoted

4»

and loving mother, a faithful wife, a true Christian
woman. Mr. Litzenberg was again married, Dec.
16, 1846, to Amelia Tegard, a native of Pennsyl-
vania. By this union were born unto them : Henry
L., born Sept. 16, 1847, and died Nov. 21, 1851;
Margaret H., born J.an. 27, 1850, and died Nov. 24,
1851 ; Mary Olive, born Feb. 7, 1853, is the wife of

5. Powell, residing in Phillips County, Kan. ; Sarah,
wife of Charles Swan, a resident of New London,
Iowa. Mr. Litzeuberg's second wife departed this
life Dec. 12,1859, and he was again married, Nov.

6, 18C0, to Mary Long, a native of Greene County,
Pa., born Dec. 16, 1830. To them were born four
children: William, who is now a farmer of Henry
Count}', Iowa: Ellen, the wife of Frank Skipton, a
farmer of Henry County, residing near New Lon-
don; Ada, who died Sept. 18, 1869, and Benjamin.

In the j'e.ir 1869 Mr. Litzenberg sold his farm in
Washington Count}', Pa., and emigrated to Henry
County, buying 300 acres of land in Marion Town-
ship, where he has since resided. Mr. Litzenberg
has always been a man with a heart and hand open
to all who came to him in need, and no worthy
object of charity was ever repulsed by him. He has
been greatly prospered in his business relations, and
it is all due to his energy and economy as a business
man. He has always been a leading citizen wher-
ever he has lived, whether in Iowa or Pennsylva-
nia. In his early days he was a Whig, but has
voted the Democratic ticket since 1860, and has
alw.ays done his part in all public charities and
enterprises, and many a poor man attributes his
success in life to the timely aid lent him by Mr.
Litzenberg when he needed a friend, .and fully real-
izes that "a friend in need is a friend indeed."

"if)OIIN WHEELER, D. D. In looking over
the written sketches of the history of those
we h.ave honored and loved we are oft-times
(^// pained to find only the bony structures of
charactei's that in life have shown themselves so
rounded .and beautiful, so complete in their fullness,
so symmetrical in their development, that we scarcely
recognize them from the meager touches of the pen.
It is easy indeed to note the few statistics that sur-
■►

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636

■>» II <•

HENRY COUNTY.

\

I

vive the best, so difficult to trace the spirit that ani-
mated them, and see how it bent all influences to its
own use in molding and shaping the character, and
making the real man. The measure of one's life is
not length of daj's, but wise use of opportunities,
not strife for selfish ends, but steadfastness of pur-
pose for the uplifting and upbuilding of our com-
mon humanity.

By all such standards of measurement John
AVheeler stood a man among men. English by
birth, though so early Americanized that no memory
of his native land survived, he was in all but birth
a loyal and true American. His father, John
Wheeler, Sr., a ship-builder by trade, as his fore-
father had done before him, plied his trade indus-
triously at Portsmouth, England. A devout and
God-fearing race as far back as there is any knowl-
edge of them, energetic and intelligent to a rare
degree, they were fine representatives of the better
cliiss of English artisans.

But the spirit of the times then as now was lead-
ing many from the cramped opportunities and nar-
rowing prospects of English life to the broader and
brighter ones in America, .and John Wheeler, with
Mary Kingswell, his wife, and their three children,
of whom the subject of this sketch was eldest,
turned their faces toward the land of promise,
landing in Baltimore, where a month later father
and little ones stood at the open grave of the young
mother — so soon was he to learn the bitter lesson
that disappointment and grief are impartial deni-
zens of all lands.

From Baltimore the father went on to Bellefon-
taine, Oiiio, with his motherless little ones, to re.ar
a new home in a strange land. Tliere the children
grew up, sharing the hardships and jjrivations of
that early day.

Ten years later we find him running a country
store, and also the post-otlice. In connection with
the latter it was his duty to forward tiie mail to
another point three days' I'ide distant. The ride
was a dreary one even in pleasant weather, most of
the way througii dense forests, with little semblance
to a road, and settlers' cabins few and widely sep-
arated, liut wiien winter set in the task of finding
any one willing to be in the saddle six days out of
seven, braving the terrors of the forest — and at
M»

that early day they were real — together with the
severity' of the climate, the question of a mail car-
rier became a serious one. One by one the avail-
able men of the place tried it, and after one or two
trips only a single man was left willing to under-
take it. He started out bravely, but in a da}' or
two returned, threw down the mail bags, crying like
a child with fear and cold, and declaring that no
one could do it. What was to be done.'' The Post-
master was responsible for the delivery of the mail.
To leave himself vvas out of the question. John,
then a boy of fourteen, threw himself into the
breach. His father hesitated, but the urgency of
the case compelled him to accept the offer, and he
reluctantly consented. The winter proved to be
an unusually severe one, but week after week this
fourteen-year-old boy never once failed in his duty.
But what he suffered that winter none except him-
self ever knew. It was not merel}' the physical
suffering, sharp and severe as that often was, which
he h.ad to endure, but also the constant presence of
peril as well. He was a boy of keen sensibilities,
of strong religious bias, of quick and tender con-
science, and day after day as he rode along in soli-
tude his mind was tossed vvith questions of the
future, beset witli fears and racked with doubts.
Naturally disposed to"wiite bitter things against
himself," as he rode along every childish fault
assumed the form and proportion almost of crimes.
So indelible was the impress of this period upon
his nature that to his latest years he could not pass
a dense forest without a shuddering remembrance
of it.

The Sabbath at home was the one bright spot of
the week, when, confiding to his father as much as
it was possible for such a nature to reveal to any
one, he received from him such instruction and
comfort as few fathers ever give to sons. The dis-
cipline and contlicts of this winter were doubtless
valuable though severe aids in developing the man
of later years.

The circumstances by which he was surrounded
offered no opportunities for acquiring a lilx'ral edu-
cation, and up to his twenty-first year he had but a
few months' schooling, but deep within was the
purpose to prepare himself for his life work l)y a
thorough college education. With this end in view

HENRY COUNTY,

637

i

he became a student in 1835 at a Methodist semin-
ary at Norwalk, Ohio, supporting himself by his
own labors. Two years later he entered Alleghany
College, at Meadville, Pa. Here he formed the
acquaintance and gained the friendship of Prof.
Matthew Simpson, afterward Bishop of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, and when two years later
Prof. Simpson was appointed President of the Indi-
ana Asbury University, he took with him his pupil,
giving him work as tutor while completing his col-
lege course, which he did in 1840, being one of the
first class ever graduated in that institution, the
entire class numbering but three, two classical :
John Wheeler and T. A. Goodwin, with, in the
language of the latter, "one poor scientific sand-
wiched in between."

For nearly fifty years Asbury University has been
sending out year by year its trained young men,
and for nearlj^ twenty its women too, and stands
to-day rich in influence and endowment, rich in
opportunities and in prospects, but riclier far in
memories of men, and not a few whose power has
been felt and acknowledged in church and State
throughout the length and breadth of our land, and
some whose reputation and influence has been
world-wide.

Two years later, having been in the meantime in
charge of the Franklin Collegiate Institute at In-
dianapolis, Mr. Wheeler was elected to the chair
of his Alma Mater, a position he filled most suc-
cessfully for twelve years. In 1854 he resigned*
his position in the Indiana Asbury University, and
went into business, but his love for his chosen pro-
fession led him to again accept college work in pref-
erence to commercial life, and he accepted the
offer of the Presidency of Baldwin Institute, after-
ward University, at Berea, Ohio, where he spent
the next fifteen years, and where the heaviest work
of his life was done. The change in the status of
the institution involved heavy responsibilities, while
the limited endowments and straitened circum-
stances made the closest calculations necessary, and
heavy demands upon the generosity of friends. Not-
withstanding the pressure from these causes the
school steadily grew, and assumed healthy propor-
tions.

In connection with this work his keen eye saw

1*

another line of influence, unheeded by any college
in the land, viz: the numbers of young C4erman-
Americans who were practically barred an educa-
tion of the higher grade, and the necessity to the
church of having the means of meeting the emi-
grant as he comes among us with his old-world
sentiments, with ministers educated in the most
thorough manner, and able to present the truth
in the mother tongue. With this end in view he
organized a German department in Baldwin Uni-
versity, and later secured the necessary means to
establish the German Wallace College, in connec-
tion with the existing university. For nearly
twenty-five years this school has been in successful
operation, fully justifying in its work the hopes and
faith of its projectors, a power for good in the
German Methodist Episcopal Church, whose influ-
ence can scarcely be over-estimated.

The life and labors of Dr. Wheeler in Iowa com-
menced in 1870, and were closed by death June
18, 1881. Five years of this time he was President
of the Iowa Wesleyan University, during which
time the influence of the institution was strength-
ened and increased in many directions, including
the location of the German College, secured through
his influence and labor in this place, one year in the
pastoral work, and five in the Presiding Eldership,
make up so far as records go his life in Iowa, but
they give but slight indices of his faithful devo-
tion to every interest committed to his trust. With
him no opportunity was suffered to pass unim-
proved, no known duty neglected. His motto:
''I must work, night cometh," seemed a constant
inspiration to him, not in the line of college work
alone, but for every cause that looked to the eleva-
tion of mankind. For every moral reform his
sj'nipathies were quick and lasting. In church
work his heart went out especiall}' toward the mis-
sionary cause, and at two different periods of his
life he was chosen and accepted the appointment to
take charge of foreign fields, but each time a change
in the plans by those in authority left him to com-
plete his life work here in his adopted country. His
appreciation of the value of the press led him to
establish a college paper at each of the three col-
leges he served, viz: The Asbury ^otes, College
Gazette and Iowa Classics. In the cause of temper-
.^

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638

HENRY COUNTY.

ance he was both tireless anfl fearless. The training
of his early life, and his experience at Asbury,
alike lay in the line of colleges for men alone, and
indeed up to that time the co-education of the sexes
was hardly a mooted question ; but when appointed
to the Presidency of Baldwin Institute he found
himself at the head of a school in which for years
had been educated on equal footing the sons and
daughters of North Ohio, he confessed himself aston-
ished at the high gr.ade of scholarship maintained
by both, thus educated in the same institution.

In the few months that passed before the change
of grade he was thoroughly convinced of the value
of such an arrangement. Later, at a meeting of
the Board of Trustees of the Indiana ITni versify
now " De Pauw," when the question was being
hotly discussed as to the proprietj' of throwing
open its doors to daughters as well as sons, his
opinion was asked, and, to the amazement of some,
he was found an earnest and unequivocal advocate
of the movement, and we venture to say no more
important step has ever been taken tovvard the per-
manent success of that institution than was settled
that day.

Circumstances doubtless do much to shape and
develop the characters of men. The difHculties of
his earl}' life were not without their fruits. The
warm, generous heart never ceased to feel for those
who, like himself, were struggling against difficulties
to obtain that preparation for life that would enable
them best to fuUill its duties and meet its responsi-
bilities, and no poor student ever sought counsel or
aid from him in vain.

In the pulpit, or on the rostrum, his strong con-
victions, close research, wide information, ripe
scholarship, and earnest representation of a subject,
made him an impressive speaker, one who would
challenge thought and create an abiding interest in

any theme to which he gave his attention. In these
respects he had comparatively few equals. In his do-
mestic life he was at his best, and to the home circle
brought freely and constantly his choicest gifts
of mind and heart. It is not often that even good
men's lives will bear unsullied too close scrutiny at
their own fireside. But none who knew Dr. Wheeler
in his own home could fail to yield him their ready
reverence and love. He was so uniformly cour-
teous and affectionate to each member of his house-
hold, so watchful of their interests, so devoted to
their training, especially to their religious instruc-
tion, in such cordial sympathy with theii' plans,
their joys or sorrows, as to make him the trusted
and loved confidant of every member of the family
circle, as well as its authoritative head.

He was twice married. His first wife w.as Miss
Marj' Yandes, of Indianapolis, who died in Sep-
tember, 1854, leaving five children, of whom three
sons survive. His second wife was Miss Clara S.
Ilulet, of Berea, Ohio, who survives him, with two
sons and three daughters.

Briefly to sum up his character we may say : His
wise foresight, his indomitable perseverance, his
untiring industry, his scholarly habits, his gentle-
manly bearing, his pure and irreproachable Chris-
tian character, his unflinching integrity, and his
scorn of trickery in church or State, were well-
known characteristics of the man. In public life
he sought no honors, he shunned no responsibil-
ities.

As he had l)een found faithful in life so was he
fearless in death, leaving as his dying testimonj',
" My Redeemer liveth," and adding with upraised
hand, and solemn emphasis, the oath of a d^'ing
man. For such as ho

" There is no death,
What seems so is transition."

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'•►

HENRY COUNTY.

641

INTRODUQT^ORY. fe

1 1 j :~i''>^'^^':^':^':i^fi^'€^>^^iu:i^^'.:^x>.:u'^^^

HE time has arrriverl when
it becomes the duty of the
people of this county to per-
petuate the names of their
pioneers, to furnish a record
of their early settlement, and
relate the history of their prog-
ress. The civilization of our
day, the enlightenment of the
age, and the duty that men of
the present time owe to their
ancestors, to themselves and their
posterity, demand that a record of
their lives and deeds should be
made. In biographical historj' is
found a power to instruct a man by precedent, to
enliven the mental faculties, and to waft down the
river of time a safe vessel in which the names and
actions of the people who contributed to raise this
country from its primitive state maj^ be preserved.
Surely and rapidly the great and aged men, who in
their prime entered the wilderness and claimed the
virgin soil as their heritage, are passing to their
graves. The number remaining who relate the in-
cidents of the first days of the settlement is becom-
ing small indeed, so that an actual necessity exists
for the collection and preservation of events without

•^

delay, before all the early settlers are cut down by
the scythe of Time.

To be forgotten has been the great dread of
mankind from remotest ages. All will be forgotten
soon enough, in spite of their good works and the
most earnest efforts of their friends to preserve the
memory of their lives. The means employed to
prevent oblivion and to perpetuate their memory
has been in proportion to the amount of intelligence
they possessed. The pyramids of Egypt were
built to perpetuate the names and deeds of their great
rulers. The exhumations made by the archeolo-
gists of Eg3'pt from buried Memphis, indicate a
desire of those people to perpetuate a memory of
their achievements. The erection of the great
obelisks was for the same purpose. Coming down
to a later period, we find the Greeks and Romans
erecting mausoleums and monuments, and carving
out statues to chronicle their great achievements,
and carry them down the ages. It is also evident
that the Mound-builders, in piling up their great
mounds of earth, had but this idea — to leave some-
thing to show that they had lived. All these
works, though many of them costly in the extreme,
give but a faint idea of the lives and characters of
those whose memory they were intended to per-
petuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of the
— •►

u

^^» -^

642

HENRY COUNTY.

people who then lived. The great pyramids and
some of the obelisks remain, objects only of curi-
osity ; the mausoleums, monuments and statues are
crumbling into dust.

It was left to modern ages to establish an intelli-
gent, undecaying, immutable method of perpetuat-
ing a full history — immutable in that it is almost
unlimited in extent and perjietual in its action; and
this is through the art of printing.

To the present generation, however, we are in-
debted for the introduction of the admirable system
of local biography. By this system every man,
though he has not achieved what the world calls
greatness, has the means to perpetuate his life his-
tory throughout the coming ages.

The scythe of Time cuts down all; nothing of
the physical man is left. The monument which his
children or friends may erect to his memory in the
cemetery will crumble into dust and pass away; but
his life, his achievements, the work he has accom-
plished, which otherwise would be forgotten, is per-
petuiited by a record of this kind.

To preserve the lineaments of our companions
we engrave their portraits, for the same reason we
collect the attainable facts of their history. Nor
do we think it necessary, as we speak only truth of
them, to wait until they are dead, or until those
who know them are gone; to do this we are ashamed
to publish to the world the history of even those
whose lives are unworthy of public record.

t-

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HENRY COUNTY.

643 '^

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grapiliicii:

i*

HE county of Ileury lies in
the second tier of counties
west of the Mississippi River
and the second tier from
the Blissonri line. It is
bounded on the south by
Lee County, on the north
by Louisa and Washington, on
the east by Des Moines and
Louisa Counties, and on the west
by Jefferson and Van Buren
Counties. It comprises an area
of 432 square miles, being eight-
een miles from east to west, and
twenty-four miles from north to
south. It is divided into twelve
civil and an equal number of Con-
gressional Townships. As at present divided we
have Scott, Wayne, Jefferson, Canaan, Marion,
Trenton, New London, Center, Tippecanoe, Balti-
more, Jackson and Salem. The county is well
watered, its principal stream being the Skunk River,
which enters the county near the northwest corner,
and after winding along its western border for
about ten miles, trends off in a southeasterly di-
rection, passing out of the county near the south-
east corner. The principal tributaries of the Skunk
River are Cedar and Big Creeks. The former enters
it from the west, near the northwest corner of
Salem Township, and after a winding course for a
few miles, turns due north and empties into the
river just below Rome. Big Creek rises in the
eastern part of New London Township, and runs
northwesterly through New London and Marion
Townships, then turns south and finally southeast,
emptying into Skunk River about two and one-half
miles above Lowell. Water power is abundant on

Skunk River, which affords good mill sites at
intervals of five to six miles throughout its ex-
tent in this county. Heavy bodies of timber are
found on these rivers and their tributaries, affording
an abundant supply' to the whole county. Black
and white oak and hickory are the principal growths
upon the uplands, while along the streams may be
found black and white walnut, red, burr and pin
oak, linden, hackberry, white and sugar maple,
hickory, elm, ash, honey locust, sycamore and
Cottonwood.

The natural scenery in this county is greatly
diversified, there being gently undulating prairies,
and heavy bodies of timber, especially along the
streams as already stated, although being welj
pleasing to the eye. The only deposits of alluvial
bottoms in this county are found on Skunk River,
which is skirted by a narrow belt on both sides,
seldom exceeding a mile in width. These bottom
lands sustain a magnificent growth of timber, and
when cleared and brought under cultivation are
among the most productive in the county. The
soil is usually a deep, black, sandy loam, admirably
adapted to the growth of corn, sweet potatoes,
and all other products requiring a dry and warm
soil. Fruits of all kinds may be raised either on
the bottoms or bluff lands, with more certainty of
annual crops than on the prairies. The prairie
land of this county is all that one could wish, the
soil being deep and rich, well adapted to the pro-
duction of all cereals, vegetables and grasses pecul-
iar to this latitude. Nature has done much for this
country, and man has aided in bringing it under a
high state of cultivation, so that to-day, after a
lapse of little over fifty years, one finds its entire
surface dotted over with fine farmhouses and barns,
the whole presenting a jjicture that is indeed lovely.

t

644

HENRY COUNTY.

V^^

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UCH has been written of the
pioneers of the West, and
many words of praise spoken ,
but too much cannot be said
commendatory of the brave
men and women who left
homes in the East, where the^'
were surrounded by every evi-
dence of civilized life, together
"^l, with friends and kindred, and
came into a new and almost un-
known country, redeeming it from
the wily red man, and preparing it
for their children and children's
children that should come after.
Little more than a half century ago
that portion of Iowa, "the beau-
tiful land," now comprising the wealthy county of
Henry, was an unbroken wilderness, inhabited by
wild beasts, wild fowls, and no less wily red men.
Its forest had not resounded with the woodman's
ax, nor its prairie been upturned with the plow.
All was then .as it came from the liand of the Crea-
tor.

All has now been changed. The trail of the red
men is now laid with iron bands, over wiiicii spc-eds
the locomotive with its train of palace cars, and in
which d.aily are found representatives of almost
every nation on the facte of the earth. The wig-
wams and log cabins have given pl.ace to palatial
residences, fine school-houses and elegant churches.
The howl of the wild beast no more is heard, but in

its place is heard the ble.ating of the sheep, the low-
ing of cattle, and the neighing of horses.

Tlie pioneers of the country are but John the
Baptist harbingers of a coming civilization. Like
John, they go into the wilderness and prepare for
others; smoothing the rough places, filling up the
valleys, cutting down the mountains and straight-
ening the paths. The work necessaril}' must be
a laborious one, requiring strong arms and brave
hearts for its accomplishment. Toil and privations
must be endured of which those coming after them
could have no real or just conception.

When the pioneers of Henry County first made
settlement within its borders, there was no railroad
west of Chicago, nor was there one reaching even
to that city. Travel was made alone by ox or
horse teams, most generallj' by the former, espec-
ially if long distances were to be traversed. To.
remove for the East required long and extensive
preparations, and the journej' was one of continued
toil and anxiety, and even danger. The route lay
through a wild and rough countr^^ ; swamps and
marshes were crossed with great exerti(m and fatigue ;
rivers were forded with difliculty and danger;
nights were passed in the dense forests, with the earth
for a coucli and the trees and foliage for a shelter.
Long, weary days and weeks of travel were endured,
but finally their eyes were gladdened, and their
hearts beat faster, when a vision of their future
home burst upon them.

The first thing upon arrival was to set about
building a cabin. While this was being done the

i

■^•-

HENRY COUNTY.

645

family slept in the wagons or upon the grass. Trees
of a suitable and uniform size were selected, felled
and prepared for their places. The day for the
raising was announced, and from far and near came
other pioneers to assist in the labor. The structure
went up a log at a time, those engaged in the
labor stopping now and then to "wet their whistles,"
and soon it was ready for tlie clapboard roof, which
was held on by huge weight poles. A door and a
window were cut where the good wife directed, a
chimney built, and the building was ready for its
occupants. The space between the logs was filled
with split sticivs of wood called "chinks," and
daubed over, both inside and out, with mortar made
of clay. Tlie floor was sometimes nothing more
than eartii tramped hard and smooth, but was com-
monly made of puncheons or split logs, with the
split side turned upward. The roof was made by
gradually drawing in the top to the ridge pole,
and on cross pieces laying the clapboards which be-
ing several feet long, were hold in place by weight
poles, reaching the entire length of the cabin. For
a fireplace a space was cut out of the wall on one
side of the room, usually .abcjut six feet in length,
and three sides were built of logs, making an offset
in the wall. These were lined with stone, if con-
venient, if not, then earth was used. The flue, or
upper part of the chimne}^ was built of small split
sticks, two and a half to three feet in length, car-
ried a little above the roof and plastered over with
cla3', and when finished was called "cob and clay"
chimney. The door space was also made by cut-
ting an aperture of the required size in one side of
the room, the door itself being made of clapboards
secured by wooden pins to the cross pieces. The
hinges were also of wood, while the fastening con-
sisted of a wooden latch catching on a hook of the
same material. To open the door from the outside,
a strip of buckskin was tied to the latch and drawn
through a hole a few inches above the latch-bar, so
that on pulling the string the latch was lifted from
the catch or hook, and the door was opened without
any further trouble. To lock tlie door it was only
necessary to pull the string through the hole to the
inside. Here the family lived, and here the guest
and wayfarer were m.ade welcome. The living
room was of good size, but to a large extent it was

also kitchen, bedroom, parlor and arsenal, with
flitches of bacon and rings of dried pumpkins sus-
pended from the rafters. These simple cabins were
inhabited by a kind and true-hearted people. They
were strangers to mock modesty, and the travelers
seeking lodging for the night, or desirous of spend-
ing a few days in the neigliborhood, willing to
accept the rude oiferings, were always welcome, al-
though hovv they were disposed of at night can
scarcely be imagined.

The pioneers of Henry County were from many
of the States of the Union. Before leaving their
pjastern or Southern homes some of them had heard
of what was in store for them in this "beautiful land."
Others struck out with the determination to go
until they came to a section of country- that would
suit their varied tastes. A better country they
could not have found, a country where Nature lias
scattered her choicest blessings with a liberal hand.
With a plentiful supply of timber, with a prairie
soil that " need only lie tickled with a hoe to laugh
with the harvest," tlie pioneers of Henry County
made their claims, commenced their improvements,
and prosperity attended them.

By the treaty with Black Hawk in 1832, at the
close of the Black Hawk War, a portion of the ter-
ritory now comprising the State of Iowa was
thrown open for settlement. The coiintj^ of Henry
was a part of the territory acquired by that treaty.
The treaty was made in September, 18.32, but did
not go into operation until June 1, 1833. A few
venturesome spirits crossed the river near Burlington
prior to that time, but were driven away bj' soldiers
of the General Government from Rock Island.
Scarcely had the last hour passed when many who
had been anxiously waiting the time crossed over
the Mississippi River and began to make their
claims in what is now Des Moines County. Being
permitted to claim as much as they could pay for,
it was not long before all the choice land of that
county was taken up, and those who came later
were required to push on farther West, and in due
time Heniy County secured its first settler. To
James Dawson the honor is given of making the
first permanent location in this county. lie staked
out a claim one and a half miles west of the site of
Mt. Pleasant, in the spring of 1834. He was fol-

r

t

■<^

' ^ 646

^^^

HENRY COUNTY.

lowed during that year by several other persons,
among whom were Presley Saunders, Z. Wilbourne,
W. B. Lusk and others. Mr. Saunders and Mr.
Lusk are yet honored citizens of Henry County,
and have not only lived to see the changes that
have been made, but have been active participants
in almost every enterprise that has been for the
advancement or improvement of the county. At
the time of the first settlement, Iowa formed a por-
tion of Michigan Territory. Two years afterward
the Territory of Wisconsin was organized and it
then became a part of Wisconsin. Two years later
Iowa Territory was formed, and in 184G it was ad-
mitted into the union of States. The first settlers
of Henry County were thus citizens of Michigan,
Wisconsin and Iowa. Presley Saunders relates
that he had one child born in Michigan Territory,
one in Wisconsin Territory, one in the Territory of

Iowa, and one in the State of Iowa, all being born
on the same quarter-section of land.

Henry County during the first few years settled
up quite rapidly. Farms were opened, sciiool-
houses and churches were erected, mills were built,
marriages solemnized, and births ,and deaths oc-
curred. The first birth is supposed to have been that
of T. S. Box, born near the site of Lowell, in Balti-
more Township, in December, 1835. The first
death was probably the result of an accident. In
1835 a man named Pullman was found dead near
the site of the Hospital for the Insane, with his
rifle by his side. He was from Indiana, and had
been in this section but two or three months. The
first marriage license was that granted to Presley
Saunders and Huldah Bowen. The license was
granted Dec. 17,1836.

^Ai^_

-4*-

i^l-^

HENRY COUNTY.

647 ik

m(}.

O M GA NIZA TIO N.

. oc-yo

' OCJO

' N LY a short time elapsed after
the fiistsettleaient was made
hefore there was a popula-
tion sufficient to justify or-
ganization. The Wisconsin
Territorial Legislature, in
1836, passed an act creating several
counties, among which was that of
Henry. Sooh after the passage of
the act, steps were taken to perfect
its organization. Officers were elected
and entered upon the discharge of
their duties. Robert Caulk, Samuel
Brazelton and Geo. J. Sharp were the
first County Commissioners elected.
J. D. Payne was the first County Commissioners'
Clerk, holding at the same time the office of Clerk
of the Courts. John H. Randolph was the first Re-
corder, D. C. Ruberts, County Treasurer, John
Biddle, Coroner, and Andrew Kennedy, Sheriff.

The first session of the County Commissioners'
Court was held Jan. 16, 1837, and that body im-
mediately went to work to put in order the govern-
mental machinery of the county. The bonds of
the various county officers were approved, roads
were located, and steps taken for the erection of
county buildings. On the 13th of February, 1837,
it was ordered by the board "that the contract for
building a court-house in Mt. Pleasant be let, and
that the Supervisors receive sealed proposals on said
contract." In May following the order was re-
scinded, but on June 24 of the same year, it was
re-enacted in the following terms: "Ordered the
building of a coui-t-house in the town of Mt. Pleas-

-<•—

ant, on lot 2, block 10, of the following size, to- wit:
30x18 feet in size, and ten feet in height between
the joists." For some cause the building was not
completed until the fall of 1839, the builders being
George W. Patterson, Levi Hagar and Everett
Rogers. The jail, a square log building, lGxl6
feet in size, was completed about the same time,
John H. Randolph being the principal builder.

The first seal used by the Commissioners was a
twenty-five cent silver piece impressed in wax.

The first road laid out by the board was from
Mt. Pleasant to Rome, in the spring of 1837. The
next was from Mt. Pleasant to New Baltimore.
Others were soon established in all directions, and
as in the olden time, all roads led to Rome, so it
would appear from the proceedings of the board
that all roads were to lead to Mt. Pleasant.

On the 2d of October, 1838, the first grand jury
ever impaneled in the county was drawn. Those
comprising this jury were Jacob Burge, Absalom
Cornelius, Hezekiah Lee, Samuel Wells, Zenoway
Plunket, William I. Wossal, John S. Stephenson,
Robert Simmons, Richard Stewart, Samuel S.
Walker, Amos Lemmons, Lewis Watson, William
Thrash, Payton Wilson, Sampson Smith, Elijah
Breading, Samuel C. Smith, Thomas Leas, John M.
Hanson, Lambeth Heath and William B. Lusk.
Petit jurors were also chosen at the same time. The
jury was composed of the following-named persons:
Lewis F. Temple, John Hale, William Walters,
David McKnight, P. C. Tiffany, Alexander Hol-
lingsworth, James Righey, William Faulkner, Peter
Boyer, George Maffit, Jr., Daniel Sears, Joel C.
Garretson, Larkin Johnson, Samuel Gearheart,

t

i

-4•—

G18

HENRY COUNTY.

4

,T()S(>i)li lnKt'i'Ki>l, licii'v .limes, ,I;iiiios Mitts, William
M. Moirow, .Idlm 'I'. Diivis, IJninc}' Hristinc, S. K.
Swoct, Williiuii Aliciniithcy, E. Rogers mihI I'.cn-
JHinin (ioKsoii.

The county wns j;ii\ cnifd liy Comity Coniniis-
sioners until 1 Sf) 1 , wluii the l;i\v crciiting- County
(!(ininiissi()iu'is' ( 'ouit wns iiholisiicd, and (he County
Coniuiissidni'i's' iK)\\('rs wore vi'slcd in tlip Count}'
•ludfio. During the existence of tlic County Coni-
nassioncrs' Court hut little business wjis triiusMcted
of pulilic interest, MltJiougli .'i great luuonnt of work
WlVS (lone. All tlie |ii(liuiin:uy work in the orgiuii-
Ziition of the county, the laying out of the roads
and the building of bridges, had to l)c sn|>erin-
tended by them. As a general thing the work of
the Couunissioners was satisfactory to the county.
F.ioni l.s;!7 to 18.")1, the following named served as
County Couunissioners:

18;57 — Robert Caulk, Samuel Rra/.elttMi, George
J. Sharp (part tcrni"), Claborn .loni's (part term).

1838 — Claboru .loiies. Si', (pari tcrin), Ivobert
Ciinlk, Samuel lira/.elton, Taytou AN'iKson (part

term).

l,s;i<) — (icorge AV. Patterson, Samuel Hrazcllon,

Henry I'ayne.

1810 — Robert Caulk, Henry I'ayue, T. O. Wams-
ley.

ISIt- Robert C;udk, T. (). W:imsley, Lewis K.
Temple.

18.p2 — Robert Caulk, Lewis K. Temple, William
11. J^yon.

1843 — Uoberl Caulk, \Villiaiu II. Lyon, lleiuy
Swan.

1811 — Robert Caulk, William II. Lyon, Edmund
Archibald.

1846 — Edmund Archibald, Robert Caulk, ,lact>b
W. Payne.

184li — .Jacob \V. I'ayne, Edmund Archibald,
Robert C^anlk.

1817 — iMlmuud Archiliald, .lacob \\'. I'ayne,
Robert Caulk.

1848 — Edmund .\rehib,ald, .l.acob \\ . I'ayne,
Robert Miller.

181;) — Heujamin Ulodgetl, .lacob \\ . I'ayne,
Robert Miller.

1850— llcnjamin lUodgett, Robert Miller, T. L.
Hunt.

In the winter of 18.50 the General Assembly of
the State passed an :ict creating the ollU'c of County
.fudge. M. L. Edwards was the first to hold this
position in Henry County. During his adminis-
tration, license was gr.-uited to the liurliugton &
Mt. Pleasant Plank Road Company, and a proposi-
tion was submitted to a vote of the people for t!ie
esl.iblisliment of a county i)oor-house. At the
April election, IH,')3, the vote was taken, resulting
as follows: For poor-house, 702; against pcxir-
house, 278. About tliis lime the subject of a rail-
road reaching from the Mississii)pi to the Missouri
River, and passing through Henry County, w:is
being .•igitated. The county was asked to subserilie
to the capital stock of the county the sum of
1(100,000, and on the 2d of .July, 18,')3, the County
Judge issued an order for an election to be held on
the first Monday in August of that year, for or
against a subscription. The result of that vote was
as follows: Eor subscription, 1181; against sub-
scription, 445.

In August, 1855, while IMr. Edwards was still
County .Judge, a proposition was submitted to a
vote of the people for or against subscribing |1,000
to the capital stock of the Keokuk, Mt. Pleasant
& Muscatine Railroad.

The result of the vote was as follows: For sub-
scription, l,0f)5; :igaiust subscription, filil. Uouds
for the full amount were issued to the company,
but the road was never built, and before the 11,000
had been p:ud the interest on the bonds had doubled
the origin;d amount, all of which had to be paid.

.ludge Edwards served until Aug. 1 1, 1855, when
he was succeeded by E. Killpatrick, who remained
in otUce until .lanuar^', 18G0. He was succeeded
by W. I. Warwick, who served until legislated out
of oHice, in .Jsinuarj', IStU.

In 18ll(^ the (ieneral Assembly of the Stale jiassed
an act creating a Roard of Supervisors, consisting
of one Supervisor from eac^h civil township. At
the August election, 18('>0, the first Hoard of Super-
visors for Henry County was chosen, and on Ihe
5th of .Tannary, 18G1, its first session washehl. For
the four following years tlie board had to grapple
with issues growing out of the Civil War. Its rec-
ord, during that time, was commend:ible, provisions
being made for the aid of soldiers' families so far

-t

HENRY COUNTY.

••►

649

as the finances of the county would permit. This
system of County Government, consisting of one
Supervisor for each civil township, continued until
1870, during whicii time the following named served
as members of the board :

1861 — Pleasant Almond, A. Baxter, Joseph
Brown, H. R. Lyons, J. W. Maynard, T. W. Wool-
son, Jacob Luzadder, R. M. Pickle, E. B. Ratliffe,
John M. Temple, John P. West, A. L. Auld.

18G2 — Pleasant Almond, A. L. Auld, A. Baxter,
J. Kauffnian, S. M. Holland, A. R. Lyons, Jacob
Luzadder, R. M. Pickle, E. B. Ratliffe, John M.
Temple, Joseph Brown, HarpinRiggs, Caleb Russell.

1863— A. Baxter, J. C. Green, S. M. Holland, J.
Kauffnian, J. Luzadder, H. R. Lyons, E. B. Ratliffe,
n. Riggs, S. Ross, C. Russell, J. L. Waitman.

1861 — P. Almond, J. C. Green, E. Kenyon, J.
B. Cook, J. Kauffnian, G. T. Auld, R. G. McR-ir-
land, H. Riggs, S. Ross, E. B. Ratliffe, D. Pierson,
J. L. Waitman, Jacob Luzjidder.

1H05— P. AlmoiKl, G. T. Auld, O. 11. 1'. Bu-
chanan, .1. 15. Cook, .). C. firocn, Thomas Ciraiit, E.
Kenyon, \V. K. .loiics, J. Kauffnian, D. Pierson, J.
L. Waitman, II. Riggs, R. H. McFailand.

1866— R. Allen, J. B. Cook, William R. Crew,
Tiioiiias Grant, J. C. Green, W. G. Jones, J. Kauff-
nian, E. Kenyon, Robert Leeper, S. R. Nugen, J.
W. Smith, C. Russell, O. II. P. Buchanan.

1867— Reuben Allen, J. 15. Cook, W. R. Crew,
E. Kenyon, S. R. Nugen, C. Russell, J. W. Smith,
O. II. P. Buchanan, Thomas Grant, J. C. (Jrcen,
Jacob Kauffnian, Robert Lcoper, .Samuel P. Ratliffe.

1868— R. Allen, John Bangs, J. B. Cook, W. R.
Crew, Thomas Grant, J. C. Green, W. A. Jessup, J.
Kauft'man, E. Kenyon, S. P. Ratliffe, C. Russell, J.
W. Smith, O. II. P. Buchanan.

1869—0. n. P. Buchanan, R. Allen, J. B. Cook,
William R. Crew, J. C. Green, W. A. Coulter, E.
Kenyon, J. L. Lesscnger, William A. Jessup, John
Bangs, C. W. Clark, L. D. McKinnen, C. Russell.

1870 — O. H. P. Buchanan, James D. Spearman,
J. B. Cook, Jesse Cook, J. C. Green, W. A. Coulter,
E. Kenyon, C. Russell, M. Lyman, J. L. Lessinger,
L. D. McKinnen, C. W. Clark, W. A. Jessup.

The (iencral Assembly of the State, having passed
an amendatory act in regard to the Board of Super-
visors at the annual election iit the full of 1870, a
new Board of Supervisors was elected, consisting of
three members elected from the county at large.
The first meeting of the new board was held Jan.
2, 1871. This system has continued to the present
time, and li;is probably been more satisfactory than
that of the "one man power," the business being
transacted by the County Judge, or that of a board,
consisting of one Supervisor from each township.
The following named have served as members of
the board up to the present time :

1871 — James B. Shaw, Jacob Kauffnian, William
R. Crew.

1872 — James B. Shaw, William R. Crew, William
Allen.

1«7.3_\V. R. Crew, William Allen, (). 11. P. Bu-
chanan.

1871— O. II. P. Biich.-uian, William Allen, Henry
DorL'ind.

1875 — W. R. Crew, (Jeorge Hammond, George
II. Spahr.

1876 — W. R. Crew, George Hammond, (Jeoige
H. Spahr.

1877 — George Hammond, W. R. C'rew, (icorgc
H. Spahr.

1878 — George Hammond, W. R. Crew, (ieorge
II. Spahr.

1879 — C. W. Clark, George llaramoiid, George
II. Spahr.

1880 — George Hammond, C. W. Clark, S. L.
Steele.

1881— C. W. Clark, S. L. Steele, L. F. Willard.

1882— S. L. Steele, L. F. Willard, C. W. Clark.

1883— L. F. Willard, C. W. C:iark, S. L. Steele.

1884— C. W. Clark, S. L. Steele, David Wallace.

1885— S. L. Steele, David Wallace, C. F. Spear-
man.

1886 — David W.all.'ice, C. F. Spearman, Jacob
Lane.

1887 — C. F. Spearman, Jat'ob Lane, II. C. Weir.

1888 — Jacob Lane, H. C. Weir, C. F\ Spearman.

h

i

t

■^^

650 •

HENRY COUNTY.

'/I'i^-g-B.^ .

.^sSMSif

' . ilP^' ^ourm and ^a^^ -if^Hip •■■

^@k.l^i}S.j;,.t..t„.t.t,.t,A..t<.A-%Mil.t.^

:-*»—

T a very early day in the

% world's history it is found

that crime was committed

and courts of justice were

^ established. Man, if left to

himself, with physical power

IP

so to do, will encroach upon the
rights of others; therefore in ev-
ery well-regulated community,
among the first acts is to proper-
ly equip such courts as may be
thought necessary to gu.ard the
rights of the whole body .against
those who may offend. Under the
Territorial laws of Wisconsin and
later of Iowa, there were instituted
district and probate courts. After the admission
of the latter into the Union changes were made
from time to time in the method of administering
justice .IS thought advisable by the General Assem-
bly of the State.

The District Court.

^HE first term of the district court, and the
first court ever held in Henry County, con-
vened at Mt. Pleasant, April 14, 1837, with
Hon. David Irvin .as Judge, W. W. Chapman, Dis-
trict Attorncj' of the United States.

The first business transacted was the appointment
of Jesse D. P.ayne as Clerk of the Court, who gave
bond with John H. Randolph and Benjamin S.
Wharton as sureties.

A grand jury was empaneled, consisting of the
-4«

following named : Claybourne Jones, Sr., Samuel
Heaton, Marshal Saunders, Clabourne W. Hughes,
D. C. Ruberts, William M. Morrow, James McCoy,
Keeland T. Maulden, Benj.amin F. Hutton, Jacob
Burge, Moses Shirley, Wilson Lowell, Thomas
Clark, William King, David Miutes, James Willi-
ford, Sr., George W. Lewis, Henry Snyder, Sr.,
Berry Jones, Lj'tle Hughes, John H. Randolph,
Presley Samiders and Warren L. Jenkins.

But little business was transacted at this term.
The county was new, and its citizens wei-e generally
peaceable. John Mabee was arraigned before the
court, pleaded guiltj' to assault and battery, and
was fined $5 and cost. License was granted for the
establishment of a ferry across Skunk River, and
rates of ferriage established.

At the April term, 1839, Shadrach Scott w.ts in-
dicted and tried for assault with attempt to commit
murder, but was acquitted.

At the March term, 1840, the first divorce case
was tried, Francis A. Forbs vs. Sar.ah N. Forbs.
The prayer of the petitioner was granted.

The first case against one for the crime of horse-
stealing was at the September term, 1840. Lemuel
Green w.as indicted and tried for the stealing of
" one sorrel mare, the property of Robert Box."
He was found guilty and sentenced to the peniten-
tiary for the term of five years.

The first murder ti'ial came upon a change of
venue from Lee County. This was in March, 1843,
It was the cose of the United States against Edw.ard
Reilly. A verdict of guilty of murder in the first
degree was rendered, but was set aside by the

t

HENRY COUNTY.

651

Judge, and a new trial granted. At the September
term, 1843, he was again tried, found guilty of
manslaughter, and sentenced to the penitentiary for
five years, and to pay a fine of ^1 ,000.

On the organization of the State, in 1846, Henry
County, with Des Moines, Lee and Louisa, com-
prised the First District. George H. Williams, of
Lee County, was the first Judge, serving from 1847
till 1852. He was succeeded by Ralph P. Lowe, of
Lee County, who served till 1857, when he re-
signed, and John W. Rankin was appointed to fill
the vacancy, serving until the election of Thomas
W. Claggett one month afterward.

Under the Constitution of 1857, the same coun-
ties heretofore mentioned still continued to form
the First District. Francis Springer, of Louisa
County, was elected in 1858, re-elected in 1802
and 1866, but resigned in 1869, being succeeded
by Joshua Tracy, of Des Moines County, who was
appointed by the Governor, and elected to the
office in 1870. Judge Tracy also resigned in 1874,
and was succeeded by P. Henry Smyth, of Des
Moines County, who served from April 25, 1874,
till Sept. 25, 1874, when he resigned, and Thomas
W. Newm.-iu, also of Des Moines County, was ap-
pointed to fill the vacancy. He was elected a few
weeks later, and served one term, being succeeded
by A. H. Stutsman, of Des Moines County, who
was elected in 1878, and re-elected in 1882, serv-
ing till 1886.

The General Assembly of the State passing an act

for the re-organization of the districts, Henry
County became a part of the Second District. At
the annual election in October, 1886, H. C. Trav-
erse, of Bloomfield, Charles Leggett, of Fairfield,
and Dell Stuart, of Chariton, were elected Judges,
there being three to each district.

Circuit Courts.

HN 1868 an act was passed dividing each judic-
ial district into two circuits. John B. Drayer
(ii was the first Circuit Judge for the circuit in
which Henry County was placed. After continu-
ing this system for eighteen years the General
Assembly repealed the act, returning to the old dis-
trict plan, but with three Judges for each district.

*^— *— o<a<3-<S(||!iH<s>o — *—?««'

The Bar.

!)HE legal talent of Henry County has always
comi>ared favorably with other counties,
and at the present time has among its rep-
resentatives some who are the peer of any attorney
in the State. In the fall of 1887 the following
named comprised the bar of the county : R. Ambler
<fe Son, T. A. Bereman, Jeffries & Withrow, Fred
Hope, A. W. Kinkead, B. B. Lindley, John F.
Leach, Mrs. Hannah M. Lyle, W. C. Howard, W. D.
Leedham, T. M. McAdam, J. G. Newbold, Palmer
& Palmer, J. T. Patch, George C. Van Allen,
Woolsou & Babb.

r

^i^

652

HENRY COUNTY.

■•►HK-^

I

EXT to its religious interests,
the educational interests of
a community are tlie one by
whieli a community' may be
properly judged. With re-
?. spect to the latter Henry
^^ :^ County will compare favor-
'^ ably with any county in
the State. With a fine university,
including a German college, an
academy second to none, and
public schools, the pride of its
citizens, comparison nia_v well be
invited. The pioneers of the coun-
ty little expected that so soon the
beautiful country which they had
selected for their future homes
would be so abundantly supplied
with the means of educating their
children. To them great credit is duo for inaugur-
ating so shortly after coming the educational sys-
tem which has grown to be such a powerful factor
for good as the splendid schools of to-da}' are.

Iowa Wesleyaii University.

'J\ PLEASANT is called the Athens of Iowa,

and here is located one of the best known

educational institutions of the Mississippi

Valley, the Iowa Wcsleyan University.

This school dates its origin from the winter of

1843-44, when the Territorial Legislature of Iowa

<•

passed a biH which was approved bj' the Govern-
ment Feb. 15, 1844, granting a charter to the ]Mt.
Pleasant -Collegiate Institute. The institution thus
incorporated was to be located within five miles of
Mt. Pleasant, and was to be under the control of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. At the first meeting of
the Iowa Conference of that body, held at Iowa City
Aug. 14, 1844, a memorial was presented from the
Trustees of the institution asking recognition and
patronage.

Steps were at once taken for the erection of a
building, which was completed in 1846, and in
1849 the Conference appointed a board of control,
consisting of the Presiding Elder of the Burlington
District, and the preachers in charge of Burlington,
New London, Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield. Like
every other educational institution in the then New
West, the Collegiate Institute was, with great diffi-
culty, made self-sustaining, or even kept running.
In the report to the Conference in 1852, the Trus-
tees said that during the preceding year the school
had not been sustained. During that year, how-
ever, Rev. James McDonald, A. M., was appointed
by Bishop Ames, Principal of the [nstitute, but he
resigned in about six months. Prof. James Harlan
was then chosen Principal, and under his adminis-
tration the school began an era of l1rosperitJ^ In
1853 the Trustees reported an attendance of 100,
and in 1854 it had still further increased to 218.
A new building was ccmstructed for this j'car for
$15,000. In the winter following a university
charter was secured, and James Harlan, A. M., was
chosen its first President. He remained at the

^^

=d-

HENRY COUNTY.

653

head hut a short time, and was succeeded by Rev.
Lucien W. Berry, D. D. From the beginuiug
those who have been at the head of the institution
were as follows:

Hon. James Harlan, first President; Rev. Lucien
W. Berry, D. D., President and Professor of
Mental and Moral Science in the Faculty, 1855-57;
Rev. Charles Elliott, D. D., who added to the above
the chair of Biblical Literature and Theology,
1857-61 ; Rev. George B. Jocelyn, A. M., who
was also Professor of Mental and Moral Science,
and English Language and Literature, 1861-62.
After the resignation of President Jocel^'n, Rev, W.
J. Spaulding became Acting President, by virtue of
his office of Vice President, and stood at the head
of the Faculty during the college years of 1862-64;
Rev. Charles Elliott, D. D., LL. D., again became
President, and Professor of Sacred Literature and
Theology, in 1864-66; Rev. Charles A. Holmes,
D. D., also Professor of Mental and Moral Philoso-
phy, 1866-69; .Lames TIarl.in, LL. D., 1869-70;
John Wheeler, D. D., also Professor of Mental and
Moral Philosophy, 1870-75; W. J. Spaulding, Ph.
D., also Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy,
1875-84; J. T. McFarland, D. D., 1884 to the
present time.

Never in the history of the institution has it
been more prosperous than at this writing. From
a small beginning it has grown to be one of the
most popular schools of the State. During the
session of 1886-87, there was an enrollment of 338
pupils, and up to February, 1838, there had been a
slight increase over the previous year. Contracts
have been let for the erection of a new building at
a cost of $35,000, and for remodeling the old one
at a cost of $3,000. The new building will be
erected just east of the old one. It will contain a
chemical and physical laborator}', a number of reci-
tation rooms, and a chapel with a seating capacity
of 1,400.

German College.

SN 1870 the .Southwest German Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church appointed a
commission to locate a German college, and
during a session of the Iowa Conference of the

-4»

Methodist Episcopal Church, held at Mt. Pleasant
in October, 1871, Dr. Wheeler suggested to Rev. F.
Stofifragen, a member of the Southwest German
Conference, who had been appointed to bear fra-
ternal greetings to the Iowa Conference, that Mt.
Pleasant was just the place. The Trustees of the
university appointed Dr. Wheeler and Prof. Willey
a committee to secure this location, and at a ses-
sion of the German Conference held at Warrenton,
Mo., March 20, 1872, the Doctor presented a propo-
sition offering free tuition in the university, five
acres of land, and a college building three stories
high, 40x60 feet in dimensions. The Conference at
its next session, held at Quiucy, 111., Sept. 9, 1872,
accepted the proposition to locate the college at Mt.
Pleasant, on condition of an endowment being
raised of not less than $20,000. This sura was
raised within six months.

On the 25th day of July, 1873, Bishop Jesse P.
Peck broke ground for the erection of the college
building, and on the 29th day of August following,
Dr. Wheeler laid the corner-stone with appropriate
ceremonies. The building was finished, and the
college dedicated Sept. 22, 1874, by Bishop Haven.
From that time to the present the college has been
in successful operation, and has in connection with
the university done a grand work. While con-
nected with the university, it is independent in
finances and control.

Howe's Academy.

)HIS is another institution of learning in which
the citizens of Mt. Pleasant have just pride.
Prof. Samuel L. Howe located on a farm
near Mt. Pleasant in 1841, and in the winter of
1841-42 taught a term of school in a log cabin. A
year or two later he moved into the village and
opened a school in the old jail building, subse-
quently removing to the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, and finally, in 1845, moving into a building
erected for the Mt. Pleasant High School and Fe-
male Seminary, of which he was the head. Until
his death, which occurred Feb. 15, 1877, Prof.
Howe conducted the school, assisted at times by his
children, whom he trained as teachers. The im-

i

^««l>^h-4

HENRY COUNTY.

press of his mind was left upon many persons who
have become prominent in Iowa and elsewhere. He
was a thorough and a successful teacher. Since his
death the school has been conducted by one of his
sons, and at this time is in a most flourishing con-
dition, with a very large attendance.

s^*-^^

WJiittler Collegre.

t)HE Society of Friends, which has a large
membership in Salem and vicinity, soon af-
ter the close of the great Rebellion toolv
steps for the formation of a college association, and
on the 17th day of May, 1867, an association was
duly incorporated. Its members having great ven-
eration for the Quaker poet, John G. Whittier, be-
stowed upon the institution his name, and hence
Wliittier College. The Friends kindly offered the
upper story of their meeting-house, located in tlie
suburbs of Salem, which was fitted up and furnished
for the reception of students, and the first term was
opened in April, 1868, with Prof. John C. Woody,
and Mrs. Mary C. Woody as Principals of the male
and female departments. The Board of Directors
of the college subsequently purchased the build-
ing, wbicii they remodeled and fitted up for school
purposes.

The first class graduated from the institution in
1871, since which time a large number of persons
have been sent out from the institution, and are
now filling responsible positions elsewhere in tiie
school-room, at the bar, and iu the pulpit, to sa}'
nothing of that large number who have adopted
farming as a profession.

Early on the morning of Dec. 4. 1885, the col-
lege building and contents were entirely destroyed
by fire, entailing a loss of many thousands of dol-

lars. The bricks of the old building were not cold
before the school was organized in the meeting-
house, and the citizens of .Salem had determined to
rebuild. But the work of raising the means to
build was a difficult one, on account of poor crops
and otlier adverse circumstances, but the amount
was secured, and in the fall of 1886 the foundation
walls were laid, and in July, 1887, the brick work
was commenced, and the building completed in
November, 1 887. The college opened for business
Nov. 16, 1887, with Prof. A. J. Beddison as Prin-
cipal.

The institution h.as accomraodatious for 150 stu-
dents, and is well adapted for the purposes for
which it is intended. The building is 40x50 feet
in size, with a square tower 20x20, is built of brick,
and is thi'ee stories higii, including mansard roof.
It is a tasty and commodious building, and retleets
great credit on those who have lal>ored so hard to
secure its construction. While nominally an insti-
tution of the Friends, others have assisted in its
building.

-~^/-..'"-eI^J^fi.»ti^^^•^^^^.®^S/^W^r»•~•^/^.-^>

Pul)li<' Schools.

'■' 'ROM the report of the Superintendent of

Pi) Public Schools of the county, it is learned
that in the fall of 1887 there were in the
county 81 frame school-houses, 27 brick, and one
stone school-house, with au appraised valuation of
1253,480. During the year 54 male and 192 female
teachers were employed, who received average com-
pensation, males $32.49 and females $24.94 per
month. In the county there were 3,128 males, and
3,057 females of school age, of which number 4,925
were enrolled in the public schools. The average
cost for each pupil per month was $2.45.

i\*a££/@^-^—i:

1 ' ■

'■^^iivnsi.

f

■<*■

HENRY COUNTY.

655

t

HE power of the printing-
press is uuiversally acknowl-
edged, and its intluence can
hardly be estimated. This
IS a reading age, and almost
everything eminating from
the press is eagerly devoured,
whether it be good or bad. It
is the Archimedean lever that
moves the world, and as such
only the best productions should
be circulated. Too much care can-
not be exercised by parents and
those in authority that only the
pure in literature finds a place in
the homes of the people. Henry
County has reason to be proud of
its newspapers, which have ever
i\ been among the best, and wielding
*- an influence not alone in the
county but throughout the State.
The first paper established in
this county was the Iowa Free
Democrat, the first Free-Soil or Abolition paper
issued west of the Mississippi River. It was
founded at Ft. Madison, Lee County, and moved
to Mt. Pleasant in 1848, by D. M. Kelsey. In
1850 Prof. Samuel Luke Howe secured control of
the paper, and it was then issued from the
academy of which the professor was the head. The
pupils and sons of the Professor did the mechanical

-•*■

work of the office. After a precarious existence
of a few years its issue was suspended.

At the present writing, in April, 1888, the follow-
ing papers are issued in the county : Mt. Pleasant
Journal, the Free Press, Mt. Pleasant Herald,
Evening News, Mt. Pleasant; Winfleld Beacon,
Winfield; New London Sun, New London Eclipse,
New London. Each of these is a worthy represent-
ative of the people of the county. Other papers
have lived, flourished for a time, and then died a
natural death.

The Mt. Pleasant Journal.

ONE of the leading and most influential papers
of Southeastern Iowa is the Mt. Pleasant
Journal, which under the name of Obsei-ver,
made its first appearance in 1856, with G. G.
Galloway as editor and proprietor. Like all other
country newspapers it had a precarious existence
for several years after its cst.iblishment, and
changed h.inds frequently, each successive firm
running it until, somewhat discouraged, they would
close it out. The office was owned in turn by
Elliott & Mahaffey, D. S. Elliott, and Elliott &
Edwards. While controlled by the latter firm, the
name of the paper was changed to the Home Journal.
Continuing it awhile under the latter name, the
firm then sold it to G. W. Edwards, who subse-
quently took a partner, the firm of Edwards &

..^

■^^

656

4-

HENRY COUNTY.

Snyder engaging in its publication. T. A. Bere-'
■man was its next publisher, who sold it to Richard
Hatton. Tlie latter changed its name to the Mt.
Pleasant Journal, and continued its publisher till
his death. G. W. McAdani became a third pro-
prietor, and in turn, E. W. Bradjr, John F. Leech
and John Teasdale have each held a third interest.
The Hatton heirs were bought out b_y ]\Ir. McAdam,
and the paper was published bj' him until the winter
of 1879-80, when J. W. Palm purchased a third
interest, since which time the publication of the
paper has been continued by McAdam & Palm. It
is issued every Thursday, and in politics is a stanch
Repul)lican sheet, with nothing of the mugwump in
its makeup. The birth of the paper was cotem-
poraneous with that of the Republican party, and
it has never wavered from the support of Repub-
lican principles. A bright, clean sheet, it has
always exerted a good inllucnce in country and
State. In connection with the JoKrnal establish-
ment is an excellent job office and a book bindery.

The Free Press.

^HIS paper was established in 1860, by E. T.
White, wlio continued its publication for
nc.'U'ly two years, disposing of the paper in
January, 1868, to O. K. Snyder and Frank Hatton,
who changed its nanic to the Henry County Press.
Mr. Hatton retired in M.ay, 1868, and the linn I>e-
canie Snyder Brothers. In 1869 Dr. D. W. Robin-
son became the owner, while Richard Copi^land,
Charles IMorehous and S. W. Moreliead served
successively as editors. In 1870 A. P. Bentl(>y
became editor. In .lune, 1872, the office was pur-
chased by Edwin \'an Cise and James A. Throop,
and Jan. 1, 1874, the name of the paper w.as changed
back to the Free Press. In 1877 Mr. Van Cise
removed to Deadwood, D. T., .and Mr. Throop
assumed editorial control of the paper. In l,s,si,
going into the hardware trade, he placed the paper
under the editorial control of D. U. AV. C. Throop
and George E. Throop. In 1882 he purchased
Mr. Van Cise's interest in the Free Frexs, and has
since been the sole proprietor. In 1885 he dis-
■<•

posed of his hardware store, and again assumed the
management of the office, D. D. W. C. Throop con-
tinuing with him as editor. The Free Press is now
recognized as one of the leading papers in this
section, and politicallj' maj* be classed as independ-
ent Democratic. It has a good circulation and
wields a good influence. A good job jirinting-
oflicc is in connection with the paper.

^ ^^ ^

Tlie Daily News.

^N 1876 C. L. Morehous commenced the publi-
cation of the Daily Reporter, and continued its
publication till October, 1883, when he sold
out to T. McAdam, who ran it about one year and
then sold to R. C. cfe W. C. Brown, by whom it was
soon afterw.ard discontinued. But Mr. Morehous
did not propose to let the city of ]\It. Pleasant be
without its daily, and therefore in 1885 commenced
the puljlication of the Daily Sews. As originally
printed it was a five-column folio, but w.as subse-
quently enlarged to a seven-column folio. The
paper has had a steady and solid growth, and is
now in a very prosperous condition, with an ever-
increasing circulation. Ch.arles L. Morehous is an
old newspaper man, with an experience second to
none in this section of the State, and gets up a No.
1 local daily. Fred D. Morehous is the local edi-
tor, and succeeds in gathering up almost every item
of interest occurring in Mt. Pleasant or its vicinitj'.

^-

-*-

The Mt. Plesisaut H«Mald.

HIS paper was started in the fall of 1 880 by
Brown it Clark, as a seven-column folio, and
at once met with good success. In 1883 it
was changed to an eight-eohnnn weekly pa[)er, and
the proprietors put in a power press on which to
print it. In 1 884 the office was completely destroyed
by fire, not even the books of the concern being
saved. Immediately after the fire w.as organized
"The Herald Publisiiing Company," composed of
J. R.Clark, M. Hollauil. Thomas Adger, Frank Mat-

i

HENRY COUNTY.

657

thews, Leonard Farr, W. Hanson, M. L. Edwards,
Thomas Knox, and George W. Norton, and the
Herald again appeared as an eight-column weekly
paper. In 1885 the ollice was sold to George
Spahr ii, Co., who ran it till 188G as a Greenback
paper, under the management of J. R. Clark. It
was then sold to J. R. Hardin, who removed the
material of the otiice to Ft. Madison, Lee County,
and consolidated it with the Lee County liepub-
lican under the name of the UepubUcan-Herald.
Mr. Clark then went to New London and started
the New London Herald, remaining there thirteen
months, and then removing to Mt. Pleasant, where
the paper has since been continued as the Mt. Pleas-
ant Herald, under the ownership and management
of Mr. Clark. The sympathy of Mr. Clark has
always been with the laboring men, being strongly
opposed to monopolies. He therefore was an earn-
est supporter of the Greenback cause, and in the
present contest between labor and capital he has
espoused with his whole heart the cause of the for-
mer, his paper being the recognized organ of the
Knights of Labor of this section of country. The
Herald has a good circulation, and is worth}' the
support of an intelligent people.

#"#--

Wlnfield. Beacon.

*t

(^^^HE Winfield Beacon was established in 1881,
fm^^ by J- H. & E. H. Hardin, and by them con-

ducted until October, 1882, when it was pur-
chased by its present owner, E. C. Hinkle. Its
gi-owth has been steady, and it now circulates in
more than a thousand homes, scattered through
every Western State and Territory. Its continued
efforts to build up and strengthen home interests
are manifested in many ways, and no enterprise of
value to town or county is ever allowed to lag
througii its indifference. Among the schemes
which have originated within its busy sanctum, ncine
is probably greater than the East lovva District Fair,
an institution which promises to be one of the most
noted and valuable to the town and country. The
Beacon is a live local paper, and is in a prosperous
condition, having the united support of the entire
community.

^ •

The Salem Weekly News.

^HIS sprightly sheet was established in 1880,
its first number appearing under date Sep-
tember 5 of that year. Its publication was
commenced by Hiram Armstrong, who subse-
quently sold to W. S. Withrow, from whom it was
purchased by its present proprietors, 1). F. Jones
it Son, Jan. 1, 1883. Wiien it made its first ap-
pearance, it was a six-column folio, but has since
been enlarged to a seven-column folio. This change
was made the first year under Mr. Jones. Politi-
cally the Nev^s is independent. The paper is doing
a prosperous business, its circulation having stead-
ily increased since it came into the hands of its
present proprietors. A good job offlce is attached,
also doing a remunerative business. The Ifews is
well worthy the support of the citizens of Salem
and vicinity.

The New London Eclip.se.

^^^IHS paper was started Aug. 13, 1887, by
[fuis^ Edwin A. Lyman, and in the short time in
>^p* which it has been published has met with
fair success, having a present circulation of 500
copies. The Eclipse is a seven-column folio, inde-
pendent in politics, and is devoted principally to
local news of town and county. It is issued every
Thursday. Mr. Lyman commenced the publica-
tion of his paper, knowing nothing of the mechani-
cal work of a printing-office, but applying himself
to the work, and with a natnr.al taste for the busi-
ness prints a paper that would do credit to news-
paper men of much greater experience. He
certainly deserves success.

The New London Sun.

\T N April, 1887, Dover and Lyman commenced
I the publication of an independent newspaper
/£ with the above name, which they issued weekly.
The firm continued in existence but a short time,
Mr. Lyman retiring, his interest being purch.ised
Ijy his partner, W. S. Dover. The latter continued
its publication till the following winter, when C.
Dailey became sole proprietor, and is now engaged
in the publication of the paper. The Sun is a
neat paper, and well deserves the patronage of the
community where it is published.

■» m <•

658

HENRY COUNTY.

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PEW persons visit Mt. Pleasant witliout tak-
ing a look through the magnificent buildings
for the insane of the State. Gov. Grimes,
in his message to the Fifth General Assembly called
attention to the necessity of the State providing
some place for the care of its insane. Agreeable
to his suggestion, the Legislature appointed a com-
missioner and appropriated $50,000 for the erection
of a suitable building. On the 17th of March,
1855, the valuable tract of land now occupied by
the as3'lum, containing 123 acres, was purchased
for $25 per acre. The Commissioners, Edward
Johnson of Lee County, and Dr. Charles S. Clark
of Henry County, authorized by the act, proceeded
to visit the best hospitals and asylums in other
States, and also procured a plan from Dr. Bell, of
the McLean Asylum at Somerville, Mass., which
was afterward substantially followed in the erection
of the hospital. The act establishing the asylum
and appropriating $50,000 for the erection of the
building, advised that the plan determined on by
the board should be one that would admit of
future enlargement. From the information ob-
tained, it was readily seen that the $50,000 appro-
priated would be insufficient, and the Commis-
sioners determined to erect such a building as the
experience of otiiers had ]iroved best, trusting to
the good sense and liberality of the Legislature to
sustain them in their course.

Henry Winslow, who had been connected with
the Insane Hospital of Maine, was appointed to
superintend the erection of the building, and
entered upon the discharge of his duties Oct. 22,
1855. The building was completed and formally
opened on the 6th of March, 1861, though one
patient had been admitted one week earlier. While
the cost of the hospitjd w;is much more than the

original appropriation, there being $400,000 ex-
pended in its erection, it was so constructed that
additions have since been made that have not de-
tracted from the orginal beauty of design, but
rather added to it, and to-day the building presents
a most magnificent appearance, while the grounds
are handsomely kept.

The first officers of the hospital were as follows :
Commissioners, Hon. James W. Grimes, Hon. Ed-
ward Johnstone, Hon. Ralph P. Lowe, Dr. Charles
S. Clark, Hon. Samuel J. Kirkwood, W. H. Postle-
waite; Treasurer, Presley Saunders; Clerk, M. L.
Edwards; Trustees, Harpiu Riggs, Samuel McFar-
land, D. L. McGugin, J. D. Elbert, Joseph M.
Merrill, John B. Lash, Lincoln Clark, Timothy
Stearas, G. W. Kincaid, Thomas Hedge; Superin-
tendent, R. J. Patterson, M. D. ; Assistant Phj'si-
cian, D. C. Dewej', M. D. ; Stewards, Henr^- Wins-
low, George Josselyn; Matrons, Mrs. Catherine
Winslow, Mrs. Anna B. Josselyn.

From the third biennial report of the Trustees
the following extract is taken :

"The act for the incorporation and government
of the Hospital for the Insane, appointed seven
Trustees, two for two years, two for four years and
three for six years. The longest term, six years,
has not elapsed, yet in this brief space four of the
seven have died — Col. Samuel McFarland, Dr. John
D. Elbert, Dr. 1). L. McGugin and Mr. Harpin Riggs.
The survivors feel with deep sensibilit3' this fatal
and admonitory incursion of death into their nar-
row circle ; they participate in the grief of the be-
reaved families of their late associates, and they
lament the loss sustained by Iowa of so many citizens
whose virtues pointed them out for llie work of
putting in operation this greatest of the charitable
institutions of the State. They cannot refrain from

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HENRY COUNTY.

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paying some tribute, slight indeed, to the memory
and worth of their departed colleagues. Col. Mc-
Farland was the youngest member of the board,
j'et he had attained the foremost rank among the
legislators and politicians of the State. He was the
author of the law under which we are now acting,
and prepared the code of by-laws by which the
institution is now governed. No member of the
board had more weight or influence than he. When
his country summoned him to arms, he obeyed her
voice with alacrity, and led his regiment to the field
of battle, where he fell, gallantly fighting at its
head.

"Dr. Elbert was a pioneer in the settlement of
the State ; he had been a member of the Territorial
Legislature, and President of the Council. His
generosity, kindness of disposition, and his public
spirit, made him a suitable guardian of an institu-
tion of charity, and his cordial good humor made
him an agreeable companion in every circle.

"Dr. McGugiu occupied the highest rank as a
physician, and he devoted his fine talents with zeal
to tlie advancement of medical science and to the
improvement of medical education. He gave the
first impulse to the movement which resulted in the
establishment of this magnificent institution. He
made a journey in the winter to the capital of the
State, to deliver an address before the Legislature,
on the necessity of erecting a hospital for the
insane.

"Mr. Riggs was a mail of practical and solid
sense, and remarkaljle capacity for the transaction of
business. The city of Mt. Pleasant and the county
of Henry had employed him in various responsible
offices, the duties of which he discharged with ex-
emplary fidelity. It was fortunate for the county
to have a citizen so upright and so gifted, and it
was creditable to the people to employ him in their
service."

On the 18th day of April, 187G, the rear building
of tlie hospital was burned. From a report made
by the Trustees, on Oct. 18, 1877, which report
was addressed to His Excellency, Joshua G. New-
bold, Governor of Iowa, the following is an extract:

"The burning of the engine-house of the hospital
was a calamity unfureseen andof course unprovided
for. It placed upon the Board of Trustees what
-4« '■

they felt to be a grave responsibility, and which
would admit of no evasion, but must be met. The
boilers, engines and machinery', were either de-
stroyed or left without an iuclosure or covering.
They felt that there was but one course to pursue,
and that was to rebuild. It was not a matter of
convenience, but of absolute necessity. The erec-
tion of a temporary structure was canvassed and
rejected, as being impossible to meet the indispen-
sable wants of the hospital during the winter sea-
son, as well as being a useless expenditure of money,
and as endangering the entire institution. After
mature consideration, and advising with Gov. Kirk-
wood and other State officers, it was determined to
proceed at once to rebuild in a substantial manner,
leaving the building unfinished, except so far as
necessary to finish, to meet the immediate pressing
needs of the hospital. The Superintendent, assisted
bj' Mr. George Josselyn, who had superintended
the building of the hospital at Independence, pre-
pared plans which were approved by the board,
and the work pi'oceeded under the personal super-
vision of the Superintendent, who consented to
assum&that gi-eal addition to his duties and respon-
sibibies,antf there has b.eenexpended the sum of $32,-
046.43, the details'Of'lwlricli are appended to this re-
port, v.^"] oonsiderable amount of the sum was not
expended upon the" building, but was for repairing
and replacing rhaciiiuery destroyed and damaged,
and other items. It is believed that for economy in
building, strength and durability, as well as for
convenience and safety, this structure will compare
favorably with any public work in the State. To
complete, it will require au expenditure of $5,500.
The estimates for proper hospital accommodations
were over $39,000.

In January, 1882, Dr. Ranney, who for so manj'
years had served as Superintendent of the asylum,
died, his death being greatly lamented by every
friend of the institution. Dr. H. M. Bassett
kindly assumed the duties of Superintendent until
the Trustees could secure a successor. This was
done in July, and on the 16th day of October fol-
lowing. Dr. H. A. Gilman, long and favorably
known as the First Assistant Supei'intendent of the
Hospital for the Insane, at Jacksonville, 111., com-
menced his services as Superintendent.
■>

f

664

HENRY COUNTY.

In his first biennial report, Dr. Gilman urged the
erection of additional wings to the building for the
accommodation of the increased number of patients
for whom admission was sought in the institution.
The Legislature wisely heeded the request of the
Doctor, made the appropriations and gave him
charge of their erection. This additional labor he
cheerfully assumed, and in connection with this
brief sketch.a fine lithographic view of the build-
ing and grounds is given.

In addition to the erection of the wings, erected
at a cost of $200,000, the rooms in the old build-
ing have been renovated throughout, repainted and
redecorated. Elegant pictures are hung upon the
walls of each public room, and everything done to
make the surroundings pleasant to the patients.

_yS-

The following named comprise the officers of the
hospital at this writing:

Board of Trustees — D. A. Hurst, M. D., Presi-
dent, Oskaloosa; J. H. Kulp, M. D., Secretary,
Davenport; P. W. Lewellen, M. D., C'lnrinda; G.
W. Cullison, Harlan; G. H. Shai-p, Mt. Pleasant.

Treasurer — C. V. Arnold, Mt. Pleasant.

Resident officers — H. A. Gilman, M. D., Super-
intendent and Physician; M. E. Witte, M. D.,
First Assistant Physician ; F. P. Peck, M. D., Sec-
ond Assistant Physician; P. F. Straub, ~Sl. D.,
Third Assistant Pliysician ; J. M. Aitken, 51. D.,
Fourth Assistant Physician ; E. N. Nelson, Steward ;
Mrs. F. V. Cole, Matron.

The attention of the reader is called to the biog-
raphy of Dr. Gilman for an account of his special
work for the hospital.

ja^.

GRICULTURAL societies
have long been considered
the best means of promoting
the interests of that large
"^ class of citizens on whom the
■ . X prosperity of the country
'^^^^g'^so much depends — the fai-ming
people. Unlike tradesmen and
mechanics, the agricultural class
J are not huddled together, and
l^have not the usual means of dis-
^seniinating their views enjo3'ed by
^^Jg^those living in villages and cities.
The annual fair brings them to-
getiier, with their best productions
of stock and cereals, and information is given one
to the other .as to the best methods of securing
the best results.

At an early day the citizens of I lenry County agi-
tated the question of the annual exhibit of their

agricultural and mechanical productions, and in
1853 the first county fair was held at the village
of Salem. As mav well be conceived, the number
of entries was small indeed, and the amount given
as premiums was still smaller, yet, as all thing-s
must have a beginning, this fair served as ;i starting
point and as an incentive to further action. The
following year another exhibition was held at Mt
Pleasant, and was a little improvement upon the
first elTort. Other fairs were held, but the war com-
ing on. the people could not take that interest in
them that otherwise would have been done.

llcmy County Agricultural Society.

y'HAT is now known as the IIenr3' County
Agricultural Societj' was organized in 186."),
and its first annual fair was held in the fall
of the same year. John M. Hanson was the first

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HENRY COUNTY.

665

President of the re-organized society, and did much
to advance its interests and place it on the road to
prosperitj'. Grounds were purchased near the asy-
lum, which have been fitted up in a substantial man-
ner, suitable for the proper displaj' of exhibits.
No county society has better exhibitions, although
the rival fairs of Salem and Winfield, it is believed,
injure it financially. Its influence is felt through-
out the community, and as a consequence the stock
of the county has been greatly improved.

The cyclone that visited this section in June,
1882, demolished the amphitheater on the fair
grounds, but it was subsequently rebuilt.

The officers of the association for 1888 are: W.
Beckwith. President; J. L. Gillis, Vice President;
Ed N. Kitchen, Secretar}' ; L. M. Shubert, Treasurer.

-*-^-

East loAva District Fair.

^N the spring of 1882, T. C. Eittenhouse, of
I Winfield, Iowa, wrote an article for the Win-
/£ field Beacon recommending the organization of
a district fair, which met with general approval by
the people. The Beacon then kept the subject con-
stantly in view, until a meeting was called, and cit-
izens of the counties of Henry, Louisa, W.ishington
and Des IMoines, united in forming an association
known as the East Iowa District Fair Association.
The new enterprise struck the popular chord, and
the people of these great counties rallied to the sup-
port of the measure, and in the following autumn a
most successful fair was held on the farm of W.
Mullin, near the town limits. This was followed
by a still better exhibit the next year upon the same
"rounds.

After the second exhibition a joint stock com-
pany was formed, and eighty acres of very desirable
land was purchased one-half mile west of town.
The buildings which had been erected were removed
to the new grounds and a splendid h.alf-mile track
was made. Fairs have since annually been held,
and each exhibition has been an improvement upon
the preceding one. The fair held from September
13 to September 16, 1887, will long be remembered.
The crowd was immense, and notwithstanding the
drouth which prevailed, the various departments
were well filled. Some inconvenience was occasioned
bj' the scarcity of water and provisions made for
the care of stock, but the Directors were equal to
the occasion and did all in their power to render
all comfortable. The showing of cattle, hogs and
sheep was better than ever, every stall and pen
being crowded. The display of farm machinerj' was
fine, and much interest was manifested in this
department.

The Eastern Iowa District Fair is one in which
the citizens of Winfield feel a just pride. They
have made it what it is, and the courage and giit
shown, often under most discouraging circumstances,
are indeed commendable. The officers for 1 888 are :
W. P. Dunahoo, President; E. D. Young, W. Mul-
lin and A. Freeman, Vice Presidents; E. C. Hinkle,
Secretary; William Lauder, Treasurer; A. J. Lewis,
Chief M.irshal; P. B. Nixon, Chief of Police.

The Salem Agricultural Society.

/^}\ ITIZENS of Salem and vicinity have for a
[l( ^.^ few years past maintained a local society,
^^^ which has been well patronized, and which
has created a considerable amount of interest.

'_^^f <•

666

HENRY COUNTY.

LAVERY, as a public question,
from tlie time the Govern-
ment was establislied up to
1860, entered into almost
every (jolitical contest. The
States of the Union in which
slavery existed continually feared
their rights would be encroached
upon, and to allay such fears and
maintain peace, various compromise
measures were passed. Tliese only
served for a little while, and were
never entirely satisfactory to either
party interested. That known as
the "Missouri Compromise" seemed
to come nearer a solution of the
difficulty than any other, and was the most satisfac-
tory to the Northern States, and seemed, for a
time, also, to satisfy the South. By the terms of
that compromise slavery was confined south of an
imaginary line known as the Mason and Dixon Line,
The rapid growth of the North, and the formation
of new States without slavery, alarined the South-
ern people, who feared the loss of power. Then
came the repeal of the "Missouri Compromise," tiie
adoption of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and the
question of the introduction of the slaves into the
Territories. The Republican party, formed for
the purpose of preventing any further extension of
slavery, was regarded as a menace by the South,
and threats of secession were made in the event of

that party coming into power. In the Presidential
campaign of 1860, the Republicans, with Abraham
Lincoln as their leader, presented a solid front,
while the Democracy was divided, presenting Ste-
phen A. Douglas as a candidate for the Presidency,
representing the Northern wing of the party, and
John C. Breekenridge, of Kentucky, representing
the Southern wing. John Bell, of Tennessee, was
also a candidate, receiving his nomination from the
Union party, composed principally of those for-
merly affiliating with the American, or Know-Noth-
ing. The election of Lincoln was almost a foregone
conclusion. While it was known that there were
many hot-headed men in the South willing to plunge
the country into civil war, few persons realized
the danger, cr for a moment believed that the
threats of the Southern people would be carried
into execution. Little was known of the prepara-
tions being made in the South for the event sure to
follow the election of Lincoln. When the result
of the general election was known, and months be-
fore the inauguration of Lincoln as President,
South Carolina and other States passed ordinances
of secession, and preparations were made to resist
any force that would be sent against them, as well
as to obtain possession of any property belonging
to the General Government within the limits of
their States. At Charleston, S. C, two forts were
in the possession of the United States authorities,
Fts. Moultrie and Sumter. The fc)rmer w.as aban-
doned, the troops being moved to the latter. Earlv

I

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HENRY COUNTY.

667

in April, 1861, the authorities of South Carolina
demanded their surrender, and being refused,
erected fortifications upon the mainland for the
purpose of bombardment. No attempt was made
to prevent them, and when completed, another
demand was made, with threats of opening fire upon
the fort in case of refusal. lu Ft. Sumter was
Maj. Anderson and a gallant band of loyal men,
with provisions to last but a short time. To the
demand to surrender a refusal w;xs sent, and on the
morning of April 12, 1861, the rebels commenced
the attack by opening fire upon the fort. The fire
was returned b}' the brave commander of the fort,
but on the 14th he was compelled to lower his flag
and yield to the rebels.

The first gun fired upon Ft. Sumter reverberated
throughout the whole length and breadth of the
land, and was more of a call to arms than the proc-
lamation of President Lincoln for 75,000 men,
which immediately followed. There was no lack
of response to this call among the Northern States,
and no State more enthusiastically and patriotically
responded than the State of Iowa. Men and money
were offered without reserve. Volunteers came
from all vocations in life, and offered up their lives
on the altar of their country. Patriotism was dom-
inant in every heart. Party lines were ignored,
and political contiicts were forgotten, and all formed
themselves together for the preservation of the
Union. The proclamation of Abraham Lincoln
was issued on the 15th day of April, 18C1, and two
days afterward Gov. Kirkwood issued his proclama-

tion calling for the men of Iowa to offer their serv-
ices to the Union.

Meetings were at once called in Mt. Pleasant and
in other parts of the county, resolutions of a loyal
nature were passed, and men finally offered their
services. Call after call was made by the President,
and man after man responded, until it seemed as if
the county would be depopulated of all its best cit-
izens. The services of all were freely given, for no
more loyal men lived than the citizens of Henry
County. Time passed, the last call was made, the
last battle fought, and victory won. Those in re-
bellion laid down their arms, peace was declared,
and those of the brave men who so nobly responded
to their country's call, and whose lives had been
spared, returned to their homes. Daily they are to
be seen upon the streets of our cities. The arm-
less sleeve, the hollow sound of the wooden limb
as it strikes the pavement, tell too plainly that war
has once reigned in uur beautiful land. Even if
desired, it cannot be forgotten. But it is not de-
sired. Patriotism led the brave boys to the front,
and patriotism now compels grateful acknowledg-
ment of what was done. Once each 3'ear, in the
springtime, when the flowers bloom, the surviving
soldiers, accompanied Ijy their families and friends,
repair to the cemetery, and as they scatter the fra-
grant flowers over the graves of those who have
fallen, drop a tear to their memory, and offer up a
silent prayer that their blood may not have been
shed in vain.

1*

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668

HENRY COUNTY.

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HE State of Iowa has within
its borders no city that is
more attractive or beautiful,
considering its size, than Ml.
Pleasant, nor is there one
with more natural advantages,
or settled with a better class of
citizens. It is located in Cen-
ter Township, a little south of
,, J the geographical center of the
iV *L county, on a high prairie
whence it derives its name. Stran-
gers visiting the city for the first
time invariably remark on its beau-
tiful situation. Improved as it is
at the present time, yet it was hardly less beautiful
in tlie fall of 1834, when Presle3' Saunders, from
Sangamon County, 111., first let his gaze fall upon it,
and determined here to make his home. Selecting
it as his claim, he returned to Illinois, and early in
1835 came back, settled upon it and here has since
continued to reside. In this year, 1888, he is
numbered among the earliest pioneers of Henry
County, and as such is honored and respected.
But not alone as a pioneer, but as a representative
citizen, one who has done much to build up the
beautiful city, and, as a business man, always been
upright and strictly' honest with his fellowmau.

On the organization of Henry County by the
Territorial Legislature of Wisconsin in the winter
of 183(i-37, Mt. Pleasant was chosen as the county
seat, and here the seat of justice has continued to
remain, notwithstanding two or three vigorous
efforts have been made to remove it to another

locality-. The cit\- has never had anything to re-
semble the modern boom, but steadily grew for a
number of years, and was first incorporated by an
act of the Territorial Legislature of Iowa, approved
Jan. 25, 1842. The charter provided for a gov-
ernment consisting of a President and four C'ouii-
cilmen and a Recorder. S. B. Parker was the first
President. The town at this time was quite small,
and the expense and trouble of maintaining a
municipal government were probably found rather
onerous, and it was permitted to collapse. As far
as is known, no special effort was made to again in-
corporate for some years, but an act was finally
secured from the State Legislature, approved Feb.
5, 1851, incorporating the town of Mt. Pleasant.
This time the executive authority was vested in a
Mayor, the other officers remaining as before. Col.
William Thompson was chosen Major; llarpiu
Riggs, Titus V. Taft, John S. Green and Alvin
Saunders, Councilmen, and Henry H. McMillan,
Recorder. Under this charter the municipal affairs
of Mt. Pleasant were administered until the spring
of 1 857, when it was organized under the geneual
act, and is now a eitj' of the second class.

The first store in the place was opened bj' Col. J.
H. Randolph, May 12, 1836. The Colonel- had
first started in business in Burlington, but not lik-
ing the location, came on to Mt. Pleasant, where he
became the pioneer merchant. He was in a short
time followed by others, among whom was Presley
Saunders, the founder of the town, who at the
present time is doubdess the oldest merchant in
the State in point of continuous service in the mer-
cantile trade. To-day the city is well represented

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■■» II <•

HENRY COUNTY.

669

1 '

by every class of trade, and her merchants are
regarded by tiie wholesale and jobbing trade as
among the safest in the State.

John P. Grantham was the pioneer school teacher
of the cit3', opening and continuing a term of
school in the spring of 1837, in a little log cabin
which was nsed as a church by an}^ who desired to
hokl services therein. Those who attended school
in that little log cabin more than a half century
ago, are now among the aged men and women, or
have passed over the river. The teacher lingered
till 1887, when he too went to meet his reward.
The humble beginning of the Mt. Pleasant schools
was in strange contrast to those of the present. No
better schools are to be found in the State than
those in this city, and their high rank has been
maintained through long years. In addition to the
public schools, the lowaWesleyan University holds
high rank among the most noted of Western col-
leges or universities, while Howe's Academy has
always been regarded as a first-class institution.
For many years the city has been known as the
Athens of Iowa.

The religious interests of the place have always
been carefully guarded, and to-day it is represented
bj^ a number of strong churches, representing the
leading denominations of the country. The first
house of worship was erected by the Cumberland
Presbyterians in 1 840, on the corner of Main and
Madison streets. For some cause the society did
not prosper, and its oi'ganization was dissolved
many years ago. At the present writing the fol-
lowing-named denominations are represented here :
Advent Clu'istian, Baptist, Christian, Catholic, Con-
gregational, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Pres-
bj'tcrian and Universalist.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Mt. Pleas-
ant, now known as the First Methodist Episcopal
Church, w.as the first religious society organized in
Henry County, as well as in the city. From an
historical sketch of the church, prepared by John
P. Grantham, the following extract is taken:

"As earlj' as the latter part of the year 18.35, that
part of the Black Hawk Purchase in which Mt.
Pleasant is situated was made missionary ground,
and the Rev. John Ruble, who had just been trans-
ferred from the Illinois to the Missouri Conference,

was by the latter sent on as a missionarj' to occupj'
and cultivate the new field. The exact date is not
known, but it is understood that he came on
promptlj', and preached hisfirstsermon in the house
of Preslej' Saunders. Soon after his arrival, wisely
concluding that it was not well for man to be alone,
Mr. Ruble was united in marriage to Miss Diana C.
Bowen, daughter of Isaac Bowen. But his work
was short. In the month of Maj', an all-wise yet
inscrutable Providence released him from his labors
on earth, and the man of God, the self-sacrificing
missionary, was taken to his reward bej'ond the
river. He died and was buried in Burlington, but
his remains were subsequently removed to the old
cemetery in Mt. Pleasant, where his ashes now rest
bj' the side of the wife of his youth.

"Mrs. Ruble lived to see the remains of her hus-
band thus removed, and to bury by his side a sec-
ond husband, Dr. W. C. Stephenson; and to leave
at the time of her own death, a third husband, Sam-
uel Smith, who has since been buried in the same
lot. Thus four sleep together till tiie resurrection
morn, when thej^ will 'neither marr}' nor be given
in marriage.'

"John Ruble was esteemed a man of God b}^ all
who knew him — all bore testimony to his faithful
and ettlcient labors in the 'Master's vineyard.' And,
notwithstanding his race was so short, he had the
consolation, in his last hours, of knowing that his
labors had not been in vain. Success had attended
his efforts to rear the standard of Emanuel in the
wilds of the Black Hawk Purchase, and to organize
on an enduring basis the church of his choice.

"The spring of 1837 found the village of Mt.
Pleasant growing rapidly, and the Methodist ele-
ment, under the wise, efficient and spiritual economy
of the church, not only keeping pace with other de-
nominations, but in advance of them all. The
society at this time probably nimibered from thirty
to forty members. These were not all in the vil-
lage, but were scattered around for miles. They
were all in one class, of which Henry M. Snyder, of
precious memory, was leader.

"Among those who were pioneers of Methodism
in Mt. Pleasant, and who were members of Father
Snyder's class at the above date. Dr. Jesse D. Payne,

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670

HENRY COUNTY.

Dr. W. L. Jenkins. Samuel Nelson ,ind their families
are remembered by the writei-.

"At that time, Norris Hobart w.as the 'Circuit
Rider,' and .ndministered the Word of Life to his
Mt. Pleasant heareis once in four weeks, extraor-
dinaries excepted — for it must be borne in mind
that it required a ride of from one hundred to two
hundred miles each round, over a country destitute
of roads, except such as were designated as 'bridle
paths,' and with streams nnbridgcd — hence tiie
hungry flock could not always rely upon the monthly
visitations of their preachers.

"It is worthy of remark, tiiat in tliose primitive
days of our Methodism, all this labor, toil and suf-
fering were required and generally actually per-
formed on a paid salary of from $100 to $'200.
Now, when we look at our stationed preachers, with
salaries of $1,000 to $1,200, and who are expected,
ordinarily, to preach only on the S.'ibbath, we are
forced to the conclusion th.at some of the old land-
marks of Methodist economy are being swept aw.ay
— and so mote it be."

Time passed, the society grew in numbers, and
in 1843 steps were taken for the erection of a
house of worship. A substantial frame building,
35x45 feet, was erected and dedicated in December
of that year. Services were held in this house until
the erection of the Asbur}' ('hurch in 1867. This
house was remodeled and eidarged during tlie pas-
torate of Rev. J. B. Blakeney, which extended from
1882 to 1885, the improvements costing $8,200.
The value of the chiu'ch propcrtj' is now estimated
at $2.'), 000, including a [larsonage. The member-
ship of the church is quite large, composed of some
of the best and most influential citizens of the city.
Methodism has a strong hold upon the people here.
In connection with the church is a large and flourish-
ing Sabbath-school. Rev. J. W. McDonald lias
been pastor of the churcli since September, 18.S5.

The First Presbyterian Churcli, of Mt. Pleasant,
was organized April 28, 1840, by Rev. L. C Bell,
with six members. Jolin McCoy and Dr. Tom C.
Stephenson were chosen and set apart as Elders of
the church.

The first supply of the church was the Rev. Mr.
Leonard, who preached the sermon at the time of
the organization.

In 1844, the Rev. C. P. Cummins, of Phila-
deli)hia, began to labor with encouraging prospects,
and w'as soon after elected to the pastorate.

In 1845 the menibcrshi]i of the church had in-
cre.iscd to fifty-six. For a period of three years,
there is no record of any meeting or session, and
the date in which Mr. Cummins ceased Iiis labors is
not certain, although it was probably prior to 1848.

The spread of denominationalism, and other
causes, had reduced the mombcrship, by tliis time,
to a mere nothing. It was evident that tlu're could
be no assurance of pcrmanpncy until a church
building was erected, and measures were thereupon
taken to build a house of worship, the Rev. F. B.
Dinsmore agreeing to become permanent supply if
the building of the church be guaranteed. The few
remaining members, ten in number, were called to-
gether for mutual consultation at the house of Mrs.
Patterson.

A subscription was begun at the suggestion of
Father Bell, he starting the paper with $15<>, which
lie afterward increased to $200. The step was a
successful one, and a house was soon erected. There
was some struggling with poverty, but, by build-
ing a kiln, the Rev. Mr. Dinsmore attended to the
curing of the lumber, and studied his sermons at
the same time. The church was erected upon the
site on which now stands the present Presbyterian
edifice. The old building, at the erection of the
existing edifice, was sold to the colored Methodists.

In 1851 the church was left devoid of session,
and a meeting of the congregation was called, at
which John Sype and John Gr-a^' were chosen to
that ottice. In 1852 Rev. Mr. Dinsmore removed
to West Point. lie was succeeded by the Rev.
Bloomfield Wall, who remained three years. In
1855 the Rev. Timotliy Stearns was called to the
pastorate. His ministry was a successful one. Tak-
ing the church when its membership was forty-five, he
had only labored three years (1858) when the num-
ber Increased to lOG; and which numlier being too
great for the dimensions of the churcli, a new edifice
was erected, at a cost of $12,000, the same being
that now used by the congregation. The Rev. Mr.
Stearns afterward removed to Ft. Madison, wiioic
he died, and is buried here.

The next two years the church had the service of

•-■-^-

I

t

HENRY COUNTY.

671

Eev. A. C. McClelland, present Secretary of the
Freedmen's Committee at Pittsburgh. He was suc-
ceeded by the Rev. J. W. Larrimore, who left in
1 863, and entered the army as C'haplain. He had
inca'eased the membership to 204. The Rev. G.
Bergen then filled the pulpit for a period of six
months. The next 3'ear, the Rev. E. L. Belden oc-
cupied the pulpit. On Sept. 18, 1865, the Rev.
J. C. McClintock was pastor and served until Jan-
uarj% 1871 , when he resigned, and has since been
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Burling-
ton. In February of that year, Rev. D. S. Tappan,
D. D., was called to the pastorate, and has since con-
tinued in charge. In the seventeen years of his
ministry in this city, he has done a good work, en-
dearing himself not alone to his congregation, but
to the community as well. The church is in a most
prosperous condition. Its Sunday-school is also
prosperous.

On the 17tli of June, 1882, the house of worship
was struck by a C3'clone, which tore down the spire
and a portion of the northwest wall, causing a dam-
age of about $800.

The Baptist Church of Mt. Pleasant was organized
Feb. 8, 1843. The following account of the growth
of this denomination in Mt. Pleasant was published
in the Journal in Maj% 1878, shortly after the dedi-
cation of the church :

"Thirtj^-five years ago the first germs of the relig-
ious organization were planted in this city, then a
village, by the advent of Elder H. Burnett and wife.
Alternatelj' with others of different creeds and prac-
tices. Elder Burnett preached sometimes in the
court-house and sometimes in a house built by
Mr. Viney, where now stands the house of Dr. Bird,
there being no house of worship in the place. Surely
the strongest faith or the most vivid imagination
might well be blameless if it failed to foresee the
time when, fronting and overlooking that verj' spot
and that humble house of worship, lent by the gen-
erosity of a private citizen, there would stand to-
day the beautiful house which, dedicated wholly to
worship and service of God, is at once a blessing
and an ornament to our beautiful city. Within a
few months, under the earnest preaching of Elder
Burnett, six persons had embraced the truth he set
forth and banded themselves together as a church

of Christ, after the simple manner of the primitive
disciples.

"For years the little company of disciples, grad-
ually increasing in numbers by the accession of
willing converts brought in during the frequent re-
vivals with which God blessed them, worshiped here
and there, as they found opportunity, sometimes in
Brother Burnett's house, where he now lives, and
sometimes elsewhere. Other organizations had built
houses of worship, and this band of believers was
the last to build then, as now. They struggled on,
amid opposition, to maintain the truth and to com-
mend it to others, and after a very weary effort
they completed the house now transformed into the
home of Mrs. Woolson. This building they occu-
pied lor many years. Revival after revival added
new converts to their ranks, till the place became
too strait for them, and they cast about for larger
accommodation.

"Finally it was determined to sell the old house
to the United Presbyterians and build a new one.

"Retaining the right to use the old house for one
service each Sabbath, the church met there till the
summer of 1869, when Mr. Saunders offered the
use of his hall, rent free, which was accepted, and
the church met there till October of that year, when
they entered the finished basement of the new edi-
fice.

"The enterprise was first talked of in 186G, the
foundation was laid in 1867, the walls were erected
and covered in 1868, and the State Convention of
the denomination met with the church and dedi-
cated the basement in 1869. At that time the
liabilities of the church were nominally met and
provided for; but it was found, on attempting to
make collections, that owing to the shrinkage of
subscriptions and values there was a deficiency of
about $2,500. This was provided for. It was
further determined, as the policy of tlie church,
that the enterprise of completing the house should
be carried forward piecemeal. During several years
the church wrestled with tiie indebtedness already
incurred, but in 1875 a forward move was made
in taking down the unsightly board coverings, and
putting in their place the stained window-glass
which now adorns the building. The vestibule
above and below was also finished, with exception

r

672

HENRY COUNTY.

I

of the stairways. In the meantime, the church
determined to ask aid from brethren at the East,
and Miss Hannah Beai-d, of Salem, undertook and
accomplished that mission so successfully that with
the funds thus obtained, together with those raised by
the efforts of the church, the entire liabilities have
been paid, and the house completed and dedicated
free of debt."

The house is 50x80 feet, built with solid 13-inch
wall, supported bj' heavy buttresses, and cost about
$22,000. It was dedicated Sunday, April 28, 1878,
the sermon being preached by Rev. Dr. E. Gunn,
a former pastor.

The cyclone of June 17, 1882, struck this church,
entailing a great loss. Rev. T. M. Smith is the
present i)astor of tlie church.

The Congregational Church of Jit. Pleasant was
organized in 1841, and seven years later its present
house of worship was erected on the northeast cor-
ner of the square. The society for some years
after its organization was exceedingly prosperous,
but it has alwa3's maintained an existence, though
sometimes at a great sacrifice to its members. Those
serving the church as pastor have been Revs. Waters,
Sands, Packard, Hurll)ut, Haskell, Dr.ake, Pickett,
Barnard, Martz, Nourse, Cakebake, Jones, Sharp,
Sabin and O. W. Rogers, its present pastor, who
came in February, 1883.

The Christian Church of Mt. Pleasant dates its
organization since 1845, and the erection of its
house of worship in 1855. Arthur Miller was the
first pastor of the church and served for two or three
years, when he was removed by death. Mv. Top-
liff came next, and was succeeded by Samuel Lowe,
N. C. Cory and others. One of the ablest men serv-
ing this church was Elder D. R. Dungan, now Pres-
ident of the Bible College, in Drake University, at
Des Moines. K. T. C. Bennett was the last p.astor
of the church, closing his labors in the fall of 1887.
For some cause the church has not h.ad that degree
of prosperity which might reasonably be expected.
Its present membership is about 150. The Sunday-
school is prosperous, with an average attendance of
about 100. Mr. Grant is the Superintendent.

The Universalists organized a society in this
place Aug. 5, 1848, and during the years 185C and
1857 erected a fine church edifice at a cost of
-4*

$4,000. The building was dedicated in September,
1857, Rev. O. A. Skinner preaching the dedicatory
sermon. On the 10th day of January, 1858, the
society was permanently organized as the First
Universalist Church of Mt. Pleasant. The church
has had no regular pastor for some time, but its
pulpit has occasionally been supplied by Rev. S.
Crane. This church has the care of a fund of
$6,000 left by Dr. W. B. Chambers, tlie inincipal
of which is permanently invested, while the interest
is used to alleviate the sufferings of the needj^,
irrespective of religious belief.

St. Alichael's Parish of the Protestant Episcopal
Church was organized at Mt. Pleasant, Sept. 12,
1856. The rectors from that date to the present
time have been Revs. D. T. Hutchinson, F. E. Judd,
Benjamin R. Gifford, C. B. Stout, W. II. Cooper,
T. B. Nash, Jr., T. B. Nash, Sr., Walter A. Turner
and D. C. Howard. During the term of Mr. Stout,
the church was built at a cost of $0,000. It is of
the early gothic style of .architecture, and presents
a very neat and attractive appearance. A fine altar
set, vases and cross, were presented to the parish
by Hon. Hamilton Fish, ex-Secretary of State under
Gr.ant, through Gen. N. Greusel. The gift was
highly appreciated by the parish. In the fall of
1887 the church lost by death one of its most use-
ful members, ISIiss Emil^- Rukgaber, who for some
years had served as organist. In honor of her
memory a beautiful memorial window was placed
in the church at a cost of $150. St. Mich.ael's
Church is in a prosperous condition.

The Catholic Church of Mt. Pleasant was organ-
ized about 1 853, and was first served by Father
Wheeler as the first permanent priest. A fine
church w.as erected in the south part of the city,
during the pastorate of Father Slattery.

The Seventh-Day Adventists have .also an organ-
ization. The following in relation to that body of
believers is from one of their number, a member
of the Mt. Pleasant Seventh-I)a,v Adventist Church:

"A Seventh-Diiy Adventist Church consists of a
body of Bible believing Christians, covenanting
together to keep the commandments of God, and
the faith of Jesus, and subscribing to no creed but
the Bible. The peculiar tenets of this church are
a belief in the nearness of the coming of Christ,

HENRY COUNTY.

673

the obserrance of the seventh day Sabbath, and
imnu)rtality through Christ at the resurrection of
the just. They advocate strictly temperance prin-
ciples, discarding all intoxicating liquors and
tobacco. They have no settled pastors, their mis-
sion is the world, and their ministers are usually
engaged in promulgating their doctrines in new
fields, but often visit the churches and hold meet-
ings with them. The church officers are Elder,
Deacon, Clerk and Treasurer.

The first organization of a church of Seventh-
Day Adventists in Henry CountyJ was effected by
Elder B. F. Snook, in the sjiring of 1862, in Center
Township, about six miles southeast of Mt. Pleas-
ant, and called the Liberty Church, and when or-
ganized consisted of fifteen members, afterward
increased to about sixty. Jordan Sharp was the
first Elder, succeeded by A. A. Fairfield. On ac-
count of defective church records, and other causes,
a re-organization was effected Feb. 27, 1872, by
Elder George I. Butler, with a membership of twen-
ty-four. Jacob Hare was the first Elder, then B. C.
Chandler was leader, afterward elected Elder, suc-
ceeded by C. A. Washburn, who is Elder at the
present time, Elders Jacob Hare and Stephen
Pierce (now deceased), Ira J. Hankins, C. A. Wash-
burn and George I. Butler (who held a course of
tent meetings in the Mt. Pleasant Park in 1876
and is now President of the General Confer-
ence) have been members of this church, and when
not preaching in other fields, and at home for short
periods, have held meetings with the Mt. Pleasant
Church.

There are now 116 names on the church book,
the loss through deaths, removals by letter, and
dismissals, brought the number of active members
to eighty-one. The Mt. Pleasant Church is sup-
ported by free-will offerings of its members; they
keep up a contingent and poor fund, besides paying
yearly about $800 into the general church treas-
ury. This latter amount is one-tenth of their
increase, the payment of which is not made com-
pulsory, but this is believed to be the Bible plan of
supporting the Gospel, and generally adopted by
the Seventh- Day Adventist people. In the spring
of 1884 they built a new, neat and commodious
house of worship, 45x28, on Main street, one and

one-half blocks south of the public square, where
meetings and Sabbath-school are held regularly
every Sabbath (seventh) day, besides the weekly
prayer and social meeting.

This people also have a tract and missionary
society, which is composed of the individual mem-
bers of the different churches, and they become
members by paying $1 each, which entitles them to
the privilege of drawing from the large amount of
reading matter kept on deposit in each State, from
which the different churches and workers are sup-
plied for the purpose of distributing to willing and
interested readers, by which means, and through
sending out their periodicals, a goodly number are
brought into their ranks, and as a rule those who
are thus brought in become permanent workers in
the cause.

The German Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleas-
ant was organized in 1864, Rev. W. F. Bruechert
being the first pastor. In 1867, during the pastor-
ate of Rev. F. Smith, a house of worship was
erected at a cost of $3,500. Rev. M. Bueltel was
pastor for some years, and was succeeded bj' Rev.
Henry Schmidt, who was called to the pastorate in
1880, and continued until September, 1886. He
was succeeded by Rev. John W. Everds, the pres-
ent pastor. In connection with the church is a
flourishing Sundaj' -school.

The Second Baptist Church, composed of colored
people, was organized July 17, 1863, and has since
been generally in a prosperous condition.

A colored Methodist Episcopal Church was or-
ganized in 1 865, and shortly after the chapel of
the Protestant Episcopal Church was purchased as
a house of worship. Rev. Charles Holmes was the
first pastor, and Rev. W. H. Coston at present
ministers to the flock.

Mt. Pleasant is well represented by the various
benevolent orders, including Masons, Odd Fellows,
Knights of Pythias, Good Templars, and others.

The Masonic order has a large membership, com-
prising many of the best and most influential men
in the community.

Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A. M., was
the first Masonic society organized in that city.
The charter bears the date Jan. 8, 1845. The
charter members were: J. F. Kinney, N. C. Hub-
^ . ^•^HB-^«*«

\

i

674

HENRY COUNTY.

4

bard, James Mahan, J. H. Curtz, T. H. Orendorf,
J. C. Hall and David Hamlin. The first principal
officers were: J. F. Kinney, W. M.; William
Thompson, S. W. ; Thomas McMillen, J. W. The
present officers are : E. S. Howard, W. M. ; E. N.
Nelson, S. W. ; A. J. Kaufman, J. W. ; L. F. Wil-
lard, Treas. ; T. J. McAdam, Secy.; William
Bayles, S. D.; Paul F. Straub, J. D. ; W. K.
Hobart, S. S. ; H. Kronheimer, J. R. ; Theodore
Schreiner, Tyler. The present membership is 120.

Xenium Lodge No. 207, A. F. & A. M., was char-
tered June 5, 1867. The charter members were:
W. L. Smith, C. B. Gillis, J. McLellan, W. H.
Hatch, A. G. Davis, John L. Brown, E. H. Bart-
lett, F. G. Pitcher, J. H. Keller, David Fisher, E.
A. Van Cise, D. L. Paramore, L. W. V.ale, AYilliam
Dudley, F. Y. Jamison, C. J. Leidliara and Will-
iam Gladden. The first officers were: J. L. Smitli,
W. M.; C. B. Gillis, S. W. ; J. M. McLellan, J. W.
The present officers are : J. H. Keller, W. M. :
Henry Bickenbach, S. W. ; John Avery, J. W. ;
Omer V. Stough, Treas. ; B. L. Cozier, Secy. ; M. B.
Hord, S. D. ; L. N. Shubert, J. D. ; J. W. McFar-
land, S. S. ; P. Haviland, J. S. ; J. McLellan, Tyler.
The present membership is seventy-eight.

Henry Chapter No. 8, R. A. M. — A dispensation
was issued Jan. 31, ISofl, to George Munson, H. J.
Howard, John Craig, J. W. Wiiui, Reuben Allen,
Robert Wilson and David Fisher, by whom the first
meeting was held February 5 following. A charter
w.as granted June 2, ISSr), the charter officers being :
George Munson, H. P.; IL J. Howard, K. ; John
Craig, S. ; J. IL Winn, C. of H. ; Jacob Hare, P. 8. ;
Robert Wilson, R. A. C. ; D. IVI. Adam, M. of 3d
V. ; L. L. Berry, M. of 2d V. ; David Fisher, M. of
1st V. The additional charter members were: Reu-
ben Allen, R. L. B. (lark and T. M. Coutter. The
present olllcers are ; T. J. Van Hon, II. P.; E. N.
Nelson, K. ; Milo Ilobart, S. ; F. L. Willard, T. ;
E. S. Howard, Secy. ; A. J. Kaufman, C. of H. ; J.
McLellan, P. S.; Paul F. Straub, R. A. C; Theo-
dore Schreiner, Tyler. The present membership is
fifty-four.

Jerusalem Commandery No. 7, K. T. — The first
meeting of this body was held at Mt. Pleasant
under the dispensation April 2, 1866. The mem-
bers under the dispensation were : T. Schreiner, W.
-4« —

L. Smith, H. Kronheimer, D. W. Robinson, J. W.
Satterthwait, James Piper, H. Ambler, J. Fa)'er-
weather, D. F. Carnahan, W. E. Woodward, F. G.
Kendall and F. Phelps. R. F. Bower, G. C, was
present, and appointed the following officers: J.
W. Satterthwait, Gen.; W. L. Smith, C. G. ; James
P. Sanford, Prel. ; D. F. Carnahan, S. W. : D. B.
Smith, Jr., J. W. ; W. E. Woodward, Treas. and
Rec. ; D. W. Cowdrey, St. B. ; A. Humphrey, Sw.
B.; James Piper, W. ; J. M. .Shaffer. 1st G. : Will-
iam Shaffer, 2d G. ; D. W. Cowdrey, 3d G. : Theo
Schreiner, S. On the 3d of June following, a char-
ter was granted, to include within its jurisdiction
the cities of Mt. Pleasant and Burlington, also
Henry and Des Moines Counties. The ofHcers
under the charter were: W. E. Woodward, of Bur-
lington, E. C. ; J. W. Satterthwait, of Mt. Pleasant,
G. : and W. L. Smith, also of Mt. Pleasant. C. G.
Sessions were held alternatelj' at Burlington and
Mt. Pleasant until 1872, when a division was
effected, and a new charter issued to the I^urlington
Knights, the Mt. Pleasant Knights retaining the
original charter and number. The present officers
are: J. W. Satterthwait, E. C; T. J. Van Hon, G. ;
W. 1. Babb, C. J. ; L. F. Willard, T. ; E. S. How-
ard, R. ; Benjamin L. Cozier, 8. W. ; E. N. Nelson,
Jr., W. ; John B. Coate, St. B. ; H. Kronheimer, S.
B. ; A. J. Kaufman, W. ; Theo Schreiner, Guard.
The present membership is fifty-two.

The order of the Eastern Star was first instituted
at Mt. Pleasant under the jurisdiction of the Grand
Chapter of the United States in 1867, under the
title of the " Bethany Family " No. 38, and existed
under the above name until the organization of the
Bethlehem Chapter No. 38, in 1879. Bethlehem
Chapter No. 38 of the order of Eastern Star, Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa, was instituted in 1879, under the
jurisdiction of the Grand Chapter of Iowa. Mrs.
IIenr3- Ambler was the first W. JL, and J. W. Sat-
terthwait, W. P. Tbe chapter increased rapidly in
membership, until, at this writing, it is tlie strongest
and best working chapter in the State. Its present
membership is 123. The present ollicers are : Mrs.
Sarah E. Woods, ^^". M.; J. W. Satterthwait, W.
P.; INIrs. S. II. Osgood. A. M.; Mrs. :\Ielissa V:in
Hon, Treas. ; Miss Jenny Rand, Secy. ; Mrs. A. L.
Cozier, Conductress; Mrs. Kate Ball, A. C.

I

•^^

HENRY COUNTY.

675

The Masonic Hall at Mt. Pleasant was burned
Oct. 3, 1883, causing a loss of about 13,000 to the
order. All records were saved, except those of
Henry Chapter No. 8. The various Masonic bod-
ies now meet in a commodious and elegantly fur-
nished hall on the north side of the public square.
The quarters were fitted up with the view to their
special accommodation; ante-rooms, library, ban-
quet hall, kitchens, etc., are complete in their ap-
pointments. The order is working harmoniously
in all its branches, and is in a prosperous condition.

Odd Fellowship dates its existence in this city
from 1848, Henry Lodge No. 10. 1. O. O. F., having
been instituted May 22 of that year. The follow-
ing named were charter members: D. Gilchrist, H.
C. (Saunders, L. D. Housel, W. P. Wightman aud
Charles Cliftman. In the forty years in which it
has had an existence, it has doubtless done much
good. Prosperitj' has always attended it, and it
has a pi'eseut membership of 114, with the follow-
ing-named officers: P. Wertenberger, N. G.; A. A.
Druva, V. G.; S. S. Daniels, Secy.; and O. V.
Stough, Treas.

A second lodge, known as Mystic Lodge No.
55, L O. O. F., was instituted Feb. 2, 1854, which
has likewise had a very profitable career, with a
constantly increasing membership, numbering in
January, 1888, 120. In the summer of 1870 the
lodge was at quite an expense refurnishing its
hall, which is now one of the handsomest in the
State. The officers for the first half of 1 888 are :
J. H. Day, N. G. ; Jesse Blakemore, V. G. ; W. M.
Pixley, R. S. ; William McCoy, P. S. ; J. G. New-
bold, Treas.

In connection with the order, Industry P^ncamp-
ment No. 18, I. O. O. F., was instituted Oct. 15,
1857. Its present membership is fifty-four.

The ex-Union soldiers of the citj' and vicinity
maintain a flourishing Grand Arm^' Post known as
McFarland Post No. 20, G. A. R., which was in-
stituted Nov. 7, 1879, with the following-named
charter members: J. W. Satterthwait, J. W. New-
bold, John F. Houseman, N. Greusel, W. H. H.
Pillsbury, A. W. McClure, J. W. Powell, C. Ruk-
gaber, J. S. Ferguson, C. M. Snyder, Jr., Ford
Nicol, B. L. Cozier, J. W. Burton, W. P. Howe,
John J. Safeley, H. K. Williams, W. K. Leisering,

W. Beckwith, A. T. Brooks. Its first commander
was J. W. Satterthwaite. He was succeeded in turn
by the following named: John W. Powell, H. K.
Williams, B. L. Cozier, Lot Abraham and C. H.
Smith, the last named being the present Commander
(in the fall of 1887). The other officers of the
post at that time were E. H. Bereman, Adj. ; J. H.
Keller, S. V. C. ; William Pixley, J. V. C. ; G.
Jericho, O. D. ; H. K. Williams, Q. M. ; S. W. Gar-
vin, Chap.; W. H. WilJeford, O. G. ; T. J. Van
Hon, S. M.; A. S. Perry, Q. M. S.; B. L. Cozier,
C. B. Rukgaber and George Gass, auditing com-
mittee; W. I. Babb, James Dyer aud W. M. Pix-
ley, membership committee; W. K. Liesering, W.
K. Hobart and John Brown, relief committee. The
Post is in a most prosperous condition, with a
present membership of 125, every town in the
countj% with the exception of two, being rep-
resented. It has done a good and much-needed
work in the past eight j-ears, in looking after the
welfare of the families of ex-soldiers and supplying
the needy.

A Woman's Relief Corps has been organized,
which co-operates with the post in this latter work.

James Harlan Camp No. 34, S. V. U. S. A., Di-
vision of Iowa, was mustered on the 9th of Decem-
ber, 188G,by James D. Bower, Colonel of the Iowa
Division, with the following-named charter mem-
bers, thirty-four in number : Bert Crane, Newt S.
Bangham, Paul B. Woolson, James A. Evans, H. A.
Bereman, R. E. Waugh, B. L. Osgood, Edgar R.
Sater, Charles Gamage, Herbert Hanson, P. N. Shu-
ber, W. F. Kopp, John Gass, W. E. Simpson,
Frank E. Houseman, Charles Houseman, P. H.
Smith, John H. Jericho, John H. Schmitz, Joseph
Moorhead, Elmer Baldwin, John Abraham, M. D.
Andrews, Wesley K. Dillon, W. Jericho, W. D.
Hendrix, Fred C. Bent, J. H. Newbold^ M. E. Keho,
J. B. Trowbridge, W. M. Waymen, N. T. Hendrix,
James L. Martin, Frank Baldwin. Since its organ-
ization it has taken in four recruits. Although but
a few months old at the time of inspection in 1887,
it was rated as a first-class camp, and ranked tenth
in the Iowa Division. The present officers of the
camp are: Wesley K. Dillon, Captain; James A.
Evans, First Lieutenant; Pearl II. Smith, Second
Lieutenant; Paul B. Woolson, Bert Crane and Fred
■•^

«► ll^»

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676

HENRY COUNTY.

C. Bent, Camp Council; Frank E. Houseman,
Chaplain; Newt S. Bangham, First Sergeant; John
H. Jericho, Qm. Sergeant; J. H. Newbolfi, Color
Sergeant; W. E. Simpson, Sergeant of Guard; H.
A. Bereman, Principal Musician ; Bert L. Osgood,
Corporal of Guard; P. N. Shuber, Camp Guard;
Bert Hanson, Picket Guard.

The Ladies' Library Association is an institution
reflecting great credit upon those interested in its
formation and maintenance. It was first organized
in 1875, and fi-ora a small beginning has grown to
be an institution in which the city should take a
just pride. Those signing the articles of incorpor-
ation were Miss Nellie E. Ambler, Mrs. A. S.
Marsh, Mrs. C. T. Cole, Mrs. Alice L. Taylor, Mrs.
M. W. Ramey, Mrs. Callie S. Marsh, IVIrs. A. C.
Woolson, Miss Rachel Carney, Miss Emma L.
Schwenker, Mrs. Charles T. Marsh and Mrs. Belle A.
Mansfield.

They commenced with a fund of §300, the net
proceeds of a previous lecture course. They
resolved to attempt to raise by an active canvass
for donations of money and books a sum not less
than $5,000. In case this sum could not be reached,
they proposed to use $3,000 as an invested fund,
the income of which should be a permanent pro-
vision for a librarian. For several weeks the ladies
kept up a vigorous canvass, but the result fell far
below their hopes, being only about $2,000, in-
cluding several conditional subscriptions, not im-
mediately available. The largest sum subscribed
and paid was $100, and the sums ranged from that
amount to fifty cents. Notwithstanding their dis-
appointment in the amount raised, the ladies deter-
mined to go on in their preparations for a library,
relying upon the voluntary service of members as
librarians, until they could do better. Accordingly,
they proceeded to lease for five years a jiartially
furnished hall in Ambler's Block, secoml (Kxir, east
side of the public square, at $150 per annum. They
provided cases, reading-desks and other fixtures
necessary for a small beginning, and took possession
of the hall Jan. 1, 1876.

The association first secured the gift of a former
collection, popularly known as the " Chamberlain
Libraiy," amounting to about 800 volumes. Tlu^se
books had Ix^en lying for several years in dusty

piles in a back room of Ambler's law ofHce. They
had all been originallj' donated to Mr. Chamberlain,
and consisted of a medley of works of theology,
science, travel, and Patent Oflice Reports, with
some very valuable books of reference. These
were transferred to the new quarters, cleaned,
labeled and arranged. Judge Gillis donated 300
volumes, comprising a complete set of Congres-
sional Globes, Colonial records and other valuable
State documents. Other donations of books were
received, amounting in the aggregate to over 200
volumes. The most valualjle of these was a com-
plete set of Appleton's American Encyclopedia,
from Dr. M. Ranney, of the hospital. The associ-
ation purchased 870 volumes, partly at second-
hand ; a few standard magazines were suliscribed
for, and quite a number of jjeriodicals and papers
were donated for the reading tables, and thus
the preparations for opening went on.

There has been a steady increase in the number
of volumes year by year, the proceeds of entertain-
ments given by the ladies, and from lectures, being
used for that purpose. At present there are about
3,000 volumes in the library.

The success of the association is due to the un-
tiring energy and zeal displayed by the ladies of
Mt. Pleasant, under whose auspices it has continued
to grow. No outside help has ever l)een secured,
and during its thirteen years' existence there has
been but one paid librarian, and for one j'ear only.
The ladies, in turn, act as librarian, laying aside
all other duties for the time. Three days in each
week the library is open, Tuesday, Thursd:iy and
Saturday, afternoons and evening.

Ill ct)niiection with the association i-< a Literary
Club, organized in the fall of 1883, and which
holds regular sessions, the season commencing in
Se[)tember and lasting until May in each j-ear. The
club is composed of some of the leading minds of
Mt. Pleasant, and its meetings are both interesting
and instructive.

The oflicers of tiie association in the winter of
1887-88 were Mrs. Allie Taylor, I'resident; Mrs.
L. Ketchiim, Vice President; Mrs. J. S. McGregor,
Treasurer; Miss Kitty Ketchum, Recording Secre-
tary; Miss Ada Ambler, Corresponding Secretary.
The libraiy committee is composed of Miss Emma

\

J^

:i^i-#.

HENRY COUNTY.

677

Schwenker, Chairman ; Mrs. Louie James and Miss
Satie Ambler. The entertainment committee con-
sists of Mrs. R. Ambler, Chairman; ]\Iiss Fannie
Wheeler and Miss Laura Cole.

The Knights of Pythias have a flourishing lodge
in this city, known as Eastern Star Lodge No. 6.
It was organized May 0, 1870, with the following-
named charter members: H. D. Walker, S. L. Dan-
iels, W. F. McClary, Lewis U. Fenton, J. S.
Shean, H. W. Templin, W. B. Walker, Walter Dall-
ner, H. A. Gillman, S. N. Thompson, E. .J. Lock-
wood. Theo. Waible, C. E. Thompson, Will IMeleher,
J. K. Burton, P. A. DaUner, IL De Laubenfels, I.
W. Dalluer, Charles Prince, Will Schliep, F. W.
Schnurr, J. B. Traxler, H. S. Wilder, F. Bonnifield,
George A. Owen. This lodge has been honored by
the election of one of its members, H. D. Walker,
as Grand, who has held the office for a number of
years, discharging its arduous duties in a faithful
manner.

The Knights of Labor are represented by Local
Assembly No. 2189, organized Aug. 26, 1882,
meeting each Saturday evening. The assembly
is in a flourishing condition, with an increasing
membership. Thomas Corcoran is Master Work-
man, and Albert Druva, Recording Secretary.

The Independent Order of Good Templars has
had seasons of prosperity and seasons of adversity.
Several lodges have been organized, flourished for
a time, and then suspended. At present the order
is represented by Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 68, I. O.
G. T., which was instituted Nov. 16, 1885. Its
charter memliers were: .1. R. Payne, Mrs. E. S.
Payne, C. H. Peters, Mrs. H. Peters, Dr. J. H.
Drake, Mrs. M. E. Drake, JMilo Hobart, J. A. Chis-
man, Helen Page, Nettie Hawkins, F. E. David-
son, Frank J. Drake, Frank H. Boynton, Esther
McDonald, Emma Dahlin, W. M. Whitney, Mrs.
M. A. Whitney, Mrs. C. S. Shepp, Lizzie Cox, J.
H. Forgrave, .Tames McLaren, F. A. Conner, Mrs.
Harmison, Mary Munson, Mrs. Belle Grimm, Mrs.
F. A. Siberts, A. Spencer, Mrs. L. Shubert, C. F.
Devol, George E. Gass, S. B. Potter. Its first
officers were: Chief Templar, Rev. J. R. Payne;
Lodge Deputy, Dr. .J. H. Drake; Vice Templar,
Miss Esther McDonald; Chaplain, J. H. Forgi-ave ;
Recording Secretary, J. A. Chisman; Assistant,
-^»

Miss Nettie Hawkins; Financial Secretary, Emma
Dahlin; Treasurer, S. B. Potter; Marshal, F. H.
Conner; Deputy, Mrs. A. Peters; Guard, Lizzie
Cox; Sentinel, Frank J. Drake; Right Support,
Clara Holsinger; Left Support, Mrs. M. E. Drake;
Past Chief Templar, C. II. Peters.

Since its organization the lodge has been quite
prosperous, and has numbered among its members
some of the best citizens of the citj', those who are
thoroughly interested in temperance work. The
membership in January, 1888, was 120, with the
following-named officers: C. T., Miss Mary Haw-
kins; V. T., Fred Bent; Secretary, Dr. Clara Swan;
Marshal, Ella McClaren; Treasurer, Nettie Grue-
sel; Financial Secretar}^ Jessie Hughes; Guard,
Charlie Ball; Sentinel, Mertie Millspaugh; Superin-
tendent Juvenile Temple, Jennie Hobart; Lodge
Deputy, Frank J. Potter; Chaplain, Mr. J. Bailey;
P. C. T., Frank Dickinson.

Under the direction of the lodge is a flourish-
ing Juvenile Temple, with a membership of 140.
Mrs. M. E. Drake, of Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 68, has
the honor of being the Grand Superintendent of
juvenile work in the State.

There are in the city two solid financial institu-
tions, the First National and the State National
Banks. The former was organized in 1864, with
Presley Saunders, President, and H. S. Clark, Cash-
ier. Its capital stock was originally placed at $75,-
000, which was subsequently increased to $100,000.
Presley Saunders yet remains at the head of the
institution with T. J. Van Hon, as Cashier.

The State National Bank, of Mt. Pleasant was
chartered in February, 1865, and was an outgrowth
of the old Mt. Pleasant branch of the State Bank
of Iowa, which was established in 1858 by Timothy
Whiting and others. The State National Bank was
opened with a paid-up capital of $100,000, Timo-
thj' Whiting being its first President, and retaining
that position until his death in February, 1887.
He was succeeded in that office by his son, John II.
Whiting, who was its cashier from the establish-
ment of the bank until January, 1886. The first
charter of the bank expired in February, 1885,
when it was extended until February, 1905. The
State National has had a prosperous career and has
ever had the confidence of the business and mon-

•► ll"^

••►

678

HENRY COUNTY.

eyed men of Henry County. Its surplus is now
$50,000, and its depositors are amono the best and
most cautious people. John H. Whiting is the pres-
ent President, with R. S. Gillis, Cashier. Both men
are well known and universally respected, and
under their management the bank will be con-
ducted upon sound business principles.

The nianuf.acturing interests of Mt. Pleasant
liave not been fostered to any great e.xtent, still
there are a few institutions here that deserve more
than a passing notice.

The Mt. Pleasant Manufacturing Company was
incorporated Aug. 1, 1887, with a cash capital of
$10,000, for the manufacture of steel sled-runners,
under the Johnson Patent; also steel farm, field and
yard gates, and other articles. The works now
employ twelve men, and are crowded with orders.
The General Manager of the company is Hon. Sam-
uel L. Steele, and the Secretary is Mr. William R.
Sullivan. The runners manufactured by this corn-
pan}' are unsurp.issed in construction, having many
improved features not possessed by an}' other.
They are made of steel expressly rolled for the
work, are less than half the weight of the cast iron
runners formerly used, are not as heavy as wooden
runners, and far more durable than eitlier, while
they are much neater in design. They have heavy

reinforcements on the front of the runner, where
the bolt passes through, giving greater bearing sur-
face, and adding strength where the greatest strain
comes. A steel shoe is riveted to the bottom so
that in case of wearing out it can be replaced at
slight cost.

The gates manufactured by the company are
light, durable and ornamental, and no stock can
break them down. In their construction steel bars
and braces are used with barbed wire for field gates,
and wire without barbs on yard gates. Their ex-
treme lightness prevents sagging, and with proper
care they are practically indestructible.

Tliis young industry, alread}' in so promising a
condition, promises to be an important factor in
the manufacturing enterprises of Mt. Pleasant.

Leedham cfe Baugh do quite an extensive business
in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. In
connection with the sketch of Mv. Baugh will be
found a full account of their works, to whicli the
reader's attention is directed.

The cigar manufacture is carried tyi in this city
by two firms, those of W. H. Schlcip autl William
Fehse, both of whom do a fine business.

In connection with the biographical sketch of
C. H. Smith is an account of the Scraper works, the
largest manufactory in this city.

-►-•

M-

HENRY COUNTY.

679

^,v¥ :i:»4:*+-'!r^"-P !!•'**** %"?'i^%'%*'-K"^^

_t^sSiSMm%r^

r^^^^^*«55^ ^> .t. .t .t„.\.t^^

^55^5^=^ ...-,j=;;

ii^

' N this connection is presented short historical
sketches of the various townships. As stated
in the preface mucli of the information usually
embodied in history will be found in the biograph-
ical sketches.

•■--^* -'i^m- *^ — •

Baltimore Towuship.

^IILS township was first settled in 1834, on
section 32, by J. A. Box, who also claims
to have been the first settler in the county.
Black Hawk, Wapello, and other noted Indians,
were frequent visitors at his cabin until they either
died or passed on toward the setting sun. The
first child boru in the township was T. S. Box, who
was probably also the first white cliild born in the
county'.

Baltimore comprises all of township No. 70
north, of range 5 west, and is almost exclusively
timber land, and very much broken. Notwith-
standing this fact there are some excellent farms in
the township, and some most excellent people.

The village of Lowell was laid out by M. M.
Carver, and the first house was built by Harmon
Matthews. The first mill was put up by Hiram
Smith in 1838. Dr. William Marsh was the first
physician in the place, and Edward Archibald
the first Justice of the Peace.

The first school-house was a typical log one, which
was blown down after a year or two of service.

Canaau Town.ship.

)HE prairie townships were the last to be set-
tled, pioneers thinking it necessary to settle
in or near the timber, that they might have
its protecting influence from the chilling winds, and
have plenty of fuel and fencing material, as well as
material for their houses. Canaan being exclu-
sively prairie, was therefore not settled for many
years after those more highly favored by an abund-
ance of timber land.

James Lawrence has the honor of being the pio-
neer settler, dating his residence from 1848, at
which time he settled upon section 33. Among
others who came in at an early day were Robert
MeCabe, Ambrose Yancy, Thomas E. Corkhill,
William Corkhill, Jacob Hare and A. Baxter.

Canaan has more tillable laud than any township
in the county, and is one of the best improved,
having an enterprising class of citizens. The Bur-
lington & Western Railroad crosses the township,
having one station, Mt. Union, a bright little vil-
lage settled by a good class of well contented peo-
ple.

The Protestant Methodist Church of Mt. Union
was organized in the year 1876 by W. Hndelston.
The society worshiped in a school-house until
1880, when a new church was built of very pleas-
ing ajjpearance. The successive ministers were
Rev. W. Hudelston, Josiah Selby, Rev. Mr. Brown,
,S. J. Geddes, W. Sparks, J. Patton, G. M. Scott,
Wm. Van Vleet, and the present pastor, J. L. Scott.

-4•-

G80

■•►

HENRY COUNTY.

i i

Center Township.

HE history of this township is connected
with that of the city of Mt. Pleasant.
^ James Dawson lias the honor of being the
first settler, locating here in the spring of 1834.
Among others who came in early were Presley
Saunders, John M. Hanson, M. H. Barnes, J. Wil-
son and Levi Smith. The townslup comprises all
of township 71 north, of range 6 west, and is a
fine body of land, two-thirds of which is prairie.

Jackson Townsliii>.

\f|AMES RICHIE was the first settler in this
township, locating on section 6 in 1836.
Soon after him came Larkin Johnson, Will-
iam Williamson, Elijah Burton, Robert
Price, J. C. Garrison, Jonathan Russ, A. Walter, J.
Maxwell, George Jones, T. Frazier, John Johnson
and J. A. Edwards. Jackson comprises all of
township 70, range 6 west, and is about equally
divided between timber and prairie laud. A fine
class of people reside here, and the farms are gen-
erally well improved, while the citizens are for the
most part in good circumstances. The Skunk
River passes through the township.

Jefferson Township.

(^p^HIS township lies in the extreme northwest-
m^^ ern part of the county, and comprises all of
^^^ township 73 north, of range 7 west. Among
its first settlers were Hiram Howard, Henr^' Payne
Roberts, R. M. Pickle, T. Mosher, Harrison Mat-
thews and Daniel Turney. Jefferson is about
equally divided between timber and prairie land.
Americans, Germans and Swedes are the nationali-
ties principally represented in the township at the
present writing. The Germans are generally con-
nected with the Mennonite Churc^Ii.

The village of .Marshall was laid out in 1851 by
Rogers & Pickell, its first store being kcjit liy the
latter gentleman. The town grew but slowly, at-
taining apoi)ulati()n of 200. On account of there
being so many mistakes in the forwarding of mail,
much of that intended for Marshall going to Mar-
shalltown, while some intended for the latter being

sent to Marshall, the post-office authorities ordered
the name of ^Marshall changed. Wayland was then
chosen, and the town has for about ten 3'ears been
known bj' that name. It is now on the line of the
Oskaloosa Branch of the Central Iowa Railroad, and
is quite a shipping and trading point.

Mjiriou Tcmaship.

^^ URING the year 1 835 George Duttou made
claim to a portion of section 22, township
72 north, of range 6 west, now known as
Marion Township, and was the first settler
within its limits. Being one of the best in the
county, the township rapidly settled up with a fine
class of citizens, and to-day is one of the best im-
proved in the county. It is well adapted to the
raising of fruits, and being well watered, is a good
stock country, many of its farmers making a
specialty of stock-raising. There is neither railroad
nor village in the township.

New London Township.

"j^^^EAV LONDON comprises all of Congres-
I jj sional Township No. 71 north, of range 5
[1\^^ west, and is a fine body of land, principally
prairie. It is traversed by the Chicago, Burling-
ton & Quincy Railroad, which enters the township
on section 36, and pursuing a northwest course
passes into Center from section 1 8. The village of
New London is the only town in the township.

New London w.as first settled in 1834, bj' A. C.
Dover, who located on section 26. He was soon
afterward followed by Peter Hall, John Dalson,
Jacob Burge, S. H. Dover and others, though the
township settled slowly till after the completion of
the railroad.

CITV OF NEW LOXOOX.

<ji?N the fall of ISX] Abraham C. Dover made
I claim to the present site of New London. The
(li following year his brother, Solomon II. Dover,
came in, followed by others. In 1837 the first-
named secured the st'rviccs of Benjamin Matthews,
and had platted a town site, to which he gave the
name of Dover. He shortly afterward sold the
town plat to J. J. King, and the name of the town

■► ■—

4

J^

^^

HENRY COUNTY.

681

was changed to New London. A post-offlce was
established here in 1838, John H. Kincaid being
the first Postmaster. Thomas Hedge opened the
first store during the same year. This store was a
regular visiting place for the Sac and Fox tribe.s
until the establishment of the trading-post at
Agency City.

The town was of slow growth, but in 1861, hav-
ing a population of 300, it was incorporated, Ben-
jamin Matthews being elected the first Mayor. It
has never attained a very large growth, but it has
always been a good trading-point. Surrounded by
a fine agricultural country it has afforded the
farmers a good market, the surplus earnings being
spent among the liberal tradesmen. At the present
writing, in the spring of 1888, the town is well rep-
resented in the mercantile trade, and is abundantly
supplied with churches and schools. Two news-
papers, of which mention is made elsewhere under
the head of " The Press," are here published.

The first meetings of a religious nature were
held by the Methodist Episcopal people at the
house of W. W. Steele in 1838. A class was soon
organized, and regular services held. In ]84fi a
house of worship was erected, which continued to
be used till the winter of 1887-88, when services
began to be held in a new house of worship, which
was then completed at a cost of 12,500. A Sun-
day-school is maintained with a good attendance.

In 1848 a Christian Church was organized here,
its first services being held in the school-house.
Alexander Pattison was the first pastor. In 1849
a house of worship was erected, but was subse-
quently sold, the congregation now using the Bap-
tist Church. Elder Richards, who lately came to
them from the Protestant Methodist, is now serving
the church as pastor.

The Protestant Methodist Society was organized
in 18.58. In 1867 it purchased the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, which it used till 1873, when
the present church edifice was erected at a cost of
$4,000. The society is flourishing; Rev. J. L. Scott
is the present pastor.

The Presbj'terian Church of New London dates
its organization from 1856, and after many trials
was re-organized in 1808. In 1874 steps were
' taken for the erection of a house of worship, which

■♦

was completed at a cost of $6,000, and dedicated
May 9, 1875, Rev. W. G. Craig preaching the
dedicatory sermon. Rev. D. S. Tappan, of Mt.
Pleasant, officiates as a supply.

The Baptists at one time had a good organiza-
tion here, which was allowed to disband.

New Loudon was organized as an independent
school district in 1857, though the first school was
held in 1839 in a log building erected for educa-
tional and religious purposes. In 1856 a brick
building was begun, and completed in 1859, to be
used for school purposes. It was erected at a cost
of $4,500. N. R. Cook was the first teacher in
that building. Becoming unsafe it was torn down
in 1885, and until the erection of the present
school building school was held in the old Acad-
emy building. The present house is a frame struc-
ture erected at a cost of $4,000. The first teachers
employed in the new building were Miss Hester
Barr, Principal; Miss Rutledge and Miss Linnie
Lj'man. The present Principal is B. J. Adams,
with C. J. Seymour and Miss Linnie Lyman as as-
sistants.

In 1865 a number of leading citizens formed a
stock company and put up a fine building for an
academy. The city gave the association a lease
of the public square for that purpose for a period
of ninety-nine years, or so long as the biu'lding
should be used for High School purposes. Much
interest was taken in the enterprise in the begin-
ning, and for several \'ears the school prospered, but
the interest waning the last school was held in 1878,
except when used as a public school in 1886. At
present the building is used by the Good Templars,
G. A. R., W. R. C. and literary associations.

Through ti)e efforts of I. S. Crabb a meeting was
called Dec. 15, 1879, and the New London Library
Association was formed. At present there are 265
volumes in the library, the greater number being
of a high order of merit.

The secret and benevolent orders are represented
by Masons, Odd Fellows, G. A. R., W. R. C. and
Good Templars.

New London Lodge No. 28, A. F. & A. M., was

instituted in 1851, and has had a very prosperous

career, and at the present time has a membership

of eighty, with Columbus Nugen, W. M.; Henry

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682

HENRY COUNTY.

Mehler, S. W. ; J. L. Shields, J. W. ; William Allen,
Treasurer; I. S. Crabb, Secretary.

Charity Lodge No. 56, 1. O. O. F., was instituted
Oct. 26, 1854, and has likewise been successful in
its work, with a present membership of seventy-
nine, and the following-named officers: Marion
Shipley, N. G. ; Andrew Crowley, V. G.; Frank
Van Trump, Secretary ; James Ferrell, Treasurer.

The S. W. Hardin Post No. 384, G. A. R., was
organized March 20, 1885, with the following-named
charter members: G. Van Beek, W. P. Ferrel,
William Lee, T. B. Lee, S. Hammel, W. H. Nugen,
S. Martin, Caleb Dailey, A. H. Gabbart, J. Barney,
S. J. Pearson, Z. Rains, J. C. Fuller, W. C. Linking,
T. J. Hudson, J. P. Reed, W. Leach, J. C. Nugen,
C. Doolittle, Thomas Watkins, D.aniel Brooks, J.
Keteliam, A. M. Corn well, George Shaner. The
first officers were : W. H. Nugen, Com. ; William
Lee, S. V. ; S. Hammel, Jr., V.; Samuel Martin,
Officer of the Day; T. B. Lee, Quartermaster; C.
Dailey, Officer of the Guard; A. M. Corn well.
Chaplain ; George Shaner, Surgeon ; George Van
Beek, Adjt. CJ. M.; J. Z. Nugen, Q. M. Sergt.; W.
C. Linkins, Sergt. Maj. In 1886 W. H. Nugen
was re-elected Com.

The present officers are: George "N'an Beek,
Com.; Parker Shipley, S. V.; J. D. Miller, J. V. ;
Samuel Martin, Officer of tlie Day; J. Z. Nugen, Q.
M. ; T. J. Hulson, Chaplain ; James Robertson, Officer
of the Guard; O. Dickenson, Sergt. Maj.; T. B.
Lee, Q. M. Sergt. ; R. D. Marley, Surgeon ; "\V. H.
Nugen, Adjt. The meetings are well attended,
the present membership being about sixty.

The Women's Relief Corps, No. 40, in connec-
tion with S. W. Hardin Post, was organized in
August, 1885, with the following-named officers:
Mrs. Emily AVhittakcr, President; Mrs. Jane Har-
rington, Senior Vice I'rcsident; Mrs. Miu-y Lyman,
Vice President; Mrs. Lizzie Bent, Secretary; Mrs.
Emily Van Beek, Trc.isurer; Mrs. J. Hudson, Chap-
lain; Mrs. Mary Pearson, Conductor; Mrs. Hattie
Hampton, Guard. The charter w:is granted Oct.
31, 1885, with Misses Emily Wliittaker, Gemima
Hudson, S.arah E. Shipley,. Jane Harrington, JLary
Lyman, Emma C. Van Beek, and Mesdamcs Lizzie
C. Bent, Betsy Gabbert, Flva Shaner, Mary M.
Pearson, Hattie Hampton, Martha A. Roberts, Luc}'

Fuller, S. E. Lee and Lizzie Lee as charter mem-
bers. The corps is growing slowly, but steadily,
with a membership of twenty-two, and the follow-
ing-named officers: Mrs. Emily Whittaker, Presi-
dent ; Mrs. Lucy Fuller, Senior Vice President ; Mrs.
Hattie Hampton, Junior Vice President; Emily
V.an Beek, Treasurer; Mary Lyman, Secretary; Cas-
sie Gannaway, Conductor ; Mary Leach, Guard ; Mrs.
Betsy Gabbert, Chaplain; Mrs. Eva Shaner, Assist-
ant Conductor; Mrs. Gemima Hudson, Assistant
Guard.

A lodge of Good Templars was organized tiie
11th of November, 1887, with twentj'-four charter
members. The first officers were Mrs. William Lee,
Chief Templar; Mrs. J. W. Seymour, Vice Templar;
Mr. Frank Price, Secretary; Miss C. Lee, Assist-
ant Secretar3' ; Victor H. Shields, Financial Secre-
tarj"; Miss Ida Pearson, Treasurer; J. C. Seymour,
Marshal; Miss Allie Hendriclcs, Deputy Marshal;
Mrs. Marj' E. Lyman, Chaplain; Miss Linnie Ly-
man, Lodge Deputy; Miss Alpha Ramsey, Inside
Guard; Frank Gabbert, Outside Guard; J. W. Sey-
mour, Past Chief Templar; Miss M. R. Lyman,
Right Hand Sujjporter; Miss Nellie Seymour, Left
Hand Supporter. The present officers are: Miss
Louella Wallar, Chief Templar; Mrs. AVilliam Lee,
Past Chief Templar*; Jlrs. J. W. Sej'raour, Vice
Templar; Mctor H. Shields, Secretarj'; C. J. Se^--
mour, Financial Secretary ; Frank Gannawaj', Treas-
urer; Mrs. Louis R. Williams, Chaplain; James R.
Scott, Marshal; Jliss Nora Stephenson, Deputy
Marshal; Miss Linnie L^'man, Lodge Deputy : Miss
Maud Hunter, Inside Guard; Burt Crabb, Outside
Guard; Will T. Shaner, Right Hand Supporter;
Frank W. Hiles, Left Hand Supporter. Present
membership thirtj'-five. The lodge is in a thriving
condition, with a constantly increasing member-
ship. A hall has l)een handsomely tilted up by the
society in the academy building.

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Siiloin Towiisliip.

c!^=^IIIS township comprises all of Congressional
Township 70 north, of range 7 west. It is
one of tlie first settled in Henry County.

There are now withiu its borders two villages,

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HENRY COUNTY.

683

Silem and Ilillsboro, while the township is traversed
by two railroads. The Friends effected a settle-
ment in the township in the spring of 1837. The
following account of tlieir emigration and settle-
ment is from the pen of Ilcnry W. Joy, one of the
original emigrants.

•'In the summer of 183G, several Friends of
Cherry Grove Monthly Meeting, Ind., decided to
seek a new home in the West, and in the fall of that
year they organized a party composed of the follow-
ing-named members : Reuben Joy and Dr. Gideon
Frazier, of W.ayne County; Stephen, John and
Nathan Hockett, and William Hammer, of Randolph
County, Ind. They started on horseback to what
w!is called the Black Hawk Purchase, crossed the
Mississippi at Burlington, from thence via Mt.
Pleasant to Salem, Henry Co., Iowa, then part
of the Territory of Wisconsin. After several days
spent ill inspecting the county, it was decided to
locate the colony at Salem. The following spring,
on the 10th day of May, 1837, the colony, composed
of the following-named Friends and their families:
Reuben, Henry W. and Abram P. Joy, Dr. Gideon,
Stephen and Thomas Frazier, Lydia Frazier, Thomas
Cook and Levi Cammock, nine families in all,
started from the neighborhood of Williamsburg,
Wayne Co., Ind., for their chosen location on the
Black Hawk Purchase. They had seven wagons
and considerable stock, and the journey through
Indiana and Illinois was a long and tedious one.
They landed in the neighborhood of Salem June
17, and there found Isaac Pidgeon, who, with his
family, was a member of the Society of Friends.
He had been a resident for two years, and continued
to make that his home until the time of his death.
Two other families of Friends were there, but did
not remain. The families mentioned above were
the only permanent settlers of the B'riends in the
township of Salem. There were two other families
of squatters, not Friends, residing in the township.
One lived in a cabin, the other in a pole smoke-
house. A stone house, partlj' finished, and two
cabins, covered iu, comprised the h.abitations of the
settlement. Four weeks later Stephen Hockett, Sr.,
Stephen Hockett, Jr., John Hockett and Harrison
Hoggatt, with their families, comprised a second
party of emigrants, all members but one, and all

from the old neighborhood in Indiana, arrived at
Salenr. within two weeks from the .arrival of the
second partj'. A third appeared, comprising four
families, all Friends: William, Nathan and Isaac
Hockett and William Hammer. The last two were
from Randolph County, Ind., and from the same
Monthl^f Meeting. From this until winter set in
Friends kept coming in small parties of one, two
and three families, most from the same Monthly
Meeting in Indiana, though there were a few from
other places. At first it was necessary to go to
Illinois, about seventy-five or eighty miles, for pro-
visions, and many privations had to be endured.
About the middle of the eighth month in 1837, a con-
ference of Friends was held at the house of Isaac
Pidgeon to ai-range for religious meetings. From
that autumn meetings wore held weekly. For eight
or ten months they assembled at the house of Henry
W. Joy. The first sermon preached in Salem by
an authorized minister was delivered at the house
of Henry W. Joy, by Rev. Thomas Frazier, in the
fall of 1837, while Mr. Frazier and some members
of his family were here prospecting. They made a
permanent residence the following spring. A dele-
gation composed of Grandfather Stephen Hockett,
Reuben and Rachel Joy, Mary Hockett and Stephen
Hockett, Jr., and wife, were sent to the Vermilion
Monthly Meeting in Illinois in the ninth month of
1838, to provide for the organization of a monthly
meeting at Salem.

" A committee from the Vermilion Monthly
Meeting arrived at Salem on the 1st day of the sixth
month, 1838. A preparation meeting was held on
the 7th, and the first monthly meeting on the 8th of
the tenth month, 1838. Stephen Hockett, Jr., and
Henry W. Joy were appointed overseers to look
after the welfare of the Society. Henry AV. Joy
died at his home in Salem, Nov. 25, 1883, aged
seventy-five years. He was the last survivor, who
was then the head of a family, of the original
members of the first monthly meeting. His wife
died Nov. 8, 1877. A meeting-house of suitable
capacity was built in 1840, and the society rapidly
increased iu membership.

"About 1843 a division occurred through the
agitation of the slavery question. As is well known,
the Friends were all Abolitionists in principle, but a

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684

HENRY COUNTY.

minoritj' comprising the more ultra ones were dis-
posed to undertake aggressive measures in the in-
terest of the slaves and in violation of existing laws.
They established stations where runaway slaves
were to be secreted until they could be forwarded
to Canada by what was known as the " underground
railroad." Large numbers of slaves were enticed
from their masters and helped to Canada in that
manner. A nuijority of the Friends, while they
would not refuse shelter to an escaped slave if ap-
plied to, did not believe itrigiit to go aboutto vio-
late the laws of the land in the manner of the more
ultra ones. Tliey claimed to be a law-abiding peo-
ple and were opposed to the lawless acts of their
more hot-headed brethren. The result was the
active abolition members withdrew from the meet-
ing and erected a meeting-house of their own, which
they occupied a few years and then leased it to the
village for school purposes and returned to the
original meeting.

"The Society erected a brick meeting-house in
18.53, which they occupied until 1867, when it was
utilized as a part of the Whittier College, and the
college Board of Trustees erected a new meeting-
house for the Friends, which building served the
Society until 187G. At that time the present frame
meeting-liouse was erected. Later, the older and
more conservative members became alarmed at
what they felt to be a disposition on the part of the
younger members to deviate from the old established
customs, language and maxims of the Society. The
younger and progressive party proved the more
numerous, and after the lapse of a few j'ears the
conservatives withdrew and erected a new meeting-
house, where they met and proceeded to re-organize
the Salem Monthly Meeting on the basis of the old
principles and maxims of the Society as given by
Fox and Penn. Those most prominent in effecting
a separation were Peter Ilobson, William Savjige,
C. J. I'oulter, Wytlie Elliott, David Parkins,
Thoni.as Nicholson, George Stephenson and their
families. The re-organized monthly meeting was
held June 3, 1879, since wliich time they have
maintained their separate meetings. The Progres-
sive or Fast Friends as they are termed, have main-
tained the original organization, and being largely
in the majority hold the Society property.

VILLAGE OF SALEM.

t-HE village of Salem was laid out in 1839 by
Aaron Street, Jr., and Peter Boyer. Among
the first to settle at this point were R. W.
Joy, R. F. Joy, Peter Boyer, Aaron Street, Jr.,
Isaac Pidgeon, William Pidgeon, G. W. Henderson,
J. H. Pickering, William Leewelling, Henderson
Leewelling, Peter Hobson and John W. Frazier.
The town rapidly increased in population, and in
1840 was duly incorporated. A post-odice was
established soon after the first settlement was m.ade,
and Aaron Street, Jr., was commissioned Postmaster.
John Bell started the first store and Peter Boyer
kept the first hotel.

After a few years the village made no special
increase in population, and to-day numbers but lit-
tle over 600 people. During tlie past few years
it has been visited l^y two or three destructive
fires, which has retarded its growth somewhat.
With commendable enterprise, the burned places
have been generally rebuilt, and those who were
able to sustain the loss have prospered. It can-
not be denied, however, that the fires in a commer-
cial way have injured the place. The first of the
series of fires occurred Dec. 4, 1885, when Whittier
College was burned, proving a total loss to the
Society. The origin of the fire is unknown. The
most disastrous fire of the series occurred on the
evening of June 26, 1886, and originated in a hard-
ware store in the rear of the post-office, adjoining
Union Block on the west. The fire was soon be-
yond control and spread to the Union Block, a large
wooden structure, containing five stores on the first
floor, a dwelling, and large hall, known as Union
ILall, above. This block with its stocks of goods
was entirelj' consumed, while a dwelling belonging
to AVythe Eliott, and a couple of small buildings,
one used as a barber shop, and the other as a junk
shop, completed the row burned. The fire crossed
the street to the south, and caught the large hotel
owned by William Kittle, which, together with
most of its contents, was destroyed. Next south-
ward came John Collat's tinware and stove shoji
and a crockery store. Then \V. B. Donaldson,
drugs, J. W. Fisher, general store, A. W. Fisher,
restaiuant, J. C. Reeves, drugs, and J. M. Triplet,
geuenil store

The aggregate number of buildings

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HENRY COUNTY.

685

'^

burned was fourteen, while the estimated loss was
$50,000. This fire was supposed to be the work of
an ineendiar}', and swept a large part of the busi-
ness portion of the town, taking the entire west side
of the public square, except Dr. Evans' place, and
the south side of the block lying north and west of
the square.

The next fire was that of the grist and flouring
mill of Fullenwilder ife Elder, which burned Dec. 12,
1886, the fire being thought accidental. The loss
was about $6,000.

Following that of the burning of the gristmill
came the fire of July 27, 1887, which originated in
a little building situated near the Congregational
Church, owned and occupied by Arthur Honnicutt
as a meat market and grocery. In addition to Mr.
Ilonnicutt's building there were consumed Collins'
confectionery and dwelling-house, the Congrega-
tional Church and John Steinmetz' Hotel. This
fire was supposed to be of incendiary origin. A
little later the fire fiend again showed his hand by
the burning of a large and fine dwelling on West
Main street, owned by James Leach, and which
had been unoccupied for several days. His loss
was about $6,000.

Another supposed incendiary fire was started Nov.
2 1 , 1 887, in a dwelling occupied by R. Latty, situated
in the southern part of town. The fire was ex-
tinguished before much damage was done.

Prior to the burning of Whittier College the vil-
lage had been very free from such experiences, no
fire of consequence having occurred for several
years. The burnt district was largely rebuilt, and
business is fast settling back into its former chan-
nels, and the good people of Salem are looking for-
ward to a season of increased business activity and
safety. In proportion to its size Salem has suffered
more by fire in a given time than any town in Iowa,
but her people are bound to sta\', and the rapid
progress alreadj^ made in rebuilding speaks well
for the future.

The village is represented religiously by the
Friends, Cougregationalists, Baptists and Meth-
odist Episcopal, the first being the strongest, men-
tion of which has already been made.

The first regular appointment of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, that included Salem, was in

1 840, when Rev. T. M. Kirkpatrick was appointed
to Mt. Pleasant, since which time preaching has
been regular!}' continued, the greater part of the
time in connection with Ilillsboro. In the Salem
and Hillsboro charge there are nearlj' 300 members.

The Congregational Church of Salem was or-
ganized about 1854. Rev. J. C. Cooper was the
first pastor. A house of worship was erected soon
after the organization of the society. It was a
brick structure, the estimated cost of which wa.s
$1,500. For a period of thirty-three years this
house re-echoed the songs of praise that were therein
sung, but on the 27th of July, 1 887, it was totally
destroyed by fire. At the present writing the
church has seventy-nine members, with Rev. D. D.
Tibbetts as resident pastor.

The schools of Salem rank high. The first schools
were held in private houses in 1839. lu 1853 the
district rented the Friends' meeting-house, which
thej' used for three years, when a brick school-house
was erected, and used till 1864, when a brick dwell-
ing, two and a half stcn-ies in height, was purchased
and remodeled for a school building, and is used
to this day.

A private academy was built in 1845, by Reuben
Darling, who in 1854 sold it to Leonard Farr, who
continued the school until 1860.

Whittier College is an institution in which the
citizens take special pride, a full history of which
maj' be found under the head of " Educational," in
another part of this work.

The various secret and benevolent societies are
here represented by the Masons, Odd Fellows,
Knights of Pythias and the G. A. R.

The earliest records of Salem Lodge No. 17, A.
F. & A. M., show that a regular communication
was held Jan. 28, 1852, at which the Worshipful
Master (not named) presided, and that the following-
named brothers filled the positions named : A.
II. Pickering, S. W. ; G. Mershon, J. W. ; L. J.
Rogers, Treasurer; Thomas A. Marvin, Secretary;
E. Cook, S. D. ; Lewis Taylor, J. D. ; Lewis Brown,
Tyler. Several brothers were admitted by card
and initiation that evening. This lodge is there-
fore thirty-six years old. It has had a successful
career, and its membership now numbers thirty-
nine, having at present writing, in November, 1887,

u

686

HENRY COUNTY.

the following-named offlcers: J. T. Tugram, W. M. ;
W. A. Wilmeth, S. W. ; D. J. Jones, J. W. ; J. B.
Ross, Secretary; William Matthews, Treasurer; Dr.
J. M. Evans, S. D. ; J. R. Matthews, J. D. ; Robert
Russell, Tyler. The lodge owns the hall in which
it meets, which is well furnished, and has been
occupied for some years.

Salem Lodge No. 48, I. O. O. F., was instituted
March 26, 1853. The charter members were C. V.
Arnold, N. G.; J. L. Chambers, V. G.; Richard
Spurrier, J. L. Chambers, William Johnson, Samuel
Smith, C. M. McDowell and J. S. Bartruff. The
lodge has had a very successful career, and while
many of its old members are scattered throughout
the country it yet numbers sixt3'-one active mem-
bers. The lodge owns the hall which it occupies,
and has a fine library. In the fall of 1887 the
following named were the offlcers : O. H. Cooke, N.
G. ; R. H. Dawson, V. G. ; N. Cammack, Treas-
urer; C. A. Stevens, Secretary.

In connection with the lodge there is Salem Chap-
ter No. G6. I. O. O. F., which was organized in
1874, and is also quite prosperous.

Adam Kimpel Post No. 24.0, G. A. R., was or-
ganized Nov. 9, 1883, with twenty charter members.
Dr. J. M. Evans being the first Commander. The
present roster shows a membership of forty, with
J. T. Ingram, Commander; George Cramer, Adju-
tant; L. 15. Culver, Qiiarterinaster; Dr. J. M. Evans,
Chaplain. The post is strong, and is doing good
work.

Monarch Lodge No. 143, K. of P., was instituted
July 15, 1884, with nineteen charter members. It
has been very successful since its organization, and
comprises some excellent material.

The Bank of Salem w.as organized as a private
bank in the spring of 1881. It does a general
banking business, and has tlie confidence of the
community in general as regards its stability.
George W. Tyner is the President, and W. H.
Bliss, Cashier.

The citizens of Salem and vicinity maintain .an
•agricultural society, besides whicii tiiere is also an
Old Settlers' Association, and in both of these
organizations they take a lively interest.

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^

Scott Townsliip

j^^ COTT TOWNSHIP is situated in the north-

^^^ e.ast corner of the count}', having in it the

|IL/_3) village of Winfield, now one of the most

enterprising of all the towns in the county.

This township w.as first settled in 1836, B. Hoch-

reiter having the honor of being the pioneer. It

is principally prairie, the natural timber being

found only along Crooked Creek. The soil is good

.and all the cereals suitable to the latitude can be

grown here.

The town of Winfield w.as laid out in 1852 by
Asbury Porter. This was long before the days of
railroads, tiiree years before one had crossed the
Mississippi River, and the town grew but slow!}'.
The town and township were named in honor of
Gen. Winfield Scott, and as the former w.as laid out
when Scott, the last Whig candid.ate, wiis running
for the Presidency against Franklin Pierce, it is
reasonable to suppose that Mr. Porter was a Whig.
The first store w;is established by Mr. Porter, who
placed it in charge of Jacob Palm .as manager. It
was subsequently purchased by George Hoover,
who h.as been given the credit of being the first
merchant in the place.

At a later d.aj', William T. Clayton came to Win-
field, purclmsed property in the vicinity and em-
barked in the mercantile business. He was a very
enterprising man, and was quite successful in busi-
ness, accumulating in comparatively a short time
about $25,000, the greater part of which he subse-
quently invested in town lots in the village of
Burris, that w.as to be a station on an air-line rail-
road l)etween the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.
The road was never built, the city failed to mater-
ialize, and Mr. Clayton lost heavily.

The first stores in tlie place were those known .as
gener.al stores, in which every conceivable article
in demand was supposed to be kept, but as the
town grew, and the country around it prospered,
trade began to divide. Joiin Stewart, of Craw-
fordsville, came to the pKace and opened tiie first
drug-store, and w.as followed in due time l)y Frank
Matthews. Bran.ager & Co. were the first to engage
in the hardware business. Kirkpatrick & Jackson
were the pioneer furniture dealers, J. B. Lynch
kept the lirst hotel, Charles Deyarman ran the first

► II ^«

a.

HENRY COUNTY.

687

livery, Charles Craven was the' first wagon-maker,
Bridges & Smith ran the first gristmill, George
Sales <fe Ross were the first lumber dealers. The first
blacksmith-shop in the township was started by
John L. and Michael Myers, iu 1852, on the place
where Wesley Mj'ers now lives, one-half mile west
of Winfield. At that time there was no village
here, and the shop was carried on in connection
with farming. After the village was laid out,
Herman Bowers commenced here the business. He
came from Wayne Township, and later moved to
Missouri. The second shop was opened by AVilliam
G. Lauder, now deceased. In 1870 Mr. Myers
moved into the village, where he has since been
engaged in the business, and is the oldest blacksmith
in the north part of the county. The first physician
here was Dr. Martin, who came from Keithsburg,
111., and who later moved to Kansas.

Soon after laying out the village, a post-office
was established here, and George Hoover was com-
missioned its first Postmaster. He held the office
but a short time and w.as succeeded by William T.
Clayton. In 1857, shortly after Buchanan was
inaugurated, J. H. Goodspeed was appointed, and
for twenty-seven years faitlifully discharged the
duties of the office. During his administration a
money order department was attached, and on the
2d of July, 1877. the first order was drawn in favor
of William L. Miller, Geneva, Kan. Up to Nov.
4, 1887, there had been drawn G,363 orders. Mr.
Goodspeed was succeeded by Dr. J. W. Hanna,
who now holds the commission of "Uncle Sam" as
his duly authorized agent.

For many years the village was "left out in the
cold" by the various railroad companies that had
built their lines of road through this section of
country. It was not until the centennial year that
the efforts of its citizens met with success in con-
necting the town with tiie outside world by iron
bands. At that time the Burlington & North-
western Railroad was completed from Burlington
to this place. Subsequently the road was extended
to W.ishington, and another companj- acting in
connection built from here the Burlington &
Western, with Oskaloosa, Iowa, as its terminal
point. The Central Iowa, about the same time the
latter was built, completed its line from Oskaloosa

to Keithsburg, so that to-day Winfield has superior
railroad facilities, and in res[>ect to freight has just
competition. While its growth has not been phe-
nomenal, or as great as its friends desired, .yet a
good, solid business has been done by its merchants,
while the place itself shows evidence of thrift.

Immediately on the heels of the railroad came
the newspaper press, that herald of universal prog-
ress. On the 27th of June, 1876, the Winfield
Press, with H. G. Rising as editor and jn-oprietor,
made its appearance. But it came too soon, the
people were hardly ready for it, and in one short
year its liglit went out.

Burlington, Mt. Pleasant and Washington afforded
the only banking facilities to the citizens of Win-
field till 1883. In September of that year, a pri-
vate bank was started with H. C. Weaver as cashier,
and having as its backers E. L. Penn and Charles
Snider, of Mt. Pleasant, and Henry Clark, now
President of the First National Bank of Creston.
After running for .about two years its affairs were
wound up, it not proving a paying investment for
those interested. During this year, however, B. B.
Lindlc}^ established the Bank of Winfield, which
has since been in successful operation. This bank
does a general banking business, with the First
Nation.al Bank of Ctiicago, and Gilman, Son & Co.,
New York, as its correspondents. The Bank of
Winfield has a fireproof vault.

The religious interests of Winfield are guarded
by the United Presbyterians, Presbyterians and
Methodist Episcopal.

The Methodist Episcopal Churcli is the oldest
organization in Winfield, dating back to tlie win-
ter of 1848-49, when a class was organized in the
house of Thom.as Alexander, with six or eight mem-
bers. The first meetings were held from house to
house, and later in school-houses. Sometime in the
sixties a frame church building w.as erected, since
which time the society has had a home. The church
has usually been in a prosperous condition, spirit-
ually and otherwise, and never more so than the
present time, when it has a membership of 200,
with a live Siindaj'-school from which to draw re-
cruits from time to time.

The United Presbyterian Church was organized
Oct. 16, 1865, by Rev. A. Story, of Columbus City,

u

688

HENRY COUNTY.

i

with clovi'ii iiuiiiluis. The fii-st service was held
!it tlie house of J. P. McCuIley, iiiid Robert AValker
and J. P. iNlcCiilloj- were elected and ordained as
Elders. The first regular pastor was Rev. J. j\l.
Henderson, from Portland, Ohio, an earnest and
faitliful worker in the Master's cause. He w.is in-
stalled in Ajiril, 18()(). During that year a good
suhstfintial church building was erected, 36x60 feet
in size. Rev. Thome succeeded Mr. Henderson,
and at present tills the pulpit. The present niein-
bersliip of the church is seventy-four, and it is in
a good, licaUljy condition.

The Presbyterian Cliui'cli of Winlicld was origin-
ally organized under the name of Round Grove
Presbyterian Church (t)ld School) in 1806, b3'
Rev. Thomas H. Dinsmore, with twenty-one mem-
bers. Rev. Francis B. Dinsmore was its first pastor.
He w.as succeeded by Rev. Mclhide, and in turn by
Revs. D. T. (.'ampbell, H. M. Corbett, L. K. Ber-
ridge, J. R. Brown, A. W. Ringland, G. W. Hays,
doseph Dickey, D. T. Campbell. J. 1$. Butler. The
present house of worship was commenced in 1805,
completed the next year, and dedicated in 1867,
Rev. George D. Stewart, D. D., preaching the dedi-
cator}' sermon. The present membership of the
church is 100, and it is in a flourishing condition,
spiritually and financiallj', with a good Sundaj'-
school.

The Masonic fraternity is reiircsented liy Good
Faith Lodge No. "ioO, A. F. it A. M., instituted
June 2, 1869, with George Hammond, W. M. ; R.
C. Jackson, S. W. ; George W. Brewington, J. W.
The lodge is in good financial condition, and is com-
posed of man}' of the best citizens of Winfield and
vicinity. Its lodge room is well furnished. The
following named comprised its officers in Novendier,
1887: T. Russell, W. M.; Caleb Russell, S. W. ;
Alex Wiley, J. W.; J. C. Green, Secy. ; J. T. David-
son, Treas. ; Jacob Renshaw. J. D. ; W. H. Wise, S. D.

HED" mzDt —

TiinMH-aiioc' Towiishi]).

eHARLFS DAW.SON has tlie honor of be-
ing the pioneer in Tippecanoe, which com-
prises all of township 71, range 7 west.
He located on section 1 in 1884, and the year after
sold his claim to William B. Lusk, who also makes
■^»

claim to being the first permanent settler in the
county. 'While one or two others canic in before
him and made claims, Mr. Lusk eamc tc) staj, and
yet remains an honored citi/AMi of the township and
count}'. Among others who came in an early day
were William llockett, T. AVright. Linus Fairchild,
William 11. Lyon, 'I'homas Grant ami Cliarles Max-
well. The Skunk River enters this township on
section 3, and after running southwest abi>uta mile
and a half, touching section 5, it takes a southeast-
erly course and passes out from section 24. "With
its tributaries, this stream atTords an abundance of
water for stock antl mill purposes. The Chicago,
Burlington it Quinc}' Railroad passes through the
northern part of the township, having one st^ition,
Rome.

Rome was first laid out in IS IC, the original town
site being on the west side of the river. M illiani
Scott was the proprietor of the town site, and in
company with James Strong kept the first store.
Prior to this, in 1812, Mr. Knight kept a black-
smith-shop here, and Mr. Scott had a hotel.

In 1856, D. C. Whitwood, who probably knew of
the proposed location of the railroad, came here
and bought 100 acres of Land on the north side of
town, twenty-five of which he laid out in town lots,
to which he gave the name of Chicauqua, the In-
dian name of Skunk River. In 1866, O'Loughliii
it Baker purch.ased of Whitwood the land origin-
ally purchased by the latter, and in that same }-ear
the two towns were incorporated as one under the
name of Rome. James Gallagher was the first
Maj'or of the village.

Rome has had its ups and downs in common
with all other towns, but is withal a pleasant place
to live in.

Trenton Township.

illlC first settlement made in this township
w.as in 1836, and among the first settlers were
Michael Crane, Hon. James C. Green, James
McPheran, J. 11. McPheran, George Miller, Joseph,
Jacob and Perry Morrison, Is.aae Jordan, J. and B.
B. Allender, Absalom Leeper, John Kephart and A.
CpdegratT, Among all these Mr. Green, it is
believed, is the only one left in the township.

J.

HENRY COUNTY.

■^

089

f

Michael Crane came in the spring of 1 830, made
chiim to the site of tlie present village of Trenton,
laid out a village and called it Lancaster, after the
place of the same name in Pennsylvania. In 1837,
Samuel Brazleton, Col. Porter and George Miller
bought the claim, had it resurveyed, and at the
suggestion of James C. (ireen named it Trenton,
after the capital of New Jersey. .Some two or three
years later George JMiiler purchased the interest of
Col. Porter, and Mr. I'.r.i/.lcton and .Mr. Miller be-
came sole proprietors.

Soon after laying out the town a post-office was
established here, with Samuel Morrison as the first
Postmaster. The first merchant in the place was
Timothy (iaskell. The first physician was William
Finley, while A. Updegrafif was the first Justice of
the Peace, James Conner k(>pt the first hotel.

Deprived of railroad facilities, 'J'renton has not
been able to keep pace with the rest of the world,
though it has tried hard. For many years Joel
Turney ran a wagon-shop here, and did an excel-
lent business, l)Ut being compelled to haul material
from the railroad station, and to haul back such
m.'iterial as he made up that was not taken \>y citi-
zens, he finally removed to Fairfield, where he has
the benefit of competing railroads.

The village has a school building worthy of a
more pretentious place, and its educational facilities
are second to none. The Presbyterian Church of
Trenton was organized July 17, 1811. Previous
to 1808 the congregation worshiped in a Imilding
erected many years previous, but being too small to
iicconimodate the growing society, a new church was
erected during the summer of that year and finished
and dedicated Sept. 19, 1809, by Rev. McC'liiitock,
then of Mt. I'leasant, but now of Buiiington, Iowa.
Rev. H. M. Corbett served the church as pastor for
some time after the new church was built, after
which the pulpit was supplied irregularly until June.
1885, when Rev. C. C. Humphrey organized a
Congregational society.

UENKV COUNTY IXSTirl TE OF SCIKNCE.

Trenton Township possesses an institution of
which she naay well be proud in the al)(jve-nanie<l
society. In 1809 George Miller, then a resident of
the village of Trenton, conceived the idea of donat-
ing a library and a place for soiial meetings t(j his

home. He at once liegan the erection of a, Ijuilding
in Trenton, which was barely finished when his
death suddenly occurred before it was transferred.
His relatives in Pennsylvania carried out the wishes
of the donor, and the building was completed and
made over to the Trustees whom he had selected.
It is a large, square brick building, two stories in
height, well lighted and convenientl}' arr.anged.
The main floor is devoted to the library which
contains over 1,200 volumes, which are added
to every 3'ear, a fund lieing raised for tliat pur-
pose. Meetings are held on the fir.st Saturday in
every month, at which questions of social and .
political economy are discussed. The influence of
the institute is all for good, and it has done a good
work in the northern portion of Henry Count3',
giving to its people an opportunity to meet and
talk over those problems of life which should be
the study of every good citizen.

The donor, Mr. Miller, "builded better than he
knew," and the -'Henry County Institute of Sci-
ence" is to-day a greater power for good than he
ever anticijiated.

Wa.yiie TowiiNhiii.

y^AYNE comprises all of township 73, range
0 west, and was among the last settled,
'^f^ though to look at the beautiful farms and
elegant farmhouses within its limits, one can but
wonder why the early settlers of Henry County did
not lay claim to the entire township. Among those
who first came here for settlement were B., W. H.
and W. S. Sicafoos, Sj-lvester Smith, J. Woodworth,
William Morford, S. Larkins, W. Crill and P.
Young. Later a large number of Swedes came, and
that nationality is more strongly represented th;in
any other at the present time.

The Central Iowa, and the Burlington dv West-
ern Railroads pass through this tovvnship from
east to west. On the former is the village of Olds,
and on the latter is tlmt of Wayne, affording mar-
kets for all the produce and stock of the township.
Swedesburg is an<jthcr small vilhige, consisting of a
number of families mostly of the nationality of
which its name is suggestive. A hu'ge and flourish-
ing Swedish Lutheran Church, together with a
school, is maintained here. The Friends have for-
merly been well represented here, but are being
bought out from time to time by the Swedes, who
are probably now in a majority in the township.

•^

-<*>-

■ ^ ■:■■:— •^: O-'

••►

u

% . •

. . .•-,;••

Abraham, John*. '^^■5^,■^'^•i^P>

Abraham, Htfn'," Lot-^-^ ^-jSj-

Adams, John. f.*;.. . J-^. .^ <

Adams, John (-^iiihcy.^. ...... . /5^ •

Allen, GeoEge AV'.^i ..».*.^..*.^8_c)
Allen, Isaac W. ...*.:..*..:. - -i/ j

Allen, Dr. J- B--^.^* ..;•-■••■• 'ji?^^'
Allen, Jesse BV.. *..',... .r^jc^,

Allen, Rease .» ...-..-I'-'-ae*

Allender, Thomas G- ■ \r^*-3^. '

Allsup, J.' C * . : . :*.;!.•- ';.i!7i-x

Ambler, Henry. .^. . :_•''■ . ^ '^^60

Ambler, Rr<jhard. .... . j. .- . ,,.287 .

Anderson, 5- D "... /.v-VsSJ ',

Anderson, Elijah.... .; ....T. . . .290'*.

Andersoni Peter M.'v -.v30^

Andrews, A\ tT _•.;..". . .376

Andrews, W^fls ---■*■.•' .^gt-

Archibald, WiHi^ift^ .^. . j^^-^^i^^
Armstrong, Nathan le^E.-,-, . . .261*"-
Arnold. C-V..* .. f. ...'..?..* 205 '
Arnold, Jarn^ H.. . .*. . .V • . . .248?

Arthand, Jagob .1* .^".J,2il5, »

Arthur, Chestec^A* J.K*, .'. .g^ ;'

B . • •
■'■;•• t •:

, Babb, Hpn. W. l'^^-' ■- 1 "•Vs*
' Bailey, George. •.',. ._."./.. .•#•.^50^

■ Baker, Patrick. :^.',T«/f. . .■% ,.2ga»
Bildwin, Lemuel '.:., .».. ^.'»456
Ball, Wm ' .' ..514

'Uangs, John '...'. *ij;g'

' Barker, H. C 366

Barnes, Prof. M. H. 486

Ba4"r,.*John , . . ^, . . .430

Bat too, Thomas H ....»".,... ,467-

" E ashfe r d , Wm ,". 496

Cates^* Ernest E ; 415

■ Bates,, Wm ' "-.'..: .zif

Bangui', 1-ewis G..... - ',...' . .250

^Eati^rriin, Isaac..'. '....^ 44'

Baxter", Aitkin * 6i7**.

-^ayles, Mason ...,,. .\q\.

■-. BeckoTi J-ohn V7

B«ck*l«i-, Peter 466

Beclcivith, Capt. Warren... . . .282*

'Gc^^., Dr. T. L 419 .

I^eirry ^ 'L. L. ,'.". .^ibs .•

Bearyr, Wm. H .463

JBell, G:C y ..■■•323 ■

■Henrrett, ^Vm . t. 193

Bejgt, Charles E. .•......'.. ...4^3

■' Iiige]o\t'7 J-amfts-*' ...-■. . .487

JTiTdV^VellinJton, M. 0..v.'- 4284
-Black, Jobn-T.'. .....^-.'-V .-.^.TSii

Black, W'ni . ..." . . ■. .■ • ■ 215

' T?onnifield, G. 349

Bt>o til, .Stephen .^ 449

:^ Bowers, ^V S....- 233

'^BavCp^n, J-'C '. .".". -. ^--604

" lifVeweter, R.-B .., -.r.^r^ 455

;. Bnggs,-Ans'ei*. ;.-•.'. . f. .... .'..ifi*

■ -^^rown * Wenry. ....... .^.. . ■ v^5*3

^ucWnan, James , 75

I^uRingtba^^oi*-. A. -J. .^ «J. . .477

^yflfilii^n, Wm. B. 288

.Burden, David . . ».. . - .263

.* Bu-rge, Jacob 397

Burk'e, Charles A 464

Burketv Martin K 236

Kur.tpn, W. S 285

Oftpipbcll-, Alfred J.
Cai)!)'^^ D. M....

•«

♦ Ccttpmock, Levi 300

... 181
177

"CariSeld, R. T ,.246

Cant well, -.Samuel 176

Cafpenter, C- C 139

Catter, Howard 212

Canlk, Bent ;..... ..216

O^venee, Sol -.,.*_... .-340

Ch^dlcef Casper -i^So ,

• phandler, Acfdison 275

Viiandler, B. C 219

OiandIer,-Samuel. 218

Clark. Ja'mes "K 525

Clark, JTiiHiael 323

, Clem^t, Dr. A.' E 215

CleveTand,'&. Cjrower . ...103

Coad, Thortij^..?, C93

Coate, JoHn-B.^. ..•.,... ...... .421

\ C»dner, Job". . .'. 182

•Coic,.jt. s r. .- 542

Collins^ J. C .-...* 232

Cone, Isaac B. T.. •.,*.,", .^. *. :53i

Cono\*:r, G. H • T .292»

C^ok , H-en r> .._,..-;* . . ; .'. }^. .'ioj -

C»ok, O.'H r.*.' ....*6j6 .

Cou'rmey, j. C»- ..'--..'*.;.'♦■ 'SS*^»"

* ^rabtree, William A ."•(.». 307" •

Crane^R«v.-Eber... '. ..^^•••.^^7.. ]

Crane, Baron H 339

Crew, Hon. M. L 557

Crew, Wjn. R 252

Culbertsqn, Honsten 211

D

Davitlson, James T 381

Davies, David ..'. ■ 192

Da vies, Evan ....... 209

, Da vies, Henry .-.'97

Diivies, JohiT, ... 404"

.D^vis, Wm ; 445

Day. J -H , .-... -. 241

Deal, Dr. Josiah".*.J.^. 4T2

De Gar mo, Rev. W. E, i". *..,. ..6^?..

Dillon, W. K... 399

Dilts, Dr. W. A "...'.....43^

Dean, Alfred i 522

Doan, M ah Ion 389

Dover, S. H 194

Dover, W. S 399

Drake, J. H.,M. D :..i87

Draper, Capt. Wm — 241

DuMars, John K Cige

Dutton, Jasper N 378

E

Edger, John

Eicher, Daniel .......

Elliott, Dr. John

Eshelman, Re\iben...
Evans, Rev. I'homas. .
Eveland, J. W

•555
••39=
.424
.501
454
■365

Farr, H. H

Farr, Leonard

Fehse, Wm. H. ..

Fenton, B. F

Ferris, George E..

Fillmore, Millard.

Fisher, Peter

Fitch, Paxton

Flamm, J. B

■ Fleagle, F. R

F.orman, Abner

Foster, Wm

Fraricy, John

■% randy, W. J

.401
..299

■•359
. .426
. 616
...57
• •432
■■347
■393
■493
■ ■413
•377
..391
..429

Frank. Perry

Franzen, Rev. Johanes.

G

Gableson. Dr. Alfred...

Gardiner & Rolh

Garfield, James A

Garrettson, JoelC...

Garrison, Ephraim P.. .

Garvin, Samuel W

Gass, George S

Gear, John H

Gerig., Rev. S

Gheen, Enos

Gibson, Isaac X. ;. . . . .".'

Giilaspey, J61in..r.. ;;
•.Gilns, J udge James L'..

Gillis, R. B.'. :..:.. :.'...
■ Gillis," Robert S. .r.-j; . .'

Gilman, H.' A., M. D..
•Gladden, W-m

Grant, R. R

Grant. Ulysses S ..... .

Grantham, Hon. John ]

Graves, Enoch

Green, Hqn. James C.

Greusel, Gen. N

Grimes, James W-. ■.

.403
■577

. .632
..200

■••■•95
. .188
■■•554
. . .266
.. .610
...147
...487
...195
■•■55'
•4M
...202
. .-629
•■-199.
...588"
...4IP
•;;538
...,«7
■■■■473

:..5ii

...598-

■ -279.
■■■•'■9

H

Haines, Samuel R :...-476

Hamell, Samuel -■■587

Hamilton, W. L 608

Hanna, J. W., M. D 515

Hannah, John 222

Hannum, W. J 465

Hanson, John M 355

Harbin, Rev. J, C 5S3

Hare, Rev. M. H 610

Harkness, W. R 518

Harlan, Hon. James 620

Harris, Wm fo6

Harrison, Wm. Henry 51

Hart, James E • 259

Hatton, Hon. Frank 624

Hatton, Richard , 626

Hayes, Rutherford B gi

Hempstead, Stephen 115

Higgins, Levi 468

Hill, Enoch S 495

'Hill, W. R 494

^-—

u

692

INDEX.

Hinkle.E. C 478

Hobart,Wm 488

Hobbs, Nathaniel 515

Hobson, Edwin 518

Hochreiler, Edward 508

Hochreiter, John H 497

Hockett, Elam 5°^

HoUowell, John 472

Holt, John 498

Hoi wick, C A 476

Howard, Edward S 507

Howard, Rev. DeWitt C 506

Howe, Charles S 179

Hulings,John 513

Hummell, Dennis 475

Hunt, V. O 498

Hutchinson, W. A 492

Button, Rev. Samuel 532

J

Jackman, Wm. H 316

Jackson, Andrew 43

James, Elijah 5=5

Jay, Dr. R. L 5^3

Jefferson,'] homas 27

Jennings, Isaac J 47=

Jessup. W. A 517

Johnson, Addison 513

Johnson, Andrew 83

Johnson, Isaac R 433

Johnson, Lewis. 471

Jones, David F s>2

Jones, Thomas . ■ 524

Jones, William F 622

K

Kean, Wm 208

Kerr, Joseph 1' 545

Ketchum, Jesse 198

Kibben, James M 3'9

King, G. .\ 516

Kinkead, A. W 494

Kinney, David 199

Kinney, Franklin T 200

Kinney, Jacob S 201

Kinney, M. 1 389

Kir by, ('irafion 220

Kirkwood, Samuel J 127

Klen, Ncls 171

Knox, Thomas 526

Koch, Jolin G 201

Kurtz, John 190

Laird, George W 546

Lane, Abncr ■•••543

Lane, J. M 544

Larrabce, Wm 155

Lash, Jolin H 547

Lash, Thomas. .. 533

Lauder, Wm, 599

Lazenby, Hcnjamin 524

Leach, Melville C 362

Lee, John 555

r

Lee, Thomas B 362

Leech, John F 358

Leedham, H. K 250

Lincoln, Abraham 79

Litzenberg, Wm 635

Litzenberg, W. L.... 534

Lowe, Ralph P 123

Lusk, Jasper 543

Lusk, Wm. B 565

Lyman, Edwin A 548

Lynchard, Henry C 634

Lyons, Hon. H. R 534

M

Madison, James 31

Magers, C. E 548

Martin, A. C 305

Martin, G. W 310

Martin, I . W 614

Martin, W. J 264

Mason, W. R 345

Matthews, Wm 461

McAdam Bros -...225

McAdam, George W 607

McCIellan, James 446

McCIintic, Newton 321

McCIure, Dr. Andrew W....-j86

McCoy, J. C 422

McCray, Francis 503

McDonald, Oliver 281

McDowell, Joseph 288

McMillan, Amos s6K

McMillen, 1 homas 191

McMiirren, Robert- - . * 424

Mcl'heison, A. R 197

Mehler, Dr. Frank C 451

Melton, John 322

Melton, Wm 321

Merrill, Samuel ■ 135

Messer, Job 312

Messer, John 328

Messcr, John T 332

Messer, Miller 332

Miller, Charles C 191

Miller, James F 237

Miller, Nicholas 564

Miller, Rev. Stephen 255

Millspaiigh, Wm. S .291

M line r. Con rtla lid W 372

Milner, Samuel L 276

Millcnberger, Adam 553

Mitchell, Ira -SU

Mitts, James M 311

Monroe, James 35

Monson, John 435

M ontgome ry , A mos H 52 1

Moore, E. C 4S3

Morehead, Thomas 180

Morchous, Charles 1 304

M or ley, Daniel 523

Morris, B. F 303

Morris, Isaac 574

Morrison, A. C 431

Mullen, Wm 368

Mullin, W 589

Miisgrovc, Henry 312

Myers, George 453

Myers, George E 453

Myers, J . L 415

Myers, John * ..411

N

Nelson, E.N ^ 411

Newbold, Joihua G i'4'3

Nilson, Charles 247

Nixon, Edward a. .40a

Nixon, Wm. F ». .30^

Noble, Edward C 541

North, J. T ....244

Nugen, Jarrett 227

Nugen, John Z 224

O

O'Connell, Patrick 378

Ogg, E. B 416

O linger, George, Jr 371

dinger, T. H 425

Palm, John W 528

Palmer. Hon. L. (i . 245

Pangborn, C. B 206

Parkins, David 590

Patch, Joseph T 3^3

Patterson, J. H 596

Patterson, Ledge rwood 597

Paxton, Matthias 400

Payne, Hon. C W 474

Peck, Corridon . . 568^

Peck, Dr. Frank P .r23i

Penn, E. L 224^

Percival. M. N 537

Pero, Moses ... 41^

Perry, Alex S 330

Peterson, R.H 468

Phelps, Jonathan 324

Pliilpotl,Dr. J. H 343

Pidgeon, Isaac ^627

Pierce, Franklin 71

Pierce, L. B 544

Polk, James K 59

Pontius, John R £^3

Price, Daniel 316

Price, T. J 574

Prince, Charles 587

R

Raincy, David 398

Ratliffc. Samuel P 603

Rcnshaw, Jacob L. 434

Richard, Elijah ...art

Roberts, J. L>, 536

Robinson, David W., M. D-..623

Robinson, J. Q 576

Rose, J. B • 4J4

Ross^ Israel 586

'Ross, Samuel 434

Ross, Samuel H i ti%

Roth, Christian .443

J^oth, Peter ■■•351

■ Rukgaber, Charles B ■,•242

Rukgaber, David .'. .243

Russell, Caleb 535

Ruth, Alexander 348

s

Sackett, John 578

Sample, John. 234

§.inders Bros 235

Satterthwait, J. W 217

Saunders, B. M 608*

Saiuiders, H. C 273

Saunders. Presley 169

Sayag.e, John , 302

Scarff, J. H 214

Schlelp. Wm. H 456

Schreiner,'. Theodore 572

Schuber, J.>G. 218

Scott, L. C 566

Shane, Johii T 609

Shaner, Geocgc ■•183

Shaner. S I 188

Sheldon, Francis Drake •?54

Shelledy, Carey D 225

Sherman, Buren R 151

Smith, C. H 375

Smith. J. D 314

Smith, Joel M 270

Smith, John P 172

Smith, Peter •■213

.Smith, Sylvejiter 175

.Smith, Wm 181

Smith, W. I ,73

Snider, Charles 394

SrvyJef, James 393

Spry, Benjamin W 222

Spurrier, Richard 481

Stead man, G. W 269

Steadman, J. L 236

Steele, Hon. S. L 221

.Stepbeftson, K. H 184

Stephenson, Hon. John S... .172
Stephenson, ')livcr 178

■ Stone, Wm. ^I 131

Siraub, Dr.Paul F 621

^ Siillivan, HenVy ^^y

•Summer.s, I' 593

Summers, Samuel 558

. Summers, Wm 174

Swan, C. C 566

Swan, Clara J., M. D 234

Swift, Monroe .'." .a 10

Tague, J. A. 346

Tappan, Rev. D. S 528

.Taylor. W. H 341

Taylor, Zacbary 63

Thatcher, Stephen 256

Thomas, John A 369

Throop.D. D. W. C 619

Throop, James A 370

Tiffany, Palmer C 409

Traut, Bernhard a6o

Traut, Henry 287

Traxler, George C 252

Traxler, Jacob 329

Tribbj', Charles H 271

Trimble, George W 238

Trope, Miss Meno 404

Trueblood, Alford 367

Turner, S. M 360

Tiirney, Daniel 630

Tyler, John 55

lyner, George W 272

V

Van Riiren, Martin 47

Van Cise, Dr. E. G 350

Vernon, Rev. Joseph B 420

w

WalWer.-Hon. H. D joS

WallbanI;, Jchn H 361

Walz, Peter P 352

Washington, George 19

Waters, Samuel 575

^Waugli, Wm 3^8

'Weir, H. C 33,1

Wenger Bros. 333

Wenger. Christian 605

Wheeler,' John, D. D 635

White, Charles 371

White, Genius- . ..6=6

White, S. L 325

Whiting, John H 393

Whiting, Timothy 561

Whitney, Wm. H . 357
Wiegand, F. L. -331
Willeford, John 502

Willeford, W. H. H
Williams, J H...
\\'illiams, Stephen . .
Willits, Charles G -

Wilson, D. O

Wilson, John ....
Winters, John T
Wise, W. H...

■452
■59!
•379
■34=

.356

.-:26

Witie, Dr. Max E 329

Wood, Charles D 344

Woolson, Hon. John S 327

Woolson, T. W 439

Wright. Jacob 423

Wyse,J.F 358

Wyse, S. B 320

Yakle, Balse.

Adams, John 22

Adams, J. Q 38

Andrews, Wells . 4go

Arno'd. C. V 204

Arthur, Chester A -.-98

Booth, Mrs ... . .448

Ijooth, Strrphen 44S

Briggs, Ansel ... ..110

Buchanan, James ... .... 74

Eiir^e, Jacob -. 396

Burge, Mrs. Jacob 396

Carpenter, Cyrus Clay 138

Cleveland, S. Grover 102

Crane. Rev. Eber 336

Drake, Dr. J. H 186

Eshelman, Reuben 500

Eveland, J. W 364

Farr, Leonard 296

Farr, Mrs. Leonard. 297

Fillmore, MlHard 66

Garfield, James A 94

Garvin, S. W ■..;67

Gear, John H . 146

Gibson, LI' 550

Gladden, Wm 41S

Gr.Tnt, U. S .S6

Greusel, N .278

Grimes, James \V .. , , nS

Hanson, John M - . .354

Harbin, J. C 580

Harbin, Mrs. J. C 581

Hare, Rev. M. H 611

Harrison, Willi .m H 50

Hayes, Rutherford B 90

Hempstead, Stephen 114

Jackson, Andrew. 42

Jefferson, Thomas 26

Johnson, .Andrew 82

Kibl)eii, James M-- 318

Kirk wood, Samuel J 126

Larrabee, Wm 154

Lincoln, Abraham 78

Lowe, Ralph P 122

Madison, James 30

Matthews, Mrs. Wm 459

Matthews, Wm 458

McMillan, Amos 569

Merrill, Samuel 134

Monroe, James 34

Montgomery, A. B 520

Montgomery, Mrs. A. B . .520

Newbold, Joshua G 142

Parkins, David - -SQi

Peterson, R. H . . 469

Pierce, Frankin. . . .70

Polk, James K 58

Ratliffe, Samuel P 602

Richard, Elijah 229

Saunders, P 1 6S

Sherman, Buren R --- 150

Smith. Charles h{ 374

Spurrier, Mrs. Richard 480

Spurrier, Richard 4^o

Stone, Wm. M , 130

Tappan, Rev. D. S 52Q

Taylor, Zachary.. •■ 6=

Tiffany, Mrs. Palmer C 407

Tiffany, Palmer C 406

Tyler, John 54

Van Buren, Martin 46

Walker, H. D S»o

Washington, George 18

Whiting, Timothy 5^°

Woolson. T. W 438

' 000

Anderson, E. D 384-3**s I Farr, Leonard 307 1 Hart, J. B 258

Day, J. H 240 ! Gladden. Wm 427 ' Noble, E. C •■ -540

i

Iowa Hospital for the In-
sane 660-661

■^•-

-•►

694

INDEX.

'v®V V ^ v/^-#^#'^^^^3-V'/^

■*^\/V*f— ♦■» ,

INTRODUCTORY (141

topographic:al (;43

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.. ii44

ORGANIZATION 647

COURTS AND BAR 6.^0

The District Court 650

Circuit Courts 651

The Bar 651

EDUCATIONAL 6.52

Iowa Wesleyan Univer-
sity 652

German College 653

Howe's Academy 653

AVhittier College 654

Public Schools 654

THE PRESS 655

Mt. Pleasant Journal . . . 655

The Free Press 656

Daily News 656

Mt. Pleasant Heralrl. . , .666

Winflekl Beacon 657

Salem Weekly News . . . 657
New London Eclipse. . .657
New London Sun 657

THE INSANE ASYLUM . . .658
AGRICULTURAL SOCIE-
TIES 664

WAR FOR THE UNION . . .66(;
CITY OFMT. PLEASANT. 668

TOWNSHIPS 679

Baltimore 679

Canaan 679

Center 680

Jackson 680

Jefferson 680

Mariou 680

New London 680

Salem 682

Scott 686

Tippecanoe 688

Trenton 688

Wayne 689

r

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
REFERENCE DEPARTMENT

This book is
tak<

Liader no circumstances to be
;n from the Building

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